DSS locations

[crusader55]

Do DS agents get to make requests for which location they would like to work at? For example, if a new agent wants to work at the embassy in Seoul, can he/she request to work there?

[Nole795]

Do DS agents get to make requests for which location they would like to work at? For example, if a new agent wants to work at the embassy in Seoul, can he/she request to work there?

No...chances are as a new agent you are going to go to a country in the Congo or one that ends in "stan"

[lifeisgood1]

You get to bid, as in rank, for your desired posts. Your first two posts are directable - the State Dept. can tell you where they want you to go...and you go there. After that, it's based upon merit, but mostly of course on needs of the service.

You probably wouldn't go to Seoul, or anywhere overseas until your second tour. That being said, there's an exception for every rule.

[crusader55]

Ok. I understand its based on the needs of the department so if I ever got hired I'd be willing to anywhere.

I would like to go to an Asian country if possible though due to my language skills. After 4-5 years in DS is it possible to get to Asia or is that part of the world too competative?

[DSS-137]

This is something I typed up a while back and think it might shed a little light on the topic. Though, this is more aimed at the first few years of your career rather than the overseas stuff, which generally occurs after a domestic assignment or two. Areas of the World aren't necessarily the hard part as far as bidding, instead it is left to having an opening in the Embassy at the time you're bidding, combined with being the "best-fit" candidate, and a bit of luck. You can have your sights set on Beijing and find yourself in Burma, Bangladesh, and East Timor before you eventually get Beijing later in your career. It all works out in the end, you'll find yourself loving the assignments you thought would suck and hating the ones you spend a career trying to get. ;)

Here's a basic timeline after your start date in DC:

• 3-4 weeks at the Foreign Service Institute and the DS training center for admin type stuff. (Snooz-fest for the most part)

• 12 weeks at FLETC for the Criminal Investigator Training Program

• 16 weeks at the DS training center in northern Virginia(Basic Special Agent Course / BSAC)

• Graduation & travel to your first assignment

I can answer questions about things within that timeline if you'd like...

Usually the first assignment will land you in a field office (NY, DC, Miami, Chicago, Houston, LA, San Francisco). Sometimes there are a few Resident Agent office spots available in some smaller cities (San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, etc.) for the same type of work. Other times there will be one or two openings to be an Assistant Regional Security Officer (ARSO) in Embassies somewhere in the world. I would bet on a field office though.

Work at a field office is centered around investigating passport and visa fraud cases. The cases vary quite a bit, so it all depends on how the investigations pan out as to whether or not you end up with a "good" case. Depending on which field office you end up in, there are usually lots of opportunities for short-term assignments to protective details.

Protective details vary in length and complexity. I have been on details which visited a few major cities in the U.S. over the course of a week or two and I've been on details which have started and finished within a few hours. Protection is a big part of the job and will trump most other things on your schedule 99% of the time. Some people really enjoy it while others hate it.

After agents finish their first assignment (we'll say it is to a field office), they'll usually end up heading to DC for a "headquarters" assignment. "Headquarters" assignments are basically another name for most assignments to the DC area doing anything other than working at the Washington field office. These HQ assignments are where about 1/3 of our agents work. (1/3 in field offices and 1/3 in embassies overseas)

After the HQ assignment, most agents are up against the "6 year rule", which says you have to be assigned to an overseas post. So, agents will go through more training (ARSO school) and any language school that's required.

From that point on the typical career as a DS agent will have you moving back and forth from DC to an overseas post. Occasionally you'll end up with a mid-career assignment to one of the field offices or resident agent offices for more criminal investigations related work.

When you're at FSI during the first 3-4 weeks, you'll be given a list of open assignments for your class. Each person will submit a bid-sheet ranking their top few choices from the list. You won't get too much of a say in where you go during your first 4-5 years (2 assignments), but they'll do what they can to help you. You'll find out where you're heading before you leave the DC area for FLETC. As a new agent, 99% of the places they'd send you are going to be a lot of fun. If the assignments cause any stress for people, then I think it's a pretty good indicator that there will be similar issues later during their career with DS. Traveling & relocating is part of the job...

[Nole795]

The above is a really good post!!!

[bigmanallen]

Just an update to the excellent previous post: the 6 year rule has been shortened to the 5 year rule. Overseas sooner -- sounds like something that would interest you.