Safety of DEA FAST team

[CLP]

I have a family member trying out for DEA FAST team this fall. In all honesty, how safe is this job compared with being a federal agent in the U.S.? I guess if you could put it on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a very safe, low risk job and 10 being very high risk, please rate both for me. Thank you.

[Citicop]

Of all the DEA agents ever killed in the line of duty, only two were assigned to FAST teams.

Both of them were the result of a helicopter crash.

Not to underplay the dangers, but it seems no more risky than a stateside assignment...

-Citicop.

[Joeyd6]

Every cop, from the local patrol officer to the state troopere to all of the federal agents.....the job is a 10 every time they leave the house.

[cacacabeza]

I respectfully disagree about FAST being "no more risky than a stateside assignment" -- I think you have FAST members confused with agents just assigned overseas. FAST is more akin to special ops teams that undergo extensive tactical training (like SWAT, HRT) and rotate through various hot zones (South America, Afghanistan, etc.) to conduct narcotics missions...unless one considers a Navy Seal operating at home at the same risk-level as a Navy Seal operating in Afghanistan, or a DEA agent working here vs. a DEA agent working in Mexico.

[Switchback]

I respectfully disagree about FAST being "no more risky than a stateside assignment" -- I think you have FAST members confused with agents just assigned overseas. FAST is more akin to special ops teams that undergo extensive tactical training (like SWAT, HRT) and rotate through various hot zones (South America, Afghanistan, etc.) to conduct narcotics missions...unless one considers a Navy Seal operating at home at the same risk-level as a Navy Seal operating in Afghanistan, or a DEA agent working here vs. a DEA agent working in Mexico.

I am afraid I have to disagree with you on this one. It may be a little more dangerous (at face value), but it's not like you are making it out to be. It's the totallity of things that you really need to look at when it comes to groups like this.

I feel cinfident in being able to speak with a little authority on this, bot in general terms and specifics to FAST. I was on the USMS SOG for over 8 years and deployed for a variety of high-threat missions domestically, as well as a couple tours in Iraq and Aghanistan (and our tours were >twice as long as FAST tours, but more infrequent). I worked with FAST regularly in Afganistan. While we all did some high-speed stuff, I think their greatest danger (like mine when I was there) was catching a stray round from the Afghans. We did more vehicle ops than them, so did not have to worry about the VBIED side of things as much.

You see, there is a reason that, while in dangerous situations, they still have a low mortality rate... they are surrounded by other highly-trained individuals, which signifcantly reduces danger. More DEA Agents die UC, as they are alone and in less of a position to dominate with weapons and tactics.

I was in more danger serving warrants with some of my retard co-workers than I was racing up Route Irish in Baghdad.

Of course, that is just my opinion.

[cacacabeza]

Don't get me wrong...I wasn't trying to make it "out to be anything more." I knew a few FAST guys during my time in the military, and again in my current "civilian" job (one guy just transferred over to them from my group). I just didn't believe that the "low mortality rate" told the full story either (the low rate shows that the gov't actually did right and took care of its people with the proper resources, training, etc.). I believe that l/e personnel "risk" their lives every time they leave the house (as someone posted); however, some positions tend to be "riskier" in my opinion (such as FAST) because your exposure to dangerous elements is increased (time, distance, etc.) -- hence danger pay. And, I was also trying to put it into terms/context that the poster (no experience?) would understand -- difficult w/o knowing where they're coming from.

I actually agree with basically all that you've (switchback) said, and I believe that complacency and stupidity are also big factors that contribute to higher risk. Coming from a high-speed background, you are going to perceive different risks/threats than someone from a lo-speed one. I am definitely more scared working on the border, relying on "snitch" info, and raiding with "retard" co-workers, than taking random "pop shots" while arriving into theater from a combat landing or having mortar rounds "whistle" overhead (although, I did try to remain under cover during any local weddings and/or celebrations); but I also was trained to "expect it as part of the job/typical day" as well. UC is no joke either; our office has front-row seats to a lot of the beheadings, bridge hangings, mass graves, etc. across the river (but, we still have a few guys here that thrive, and actually prefer UC work -- feel they have more "control").

I hope to "try out" for FAST in the next year or so (but would prefer to go back to the "sandbox," and not hiking through the jungles, dealing with those "fish that swim up your urethra."

[Kimble]

I hope to "try out" for FAST in the next year or so (but would prefer to go back to the "sandbox," and not hiking through the jungles, dealing with those "fish that swim up your urethra."

Yeah, I'll pass on that last one too.

[puma2]

FAST has only been around since 2005 and has very few members, so trying to look at the statistics (only two killed in the line of duty) isn't really meaningful. If you look at the Wall of Honor on the DEA website, the most dangerous activities (for DEA and narcotics agents) are flying in small aircraft and undercover ops. Tactically, FAST goes into dangerous situations, but they (like all Law Enforcement and military units) use specialized training and planning to mitigate those risks. Anyone trying to quantify those risks on a scale of 1 to 10 would be guesstimating and would be giving a very subjective number.