Usss

[Sobie28]

Hey guys, new to the board here. Im with the USSS-UD here in DC stationed at the House. If anyone has any questions regarding the USSS just let me know and I'll answer answer anything I can without violating OPSEC of course. I know I was dying for info when I was applying , so if I can help anyone else out there fire away. Also Im somewhat interested in the FAMS gig and any feedback on their status would be appreciated. Thanks.

[AndrewTx]

Hey Sobie. I go to school in Washington and see UD Officers all the time. There aren't many 7-11's you can go to and stand in line behind ERT officers in all of their gear buying a cup of coffee. Saw that a couple times. :p

How long have you been with USSS?

[Kimble]

Also Im somewhat interested in the FAMS gig and any feedback on their status would be appreciated. Thanks.

The word with FAMS regarding hiring of new FAMs is that it hasn't been communicated down from the uppermost management yet. The only word I've heard is to keep checking under the 1801 series on usajobs.com, and also to look for announcements on avuedigitalservices.com

We have two FAMs that are members of this board (that I know of) and both have stated numerous times to keep checking the federal hiring websites, but that they don't know the specifics of when the hiring will begin.

[Frogdiver]

Welcome.

[Sobie28]

Been with the service for almost 2 yrs now. Moved from Chicago to work down in DC with UD. Have to wait 2 yrs to get into CS , but I also want to go 1811. The tough part is that if you put in for the 1811 "roster" they wont allow you to try out for ERT or CS. Guess they dont want to waste the training on you if you just get picked up right away.

[Group9]

Welcome. I have taken the midnight tour a couple of times so maybe I have seen you.

[Kimble]

Been with the service for almost 2 yrs now. Moved from Chicago to work down in DC with UD. Have to wait 2 yrs to get into CS , but I also want to go 1811. The tough part is that if you put in for the 1811 "roster" they wont allow you to try out for ERT or CS. Guess they dont want to waste the training on you if you just get picked up right away.

I remember the ASAIC in the office I interned with saying that the service was looking to develop an internal hiring structure for UD officers who wished to move into the agent side of the house. Has this ever materialized, or do UD officers have to go through the same process as applicants from outside the agency?

[Sobie28]

Yes, there is internal hiring procedures or the "internal roster". Basically every three months you can put in the paper work. If you qualify you go through the TEA exam(if not already taken), the internal review, then the Panel interview. All stages are scored, and you can recieve bonus points as far as specific college level courses taken and previous work experience. When completed your score is recorded and in place for 2 yrs. You sit on the list and if you get picked up .....great....if not....then you have to reaply all over again after 2 yrs. Honestly I think applying externally is better......that way its either your hired or not. But if your on Ud you can't apply externally and right now believe it or not the internal roster is frozen.

[Sobie28]

Oh yea? who are you with?

[tunlrat]

Hey Sobie,
So how do you like working UD? Were you previous LE before?

[Group9]

Oh yea? who are you with?

Uh, me or ROS?

[Sobie28]

Hey tunlrat, working for UD is ok. Overall its not a bad gig. If your comparing it to an 1811 .....well then its not that great. You get to travel to some pretty cool places...(Denmark/Africa in July) and see some big honchos at the house. Working west wing and seeing the man is always fun. The environment is pretty political obviously and you have to always massage egos and not offend staff or advisors. I didnt have any LE exp before ...just graduated school with my B.S. and applied. Took about a year.

[tunlrat]

You get to go on TDYs? Awesome dude! How's the "upward mobility" there? Basically, how hard it is to get on a special unit, if I may ask?

I also hear you guys are having parking problems. Something about getting tagged all the time by DC Metro or something like that? Or maybe it was there's no free parking for even you guys...not sure.

[Sobie28]

Hey tunlrat, "upward mobility"? ...yea its there. you have to put your time in though. 2 yrs to apply to the Counter Sniper Unit, 18 months for ERT , 2 yrs for Canine. Some things are random though. Our counter servaillence(spelling) unit is picked at random, by who knows what standards. Ounce you have time on you submit a memo to your Sector official and try to sell yourself. You have to get "highly recommended" then you go to the week weedout course....PT qual, weapon qual, etc. In The CS unit you have to rope off a tower fronward and backward......acrophobia test ...I think thats what its called. The " highly recommended" portion is where things get a bit political....some real studs have gotten denied due to , not wearing hats, calling in sick too much, and having a bad attitude. I think that sucks, but hey thats how the mean G machine works. Parking ?.....there is none on day work during the week. There are 160 passes alloted to the elipse for day work during the week. Its first come first serve. So if your shift starts at 6:30am......the passes would be gone by 4:30 am....and these dudes sleep in their cars for 2 hrs before shift. Nothing like being at work and not getting paid. I myself take the metro , which sucks too. 3's , mids, and weekends is good to go though. Yea , and park police will ticket you on the elipse. Nothing like working for the USSS and avoiding park police ticketing you..lol.

[tunlrat]

Rappelling for a CS unit? Yikes! That's hardcore man. Most of my PD's dicks just sit in vans all day when they "conduct" surveillance (I really think they're just snoozing :p ).

Thanks for clearing up the parking gossip. That's rough though. That's the problem w/ the District; too many LE agencies crammed into a tight space (like that "popes in a volkswagen" joke). :D