FAMS or bust

[USNusp9]

intheaircop-

I was not questioning the need for a PT test. Physical fitness indeed plays an integral role in the FAMS. I was just wondering what kind of test they use given the unique nature of your operating area. Pushups? Situps? Run? Or is it more complex? I was just wanting specifics so I could prepare myself.

[intheaircop2]

The test is not that hard. For my age I have to do 55 situps in one minute, 50 pushups in one minute, 10 pullups, and 1 and 1/2 mile run in less than 12 minutes. Now I am not going to lie to you. I allways get the situps, pushups, and the pullups but the run kicks my butt. I never do it under 12 minutes.

[tunlrat]

That's actually some tough standards. Comparable to many local police depts. I don't think I could a .75 six minute mile. Maybe If I walked the first mile & sprinted the rest! :D

OPSEC allowing, do you guys do any kind of ground fighting or submission holds?

[intheaircop2]

We get alot of hands on hands on training. About 4 days a month we train. We are either at the range, in the aircraft simulator, in the gym or in the mat room. We do some boxing, some ground fighting, and stuff like that. We get lots of hand to hand fighting.

[Bearcat06]

We get alot of hands on hands on training. About 4 days a month we train. We are either at the range, in the aircraft simulator, in the gym or in the mat room. We do some boxing, some ground fighting, and stuff like that. We get lots of hand to hand fighting.

If this is OPSEC you don't have to answer me....I will understand. But, is your training based on what you do at your home station....or are the other FAM stations supposed to do that as well? I know my two buddies work for you guys and they say that they shoot a couple of times a year....and are suppposed to work out.....but that's about it.
Just curious.....

[intheaircop2]

I can only speak for my office. We shoot all the time. I have about 15,000 rounds through my weapon. And I do not think this is a OPSEC violation.

[NyPd Sgt ALU]

is the air marshall position only open to current fed employees?

[Kimble]

is the air marshall position only open to current fed employees?

The FAM position currently posted on avuedigitalservices.com is for feds only.

[intheaircop2]

The postion open right now is for current Ar Marshals all ready on the job. It is a office postion in VA.

[machina]

Does anyone have any news or updates about any fams openings or anything?

[K-9MALY]

Machina,
There won't be any FAM positions open until they square away the recruiters (FAM's doing collatoral duty) and whether or not they are going to pull from the original announcement that opened in 2001, or put out a new one. My friend is a FAM in Atlanta, and he tells me that they have the same problem as all of ICE is having....money. Local hiring is the push that the FAM's want see with the next round of applicants. This may force you to travel to a city that has a FO (field office) and interview for that job in that particular city. Before, they gave the FAM's in large part a choice of where they wanted to go, since everybody was a plank owner in essence. Be wary of mobility agreements, contracts which stipulate as a condition of employment that you will move at the needs of the service. If you keep looking on various police boards, you will find out the dates when they do post an announcement. Good luck.

[chewy]

... Be wary of mobility agreements, contracts which stipulate as a condition of employment that you will move at the needs of the service...

That is a standard clause with most Federal jobs but in particular it is a standard requirement for 1811 and other 6c covered positions. You can't avoid it...unless you want to go CBP Officer which...you really don't want to do

[K-9MALY]

Aww come on Chewy, don't let the cat outta the bag with our Agency! grin Your right about most 1811 positions having mobility clauses up front as a job condition, but the FAM's didn't have to do that when they hired everybody initially. They had a resource pool that allowed them to staff all areas with bodies. Now that the attrition rate is rising, they are not going to be so keen on losing people at the rate they are. When we were still U.S. Customs, many of our guys left for the FAM's and thought it was the greatest job since sliced bread. In El Paso, we lost almost 30 guys/gals, and of which 4 came back pleading for their jobs. Another thing which makes the FAM's a "tweener" type position within the views of HQ and Congress is that they are not considered 1811's, but are FED/LEO with arrest authority. Prior to 9/11/01, there were 33 flying U.S. Marshals/USSS SA covering targeted flights for the entire nation,and they belonged to their respective agencies and did the flying as a special assignment. They are 6c covered within ICE, but have no investigative responsibility. They have a defined mission, but are shuffled around like step children. (FAA, TSA, ICE, talk of coming under CBP) The kinks will get ironed out with the FAM's eventually. I don't think that top loading the brass with the good ol boy merit system has helped them any, and happening currently as we speak, people are demanding promotions of some sort. The way their steps and paybands are set up, you can achieve maximum pay in 3 years, but still have 17 more years of service. They don't have a clear accension for advancement at the moment.

[intheaircop2]

You can say that again k9maly ! It looks like I will never get another raise if things do not ghange. I also hear that ICE will be no more soon. Is this true? A friend of mine who is a ICE 1811 was told that all the 1811s under ICE are going to CBP. Well if that is true I wonder what will happen to the FAM service and FPS?

[K-9MALY]

I reckon that the ICE merger to CBP will happen. To put it into general terms, our ICE Special Agents are more the Varsity team when it comes to Proactive LE. Where as guys like myself are reactive and have to wait for people, commodities, ships, planes, trains, and yes automobiles to come to us before we kick into gear. Our ICE agents do not have the resources at the moment to even get oil changes in their vehicles. However, I am at a port which has enough money on the uniformed side to allow our K-9 section to purchase more vehicles than we have K-9 Officers to drive them. So while the SA are stuck with crappy vehicles that cannot endure the pace of extended use, I have the choice of driving a Durango or Crown Vic each day. Today I drove the Crown Vic, but it is a bit cramped for my partner so tomorrow I will take the Durango. By bringing the 1811's under CBP, they can take up their mission of being our extended arm against incoming and domestic threats. I don't know the route that you guys will go, but not making you 1811 series is stupid. Your already 6c, plain clothed, and specialized mission tasked. Now we on the CBP side are hearing rumors unlike all the other rumors for the last 30 years that we will be getting 6c soon too. I am testing for Supervisor on May 17th, so hopefully it happens.