U.S. Marshal College Cooperative Education Program

[Tweeder]

Does anyone have any information regarding the Cooperative Education Program with the Marshals Service through an accredited College or University. I talked to a recruiter and he gave me a phone number to call in Washington, but I have not heard back yet.

[MrMisterSU]

I'd like to know about this too. Theres a university up in PA that you go to for all four years of college, but the last two you apparently do a police training academy type thing. It sounded really interesting - it was training for a few of the "Back Woods" Federal agencies. I believe it was Border Patrol, Parks LE, and a few other smaller ones. I think they also said the Tennessee Valley Authority will hire from them too. It sounded REALLY neat. So instead of getting up to take Accounting you get up and go to the driving course. :-)

[Ammo8151]

you know i'm rather interested as well.. once i separate from active duty and have taken the test, if available. i plan on finishing up school to nab my degree. but during school, a CO-OP oppurtunity would be great and would prolly make me a better candidate then only having military experiance.

so if any one has prior experiance with this program or knows about, id appreciate some info, too.

thanks

ammo

[TexEx]

Tweeder- when it comes to the fed, you have to step up to the plate. Making a phone call to D.C. and leaving a message isn't going to result in a returned call/message 99.9% of the time. Stay after it, ask anybody you can find as many questions as possible without coming off as a moron. If you can, try to make contacts at a local office. Usually somebody in a USMS office is available to answer questions you have.

As far as the Co-op goes, the initial process is done by that university. This program however is not available to many universities, but usually there is one in every region in the country. I am not aware of a list of the programs nationally, although I have seen one on the USMS intranet somewhere. In Texas, I know UTSA and UTPanAm have programs. Your first step would obviously be to gain admission into a school that has this program. You can't attend another and try to complete the program supplemently. If you want to really find out, look up multiple universities career centers online in your area and contact them. That is one place that will know whether or not the school does it as many times you have to initially go through the centers to begin the process or find the school's Co-op contacts. You must apply through the university for the initial screening. There is usually a set standard (I believe every school I have seen carries a 3.0), and they will make a analysis of your resume and character and either send it to DC for approval or not. From there, DC runs their checks. From what I have seen, if the university selects you and you have a clean track record your chances are very good (based on some of the Co-ops I have seen, I don't think the universities reject too many that qual).

With that said, Co-op program 082's have to work harder when they get into the agency. Now if you have prior military, that's a different story. But I have met, and I know many others who have met Co-op deputies who had no business being in the agency. Right or wrong, but understand a lot of good solid cops had to bust their *** in the military or as a local for years to get in. To me, I would take a military/LEO position over a Co-op anyday of the week. USMS is the meat and potatoes guys of FLE. You are going to have to prove yourself no matter what your past experience is- but from what I have seen you will be under a larger microscope going this route. But I know how it is straight out of college- you want to get the job and get it now. Co-op is about the only way to do that through USMS.

[TexEx]

My apologies to y'all who are in the military. I have never met a Co-op with prior military, I think that would be refreshing

[Switchback]

I count coun t the number of "useful" co-op hires from 9 years on the job using only 1 hand!

...sad, but true.

If you want further explanation, PM me.

[Tweeder]

I am prior military. I just thought that the co-op program might be another way of getting in the door. I have been out of the military for 3 years and will be finishing my degree this May. I wanted to use the co-op program since I have been out of the military too long and their is no public hiring in 2005 according to local recruiters and the PCS website. Thanks for the info.

[tunlrat]

...But I know how it is straight out of college- you want to get the job and get it now.

You have to check what area universities even do the US Marshals CO-OP program. I wanted to do that too but my school, at them time, only did the FBI Internship (which I came very close to getting :( ).

Funny story related to that above quote by TexEx; my entire senior class (undergrad) took the US Marshals written test our last semester. Out of some 15+ guys, only one passed. I don't know whatever happened to him...

Joe Z. from HPU '98 where are you!? :D