BOP Correctional Officer

[Crizz07]

Hello guys, i just received today the job offer and the EOD is for the 1st of March for Mdc Guaynabo.

[MP-K-9]

Congrats..

[hopefulfedle]

Congrats, maybe we will be in FLETC together....

[MP-K-9]

Info about FCC Coleman - PM me, currently want staff stat !

There should be no doubt the BOP is in a hiring frenzy! For the next four months, the only positions to be announced on USAJobs are those that can be filled by external applicants - primarily Correctional Officer positions, administrative positions, and a variety of other specialty positions including case managers, teachers, psychologists, and human resources and information technology specialists.

[AlphaFreeze]

Interviewing this Friday at a nearby facility. Any tips or advice? I'm a little worried about the CVA since very little info is available but I'm sure I'll be fine with that. As I've mentioned in past posts I previously worked as a CO in the past so I have some experience.

[in625shooter]

Don't BS the BSer! Articulate your experience but at the same time don't make it sound like you walk on water because you don't if that makes sense. As far as the CVA its pretty much you can figure out what answers they want. (Glad that I hired in way before that BS LOL)

And relax!

Good Luck

[AlphaFreeze]

@in625shooter

Yeah when I worked for the state DOC I had to do one of those video scenario tests - I assume in the same realm as the CVA. I use what I like to call the "CNN Strategy". Basically what answer would make you NOT be breaking news on CNN lmao. I've never scored below an 85% on scenario tests using that method.

[hopefulfedle]

The CVA was more difficult than the interview IMO. Interview was cake.

[Figureout18]

Does anyone know how long it usually takes to see some sort of movement once application is submitted? Applied for the California region just trying to gauge timeline. Thanks.

[AlphaFreeze]

You can always call the facility (HR department) and ask for when they plan to pull an interview list. I applied 1/19 and was contacted 2/16 about setting up my interview.

[Figureout18]

Are you processing for the California region? And thank you I’ll try that.

[crap shoot]

Like stated above, and once the list is pulled your selected you'll get that OF-5 sent. FL also hiring if your located here.

[Figureout18]

Looking to relocate, but thank you for the information.

[JamoStu]

I applied to 8 months ago to Leavenworth and Springfield. I assume they aren’t hiring much since I haven’t heard anything. After searching around I changed my preferences to Florence and Seagoville as the responded to my emailed that they were hiring. Wish you could just select regions you’re interested in instead of playing roulette with 1 or 2 selections that may or may not be hiring.

[in625shooter]

While this has been written several times by several folks here myself included. Did you get rated "Best Qualified and Referred "? Thats the first hurdle if not you wont make it to the institutions list.

Second Just because you make BQ or Referred list again doesn't guarantee you an interview and here is why.

Traditionally (and I've been retired for 9 months so things could have been adjusted) they interview 3 people for every 1 position (unless its a place with lower applicants which might have happened)

So if they have 20 on the referred list but 3 spots then 9 would get an interview. that leaves 11 with nothing.

How they decide who?....Well sometimes someone at the institution knows you and vouches to HR, Capt etc. 2 random, you are just lucky or 3 you call and politly aquire and out of kindness that HR staffing person remembers you.

Veteran Status can also matter as sometines they run a Veteran list separate from a Non Veteran list. Which if your a Non Vet you wouldn't get a call.

So my advice..If you are BQ and referred simomy call the institution and "politely touch base" with someone in HR. However dont be needy. That means I wouldn't call but once every 3 weeks or so.

So Springfield and Leavenworth have probably hired since then but one if the above factors kept you out.

Hope that helps and good luck

[Iowa #1603]

I just saw locally that Thomson is hiring AGAIN

[in625shooter]

I have several former co workers that Transferred to Thomson. They all say its out in the middle of nowhere (like al BOP activations the last 20 years) And they have all but exhausted the local empoyment pool. And being a High especially a Special Management Unit (like and ADX but they dont call ut an ADX) That alone eats staff as well.

So if you dont mind moving its a good option to get in quick.

[Misco Jones]

That hell hole will never see a 100% custody complement. It is barely over 55% right now. Thomson was literally giving away GS-8's until not so long ago

[Iowa #1603]

I live about 60 miles from the Facility.

