Secret Service UD Questions

[bacj]

Anyone in the UD or have info on this division? I am currently going through the selection process and I am always wondering what to expect next. I should be going in for my security interview soon. Any tips or advice for the security interview? Also I am wondering how others feel about this job? I have read a bunch of negative things about high turnover, low job satisfaction, etc... Can anyone confirm or deny the many negative things that are all over the net about this division? I am also going through the selection process with a state police dept and I am wondering IF offered both which one would be better. Pay is about the same but the cost of living is much higher in DC. My ultimate goal is to be a SA with one of the federal agencies and I would like to know which would look better on my resume as far as work experience (USSS UD or state trooper)? Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[gijoeyl33]

if you want to be an SA i would suggest taking the UD job at first. i am in the hiring process as well, although i plan on withdrawing and reapplying at a later date. it has a high turnover rate cause many are like you that wish to be SA's and go SS SA or go work for another agency. you most likely will do minimal LE work in the UD as most of the jobs are standing around on a fixed post, and thats what lowers moral. if you do decide to go state trooper and the SA im pretty sure you will loose alot of your retirement going from a state job to a federal one

Anyone in the UD or have info on this division? I am currently going through the selection process and I am always wondering what to expect next. I should be going in for my security interview soon. Any tips or advice for the security interview? Also I am wondering how others feel about this job? I have read a bunch of negative things about high turnover, low job satisfaction, etc... Can anyone confirm or deny the many negative things that are all over the net about this division? I am also going through the selection process with a state police dept and I am wondering IF offered both which one would be better. Pay is about the same but the cost of living is much higher in DC. My ultimate goal is to be a SA with one of the federal agencies and I would like to know which would look better on my resume as far as work experience (USSS UD or state trooper)? Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[bacj]

if you want to be an SA i would suggest taking the UD job at first. i am in the hiring process as well, although i plan on withdrawing and reapplying at a later date. it has a high turnover rate cause many are like you that wish to be SA's and go SS SA or go work for another agency. you most likely will do minimal LE work in the UD as most of the jobs are standing around on a fixed post, and thats what lowers moral. if you do decide to go state trooper and the SA im pretty sure you will loose alot of your retirement going from a state job to a federal one

Where are you at in the hiring process? Any advice for the security interview?
Why are you withdrawing from the hiring process?

[bacj]

It is very, very difficult to go from UD to SS SA. Many people join UD to get to be SA. It rarely happens though.

Would you suggest the state police job first then? Why is it so hard to go from SS UD to SA? What about going to other agencies to become a SA from SS UD? I have a BA in Criminal Justice but my problem is I lack work experiance and my GPA is slightly under the cutoff for new grads. I figured if I can get some experiance I would have a lot better chance at becoming a SA.

[bacj]

LE experience is always a plus. The only advantage to going with UD is that you'll be in the federal pension system already and your time will follow you. but UD doesn't do a whole lot of actual law enforcement, especially now that Homeland Security took them over.

Lot of overtime there if you want it, though.

DC Law,
Why is it so hard to become a SA from UD? IS the UD looked apon poorly? Do you think it is just as hard to go from SS UD to another federal agency as a SA?

[FPS207]

As most of the members have already stated, if you want to be a SA in the Federal system, the UD job would be the way to go. However as they stated, USSS UD don't do very much law enforcement duties. If you are offered the job as a state trooper, you may enjoy it and decide to make it a career. This is a distinct difference between local law enforcement and federal. Basically go with the one that you really want to do.

[gijoeyl33]

my advice for the security interview is of course be honest. present yourself in a suit. im withdrawing from the process because im kinda living in "limbo" being seperated from the military, and cant really wait for them to keep playing with my app. i have kinda a sure thing in jersey, and its alot easier to find other jobs when you are at least getting an income of some sort.

Where are you at in the hiring process? Any advice for the security interview?
Why are you withdrawing from the hiring process?

[gijoeyl33]

i hate to argue this one with you cause i know you work in DC and have the knowledge about it, but ive talked to many UD officers that say there is an internal roster of those aspiring to be agents. ive been told by many SS SA's that they do like to hire their own people for SA cause if they dont they realize someone else will, and that doesnt make to much sense. the agent that did my PSI was a former UD officer. You have to remeber alot of these guys dont have much college, hence long term UD officer

UD's ok, it's just that Secret Service won't take people from UD ranks to make them Agents. They already paid to train them to be UD. So they rarely move their UD officers into SA because it just creates another UD vacancy and they have to pay to train someone else.

