Is it just me?

[CCCSD]

Yup, I totally get that and even when I was at my old agency, we would have guys saying, "the way we did it in my previous field office..."

For me specifically, my previous experience should translate exactly at the new agency; which in this case is being a bomb tech. Feds and locals are trained at the same school house. SOPs and TTPs should theoretically be the same across all agencies. However, I get that each department can operate differently on an individual level.

At this point, it might be a matter of me not being the right fit for the agency and I'll just do my remaining time and retire in several years.

Are you upset that you’re not on EOD?

[mcdb84]

Are you upset that you’re not on EOD?

Not necessarily since I've done it for 15 years and didn't mind the change of pace of trying patrol for the first time. The current PD has a bomb squad, so I could eventually get a spot

But my whole thing is the current culture of the PD that I don't necessarily like as well as some of my interactions with the current members of the bomb squad.

I'm still a certified bomb tech until 2027, but I get a sense that I am more of a threat than an asset and especially with the bomb squad team leader, it hasn't been the most cordial between us. At this point since I'm not happy at my current department, I'm ok giving up the bomb stuff and just going somewhere else on the federal side.

[mcdb84]

Yeah it doesn't sound like current PD is a good fit for you.
My first PD was not a good fit for me. Went to another PD and life was much better.

Yeah the more I think about it, you might be right, I guess I'll never know unless I make the change, which is why I'm actively applying else where.

[CCCSD]

Not necessarily since I've done it for 15 years and didn't mind the change of pace of trying patrol for the first time. The current PD has a bomb squad, so I could eventually get a spot

But my whole thing is the current culture of the PD that I don't necessarily like as well as some of my interactions with the current members of the bomb squad.

I'm still a certified bomb tech until 2027, but I get a sense that I am more of a threat than an asset and especially with the bomb squad team leader, it hasn't been the most cordial between us. At this point since I'm not happy at my current department, I'm ok giving up the bomb stuff and just going somewhere else on the federal side.

Yep. Your attitude is the problem. You think because you were EOD you should automatically be EOD. You LEFT your slot. There’s a whole stack of people who want the shot at EOD and you think you should get it.

You are on the bottom of the list, and should be, but your ego is upset and of course, you know better than anyone else on that team.

You should leave and eat some humble pie.

[Aidokea]

Decaf, dude...decaf...

[m.p.c]

Personally, it sounds like you should've done some more research before leaving. You're going to be hard pressed to get back a SA/1811 spot in my opinion. I just can't fathom leaving with over 10 years and the ability to buy back the military time.

[mcdb84]

Yeah, I did give up a lot and only needed 10 years till I could retire with full 6c. If I don't go back FERS, I'll get 16.5% of my High-3, but it's reverted back to the normal FERS benefit at 62. I did find out that I can apply for FERS postponed retirement, which means I would be eligible for FEHB when applying for FERS retirement which is the biggest benefit.

[mcdb84]

Yep. Your attitude is the problem. You think because you were EOD you should automatically be EOD. You LEFT your slot. There’s a whole stack of people who want the shot at EOD and you think you should get it.

You are on the bottom of the list, and should be, but your ego is upset and of course, you know better than anyone else on that team.

You should leave and eat some humble pie.

Woah dude, slow your roll. Man, I understand the game, had to do it while I was in the Bureau and worked my butt off to get to where I was. Moved for family reasons, so I totally accept my current situation and maybe should have done more research before leaving the FBI.

I was a Navy EOD tech and a full time Bomb Tech working in probably the most active and busy AOR, I say my qualifications speak for itself; however, I understand that team dynamics vary from each Bomb Squad. After talking to some other SAs and local /state LEOs, I probably already knew the answer when I made the initial post.

Appreciate the responses thus far.

[Zeitgeist1]

Not necessarily since I've done it for 15 years and didn't mind the change of pace of trying patrol for the first time. The current PD has a bomb squad, so I could eventually get a spot

But my whole thing is the current culture of the PD that I don't necessarily like as well as some of my interactions with the current members of the bomb squad.

I'm still a certified bomb tech until 2027, but I get a sense that I am more of a threat than an asset and especially with the bomb squad team leader, it hasn't been the most cordial between us. At this point since I'm not happy at my current department, I'm ok giving up the bomb stuff and just going somewhere else on the federal side.

Sounds ego driven. You are a threat. I suspect that the EOD squad leader is intimidated, unless he is a former Navy EOD person. Unfortunate as you probably have alot to contribute.
I'm curious about an update.

[mcdb84]

Sounds ego driven. You are a threat. I suspect that the EOD squad leader is intimidated, unless he is a former Navy EOD person. Unfortunate as you probably have alot to contribute.
I'm curious about an update.

I am thinking the same thing and to answer your question he was not prior military EOD. One of the guys who is On the Job Trainee (OJT) is former Air Force EOD who's been with the department for about 7 years, but he's "one of the boys." He's second in line to go to Hazardous Devices School and has already been waiting for about 4 years.

It's funny because they just did a re-org with our Emergency Services Unit and now show two openings on the bomb squad. However, even if they approach me with a slot, I think I'm at a point where I'm ready to move on. I think the department is just not the right fit for me.

So with all that being said, I've been actively applying on USAJOBS and looking to go back Federal to get in with another 1811 agency. I've crunched the numbers and the benefits on the federal side far outweigh the benefits on the local side, at least here in Texas.