A town of about 30K is 10 miles away on the Iowa side. A 50k town roughly 60 miles away and the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities (400K combined) just over an hour away

There was never any real local employment interest

[AlphaFreeze]

Narrowly passed my CVA - but I passed. Lieutenant said I interviewed very well. Got a conditional offer. Go back in a week for my physical/UA.

[JamoStu]

Applied to FCC Florence and reached out to HR. She said she would pull their list and see if I was in it and go from there. My BQ’d for GS5/6 with TP for 5 Point Veterans Preference since I’m Still active with no VA ratings just yet.
I’m also in the middle of USSS hiring (Poly was over 2 weeks ago) so I’m just trying to be proactive in case something falls through. Florence seems like a huge facility and seemingly cool location.

[Misco Jones]

I started off at Florence and worked there for 2 and a half years. You'll be mandated for an extra 8 hours multiple times per week. Good place to get experience and respond to fights, stabbings, etc but you'll get worn out quickly. Plus winter is another obstacle.

[Showtime0811]

Narrowly passed my CVA - but I passed. Lieutenant said I interviewed very well. Got a conditional offer. Go back in a week for my physical/UA.

Any helpful tips on how to pass the CVA

[AlphaFreeze]

Honestly I'm not sure. I thought I did alot better and to see I only got a 70 was pretty shocking. The BOP has a section on their website where they talk about what their core values are. When I took the test I was thinking "which one of these answers most aligns with their core values".

[Joem519]

Hey guys,
I am looking forward to acquiring my degree in the next few months and applying to BOP right away. I have a few questions about the job if anyone has any insight:
1. Since there is no academy how does the training work?
2. With BOP being covered by Leosa, is there special fire arm training you have to do to qualify for the Pistol permit/Conceal carry?
3. How does the scheduling work? I know if I was hired I would be bottom of the food chain for a while. Do they give night differential?etc?
Thank you guys for taking the time out to read my post.

[Wentwestco]

1. Training is two weeks of institutional familiarization (IF), and a few months of working until you go to FLETC. Most of what you learn will be OJT. Observe, listen and ask. If in doubt call up the old heads and ask.
2. From what I understand it is when you return from FLETC that you can carry. I would strongly advise getting a liability policy such as FEDSPROTECT. You can be in a perfect use of force/self defense situation and still be sued, and you have to respond in court. That’s expensive.
3. It can vary, but at many places you are shuffled to fill vacancies. Not much of a life the first year. You get night diff and Sunday pay as well. Most likely a lot of ot at time and a half.
Got the bachelors degree? Go to specialagent.org and read it. See what it takes to get on. Your income, work life and retirement are significantly better there. BOP will stop you from aging out at 37, give you benefits and income, but if you work to get that degree make sure you use it! Good luck!

[in625shooter]

Schedule as Wentwest stated, you will be all over the place after the 2 weeks of IF. Your first year will be the Rookie Roster where you switch schedules/shifts every month. Sometimes a training post same days off and shift. Other months Sick and Annual where your days off and shift change weekly.

With Covid (and the fact I'm now retired) I'm not sure how long it's taking for GLYNCO now. That said you are not qualified per LEOSA until you are formerly qualified from Glynco. So until then you have to utilize a permit. (some Lugnut from the corridor will say they carried without but I was a Lead Firearms and had Agency Lawyer classes about LEOSA when recertifying at Glynco so thats what they stated but Mr Lugnut can do whatever his Career and Checking account can handle) As far as firearms the basic course for qualification and employment is 30 rounds. 12 rounds at 3 yards and 18 rounds at 7 yards with 21 out of the 30 somewhere on a full size target what is referred to as ART. To take armed posts outside institutional property there is more training and a 66 round course called BPT. Most places you have to be off probationary. Same to get on any special teams.
Then M16/4 and Remington 870 12 ga rounds out the basics.

Glynco is 3 weeks of mundane how the BOP generically works. Just play there game and don't worry how you did it at your institution. Nobody cares and get back home revert to how your institution runs stuff (USPs are a whole different universe than most FCI's or camps)

Good luck

[HonEur12]

Found the answer!

[myman12]

Hey guys,
I am looking forward to acquiring my degree in the next few months and applying to BOP right away. I have a few questions about the job if anyone has any insight:
1. Since there is no academy how does the training work?
2. With BOP being covered by Leosa, is there special fire arm training you have to do to qualify for the Pistol permit/Conceal carry?
3. How does the scheduling work? I know if I was hired I would be bottom of the food chain for a while. Do they give night differential?etc?
Thank you guys for taking the time out to read my post.

