FBI Academy

[Instinct]

Hi,

How does the FBI academy compare to a traditional para-military police/sheriff academy?

From the small amount of information that I can gather, it appears that the FBI academy may place more emphasis on knowledge and training scenarios. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you!

[Kimble]

Hi,

How does the FBI academy compare to a traditional para-military police/sheriff academy?

From the small amount of information that I can gather, it appears that the FBI academy may place more emphasis on knowledge and training scenarios. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you!

Bel or Group9 are probably the best ones to answer this, but from what I understand, FBI NAT is more akin to college education with PT and other LE-related training, not as much "paramilitary" as many state and other federal acacemies.

[eff-bee-eye]

Bel or Group9 are probably the best ones to answer this, but from what I understand, FBI NAT is more akin to college education with PT and other LE-related training, not as much "paramilitary" as many state and other federal acacemies.

ROS is right.
I would not use the word paramilitary at all to describe it. And yeah, somewhat like a college campus, but such a variety of activities and programs. I wouldn't use the word "academics" either, it's easier than studying for a Masters degree for instance. It's more like classroom training, and it is really up to you to keep up with working out, studying (very little required, but some homework or busywork involved). You won't be going on any group runs at 4 am in your boots, though.

The toughest part is the food. Nah it ain't that bad.

[Group9]

I went through in 1988 and it was probably a lot more para-military back then, and even then, it was more college like with some PT and DT mixed in.

I broke my nose boxing there, which we had to do every single PT day back then, and our final class run was a ten miler (my time, 89 minutes, was one of the worst in the class, LOL).

My impression is that it is not like that now. But, since that was 18 years ago, though, and my only contact with he FBI academy in the last few years has been to knock back a few in the Boardroom when I got bored at our bar, I'll let someone who has been through more lately chime in. :D

[Instinct]

Thank you, all, for your replies thus far! On a somewhat related subject, one of the SA requirements is to be "completely available for assignment anywhere in the FBI's jurisdiction."

Some older posts I have read mentioned that typical initial assignments focused on small/medium field offices. In addition, a SA is expected to remain there for four years. Is this still accurate nowadays? Can a SA be assigned an office such as Los Angeles or San Francisco upon graduation of the academy?

Could a new SA be assigned to an international field office? Finally, are involuntarry transfers still conducted nowadays?

Thank you all for your input, I greatly appreciate your time!

[bdfjr24]

You have the DEA and FBI down there. Between the two, the DEA is more para-military when it comes to training. The FBI is not para-military when it comes to training. They focus alot more on classroom instruction.

[steve1568]

Thank you, all, for your replies thus far! On a somewhat related subject, one of the SA requirements is to be "completely available for assignment anywhere in the FBI's jurisdiction."

Some older posts I have read mentioned that typical initial assignments focused on small/medium field offices. In addition, a SA is expected to remain there for four years. Is this still accurate nowadays? Can a SA be assigned an office such as Los Angeles or San Francisco upon graduation of the academy?

Could a new SA be assigned to an international field office? Finally, are involuntarry transfers still conducted nowadays?

Thank you all for your input, I greatly appreciate your time!

The vast majority of new agents coming out are going to 1 of the 15 "super-offices" places like NYC,Miami, LA, Chicago and such. The last I heard was that new agents had to go to one of these offices during their first five years. The odds of a new agent getting assigned to a Legat, which is an overseas office is slim to none. As far as invlountary transfers go, you sign that mobility agreement for them to move you at their discretion so the possibility does exsist.

[Instinct]

The vast majority of new agents coming out are going to 1 of the 15 "super-offices" places like NYC,Miami, LA, Chicago and such. The last I heard was that new agents had to go to one of these offices during their first five years. The odds of a new agent getting assigned to a Legat, which is an overseas office is slim to none. As far as invlountary transfers go, you sign that mobility agreement for them to move you at their discretion so the possibility does exsist.

Thank you for the clarification. Notwithstanding the possibility of involuntary transfer, what would you say is the likelihood of staying in one of those 15 major offices, after five years?

[Nole795]

Thank you for the clarification. Notwithstanding the possibility of involuntary transfer, what would you say is the likelihood of staying in one of those 15 major offices, after five years?

Not and FBI agent but I am an 1811. So here is my opinion:

That is dependant also on the administrator. You see every term may bring a new head to the agency. New heads bring new policies and regulations. So if you receive word that after you are a GS13 for a year, you can transfer; that may not stay policy with a differing administrator. Food for thought.