But UD officers don't do much other than stand around. Not to disparage them, because I know several and think highly of them, but that's really the main job of most of them--Foot posts, access cards, metal detectors, etc.

[bacj]

Just out of curiosity. I have read that UD officers are only allowed to carry their firearm within a 1 mile radius to their job. Is that true? They don't take thier firearms home?

[gijoeyl33]

no they take them home, and can carry off duty, however i have heard that it use to be a mileage radious of 50 miles from the capitol building of where they can carry off duty. but i dont think thats the case anymore. USSS claims they carry off duty everywhere, DCLAW prolly knows

Just out of curiosity. I have read that UD officers are only allowed to carry their firearm within a 1 mile radius to their job. Is that true? They don't take thier firearms home?

[bacj]

no they take them home, and can carry off duty, however i have heard that it use to be a mileage radious of 50 miles from the capitol building of where they can carry off duty. but i dont think thats the case anymore. USSS claims they carry off duty everywhere, DCLAW prolly knows

Can anyone confirm gijoeyl33? I would think since it is a federal LE position you could carry anywhere in the US but I was a bit shocked when I read somewhere it was a small milage radius.

[tunlrat]

Never worked for UD, but they should have 24/7 carry anywhere in CONUS.

bacj, you are exactly where many of us are--a CJ degree holder who wants to be an SA. If I were in your shoes, I'd highly consider taking the state trooper job first. Through local law enforcement, you'll learn & grow so much as an LE professional. And I'm not just talking about patrol work. There are many special divisions you can join after your required "road" time. And with your degree, you can apply for the sergeants' exam before most (maybe in 3-5 years). Sergeants are not only supervisors, they are also their criminal investigators (aka Detectives) in local PDs. Yes, you can argue that SS UD have special units as well but they don't have one thing--criminal investigators. Why? Because the SAs are the crim.investigators! I suggest taking that state trooper job for a while, soak up as much info as you can (by working in as many special units), eventually become a supervisor, & an Investigator (I guarantee that will look impressive on your resume to ANY Federal agency not just SS--especially your supervisor & Investigator time). I think the years you would spend in UD trying to be an SA would be better spent in that state job. Remember, all Federal SAs' age cutoff is 37. If you're fresh out of college, you have loads of time.

I'm not trying to start a shouting match between local & Fed LE. I've had the opportunity & honor in working at both levels. I'm just saying if I could turn back time, that's what I would do. Good luck & welcome to the "CJ grad trying to get into Fed LE" club!

[tunlrat]

Oh one more thing. To answer your question about your security interview. Do a thread search in this forum under "USSS interview." There were some good things said there.

[bacj]

Oh one more thing. To answer your question about your security interview. Do a thread search in this forum under "USSS interview." There were some good things said there.

Tunlrat,
Thanks for the advice. I see pluses and minuses to both positions and it will be a tough choice IF I were given an offer from both places. I may only get one offer which will make my decision a lot easier (Hopefully at least one offer). I will play it by ear and cross the bridge when I get there. Right now though, I am back and forth.

[gijoeyl33]

not all federal agencies have 24/7 national carry. there are many that do not, usually most 0083's such as fbi police, and va cops. there are even some 1811 oig's that still are fighting for off duty carry

Never worked for UD, but they should have 24/7 carry anywhere in CONUS.

bacj, you are exactly where many of us are--a CJ degree holder who wants to be an SA. If I were in your shoes, I'd highly consider taking the state trooper job first. Through local law enforcement, you'll learn & grow so much as an LE professional. And I'm not just talking about patrol work. There are many special divisions you can join after your required "road" time. And with your degree, you can apply for the sergeants' exam before most (maybe in 3-5 years). Sergeants are not only supervisors, they are also their criminal investigators (aka Detectives) in local PDs. Yes, you can argue that SS UD have special units as well but they don't have one thing--criminal investigators. Why? Because the SAs are the crim.investigators! I suggest taking that state trooper job for a while, soak up as much info as you can (by working in as many special units), eventually become a supervisor, & an Investigator (I guarantee that will look impressive on your resume to ANY Federal agency not just SS--especially your supervisor & Investigator time). I think the years you would spend in UD trying to be an SA would be better spent in that state job. Remember, all Federal SAs' age cutoff is 37. If you're fresh out of college, you have loads of time.

I'm not trying to start a shouting match between local & Fed LE. I've had the opportunity & honor in working at both levels. I'm just saying if I could turn back time, that's what I would do. Good luck & welcome to the "CJ grad trying to get into Fed LE" club!