Some institutions been having fletc training at their own institution.

[Kanon1911]

I put in an application for FBOP 2-9-21 and was marked as highly qualified. Got contacted 2-24-21 to come in and take the CVA and for panel interview for 3-3-21. I went yesterday, took the CVA and scored an 88 on it. I saw many people leaving after taking the test which would imply they did not pass the test. (Test was self explanatory, answer the way they would want a person applying to be a corrections officer to answer!!)

After completing the self questionnaire of credit, drug history, employment history etc, an HR rep wanted to speak with me. She then told me I would be removed from the process because I admitted to being fired from a job. She stated that it’s a good thing that I put it down on the paper because the background investigator could have found this out months later and I could possibly be fired again from BOP for not disclosing that information. I was fired from my job in April of 2019 but not for anything like stealing, I happen to be the manager on duty when a associate rang up their own transaction and I was unaware. (seasonal employee)

Something I’m still a little curious about is the fact that she said, I can still be considered but there is a waiting period before I can be considered and to remain hopeful because I can be contacted soon. I am not sure how long I will have to wait though… Does anyone have any idea or been in a similar situation? She also gave me a little advice for adding more things to my resume but besides the termination from the job she told me everything was looked perfect.

[hopefulfedle]

IMO there's not much you can do at this point other than to be patient. It's a good thing you disclosed that information. Best of luck to you.

[in625shooter]

Usually there is a time where the drop stuff off. A more sever examoke woukd be using MJ or say a DUI. If it happened 3 or 5 years ago they consider that fine but kast month or year not so much

They use to not screen applicants as much at HR when hiring so these "black marks" wouldn't come up until during the mai BG check after they started. There were a lot more staff getting walked out 20 years ago over that than now. (they let them resign so they can cone back )

Funny thing is I'd rather they take it a little easy with more common sense on some of these things and give the otherwise qualified applicant a job and fire the lug nuts that cause drama after they have a year in.

What I find odd with your case is I have never heard of anyone rated "Highly Qualified" getting referred lto get an interview Its ALWAYS been Best Qualified to make a cut. But Ive been retired for almost a year so I might be out of the loop.

Good luck

[alphawolf290]

I do have a question about what you said in625shooter
(USPs are a whole different universe than most FCI's or camps)

USP Atlanta is no longer a real USP it only is a USP due to the name on the facility from what I have heard they changed from high-risk prison to a medium with low-risk camp outside of the prison. years ago I guess. does ATL run like a USP still or more like an FCI probably since it's only medium risk inmates

[alphawolf290]

USP Atlanta is hiring big time I know this!!
I applied end of Jan 2021 and go my final offer a few days ago I started on March, 15th USP Atlanta anyone else going to Atlanta to work?
if so hit me a PM would like to connect with you since we will probably see each other.
congrats to everyone who got hired and to those in the hiring process it is a piece of cake honestly.
- Alpha Wolf

[in625shooter]

Alfawolf per my USP reference. . In 2006 ish BOP down graded several old schook USPs to Medium FCIs (Atlanta, Lompoc, Marion, Terre Haute Leavenworth) Because they had new USPs coming on line Most kept the USP name for hisrirical purposes. As 2 of them were part if the three prisons act forming the BOP (Lewisberg just lost its SMU to Tomson but will probably keep the USP tiral as well)

Terre Haute buikt a nrw USP so thebikd is referred to an FCI, Lompoc keept it with most inmates going to Victorville, Terre Haute got a fair share of Leavenworth Inmates as well as split some Marion and ADX inmates. A lot of Marion went to ADX (was on several of those moves)

Old USPs like Atlanta, Terre Haute and Lompoc, Leavenworth ran more staff mentality wise like a USP than a FCI but not so much the case now as 15 years and some pretty sad work ethic of new staff we get, well things start to change and not for the better.

And while you can exoect to see and get more teal experience at a USP FCIs have bad things happen too just not on any scale You have 20 to 50 incidents (usually a fist fight) a year where a packet is done. At a USP its 300 to 400 a year. (most involving something used as a weapon) Sometimes multiple incidents a day Both compound and calculated in SHU. So bad stuff can happen at a FCI just not as much as a real USP with USP inmates.