You also have to consider where you want to go. If you eventually want to transfer to a small office near your home, it will be much harder to get there.

[steve1568]

Thank you for the clarification. Notwithstanding the possibility of involuntary transfer, what would you say is the likelihood of staying in one of those 15 major offices, after five years?

As long as you don't want to advance above the rank of Supervisory Special Agent your odds are pretty good. There is a little grumbling going on now within the FBI about this but from what I have heard you are pretty safe. That being said, some offices have a harder time attracting agents and if you are in one of these your odds of transferring out are even harder.

[Group9]

Thank you, all, for your replies thus far! On a somewhat related subject, one of the SA requirements is to be "completely available for assignment anywhere in the FBI's jurisdiction."

Some older posts I have read mentioned that typical initial assignments focused on small/medium field offices. In addition, a SA is expected to remain there for four years. Is this still accurate nowadays? Can a SA be assigned an office such as Los Angeles or San Francisco upon graduation of the academy?

Could a new SA be assigned to an international field office? Finally, are involuntarry transfers still conducted nowadays?

Thank you all for your input, I greatly appreciate your time!

Don't count on any of that. Things can change, even after you have hired on. I will give you an example. When I went in, we were given three options.
A. Go to New York
B. Go to one of the top 12 offices
C. Go to a small to medium office, stay there for 2-4 years, and then go to a top 12 or New York.

I put in for a small to medium and got Dallas. Two months after I got there, the bureau changed from a top 12 to a major 15. Dallas was now one of the 15 and nobody was getting out until they got their OP or got promoted, or took on a special assignment. So much for the small to medium office thing, LOL.

There is no requirement that any federal agency send you anywhere except where the needs of the agency dictate, and any program or guarantee they give you will always be subject to be superceded by that.

No matter which federal agency you apply for, FBI or otherwise, if you hire on thinking you have found a way to beat the system and go where you want to go, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. The only way to be sure is to sign on knowing you could be working anywhere and to be okay with that.

Most agencies do not require agents to take involuntary foreign assigments. Some do. But, be advised that there is nothing in the OPM regulations to forbid them from doing so.

[eff-bee-eye]

If you get a big (top 15) office right out of the Academy, you are there as long as you want to be. It is an indefinite assignment. You will not be affected by the current 3-year non-voluntary rotational transfer (NVRT), and you can basically retire in that office.

If you get one of the smaller 41 offices, you WILL get sent to a top 15 at your 3 year anniversary (EOD). This NVRT is the current policy only though, and it very well may change in the next few years.

The only offices you can go back to if you processed from there are NY, LA, SF, and now DC.

Also, you will NOT get sent overseas out of the Academy. It just ain't gonna happen. And you will very likely not get sent overseas involuntarily as an agent, either. Most of the overseas posts are highly sought after and competitive to get to.

[Group9]

You have the DEA and FBI down there. Between the two, the DEA is more para-military when it comes to training. The FBI is not para-military when it comes to training. They focus alot more on classroom instruction.

I would agree with this, but would add that even the DEA is not nearly as para-military as your average state police academy. In the DEA academy, you wear BDU's and combat boots most of the time, often run to classes, do a lot more PT, and have more of a basic trainee/drill instructor relationship with your instructors than they do in the FBI. But, it is still pretty low key compared to the way most state trooper's do it.

[Instinct]

No matter which federal agency you apply for, FBI or otherwise, if you hire on thinking you have found a way to beat the system and go where you want to go, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. The only way to be sure is to sign on knowing you could be working anywhere and to be okay with that.

Thank you for this sage advice, I appreciate it. Of course, I would prefer a certain geographic area, but I would be content enough just working for the FBI! :cool:

Thanks again!

[Instinct]

:D

If you get a big (top 15) office right out of the Academy, you are there as long as you want to be. It is an indefinite assignment. You will not be affected by the current 3-year non-voluntary rotational transfer (NVRT), and you can basically retire in that office.

If you get one of the smaller 41 offices, you WILL get sent to a top 15 at your 3 year anniversary (EOD). This NVRT is the current policy only though, and it very well may change in the next few years.

The only offices you can go back to if you processed from there are NY, LA, SF, and now DC.

Also, you will NOT get sent overseas out of the Academy. It just ain't gonna happen. And you will very likely not get sent overseas involuntarily as an agent, either. Most of the overseas posts are highly sought after and competitive to get to.

Good information, thank you for sharing! Thanks to all who have contributed, as you have been very helpful.