Fbi Hrt

[Shurta]

Does anyone know just how "accelerated" the application process is for the FBI when applying through the HRT program? They say it's a critical need, but don't mention how long it would take. Everyone I know who's gone the regular SA application route was looking at a 1.5 to 2 years wait.

[dove]

It will probably still take at least a year from what I hear.

[Switchback]

You still need to meet the requirements for an agent. It is "streamlined" should we say.

They are desperate. There have been grumbling of the HRT opening up DOJ-wide for several years. Who would have thought that you would have a hard time getting members for a tactical team when you focus your hiring on desk-jockeying-pencil-pushers.

They need to get back to hiring more cops... they need people who remember how to get their hands dirty.

[Shurta]

Dove- If the Army can swing another year in Iraq, so can I.

Switch- You just sealed the deal for me. I consider myself a dirty handed pencil pusher. Getting a lot of experience on both sides of the fence...the application goes in tomorrow.


For now, Happy Thanksgiving. It's even better than Ramadan...

[rocko]

Who would have thought that you would have a hard time getting members for a tactical team when you focus your hiring on desk-jockeying-pencil-pushers.

They need to get back to hiring more cops... they need people who remember how to get their hands dirty.

It's a shame they did not see this coming like everyone else who has had to work with their "new" crop. Why is it surprising that an agent whose previous jobs were sitting in front of computers has no people skills?

[Maverick24]

You still need to meet the requirements for an agent. It is "streamlined" should we say.

They are desperate. There have been grumbling of the HRT opening up DOJ-wide for several years. Who would have thought that you would have a hard time getting members for a tactical team when you focus your hiring on desk-jockeying-pencil-pushers.

They need to get back to hiring more cops... they need people who remember how to get their hands dirty.

Totally agree with you Switchback (and you would know better than most). It seems like the bureau has been focusing on desk-type backgrounds for YEARS now. (financing, computers, etc) Maybe its finally time to refocus on Law Enforcement/Military experience again. I was shocked when I first saw that there was an announcement specifically for HRT. You would think there would be a line of current bureau agents a mile long to get into that group!

[Switchback]

They readily wave the time requirement now, for those that actually bring something to the tactical table.


...and FWIW, I probably shouldn't cast that stone. I was a lab geek before being hired. :D

[Maverick24]

They readily wave the time requirement now, for those that actually bring something to the tactical table.


...and FWIW, I probably shouldn't cast that stone. I was a lab geek before being hired. :D

lol! Switchback a lab geek???? I always figured you for one of those ex-spec ops super-ninja guys! :D

[Group9]

Totally agree with you Switchback (and you would know better than most). It seems like the bureau has been focusing on desk-type backgrounds for YEARS now. (financing, computers, etc) Maybe its finally time to refocus on Law Enforcement/Military experience again. I was shocked when I first saw that there was an announcement specifically for HRT. You would think there would be a line of current bureau agents a mile long to get into that group!

Another way to find agents would be to work out a loner program with all of the DOJ agencies where tactically trained agents from ATF, DEA and the USMS who wanted to pull a tour with HRT were recruited.

Although the FBI has shyed away from hiring the type of agent who is interested in stuff like HRT, those agencies recruit individuals with those skills, aptitudes, experience and attitudes. Experience agents with the right backgrounds would seem to be a preferable alternative to inexperiened agents with the right backgrounds.

The only thing I could see sinking an idea like that though, would be the Bureau's own ego. I just don't think they could swallow their pride enough to do it.

[bel]

You still need to meet the requirements for an agent. It is "streamlined" should we say.

They are desperate. There have been grumbling of the HRT opening up DOJ-wide for several years. Who would have thought that you would have a hard time getting members for a tactical team when you focus your hiring on desk-jockeying-pencil-pushers.

They need to get back to hiring more cops... they need people who remember how to get their hands dirty.

"desk-jockeying-penci-pushers", impressive. Haven't heard that before.

[Switchback]

Should I take from your curt little comment that I offended you? Do you disagree? I can't tell. The thing is, I think you will be hard pressed to find a lot of people who are familiar with the bureau to disagree. Look around. While the bureau likes to think they are the best-of-the-best. They are hardly all that they think they are. They are the best-of-the-best when it comes to lobbying Congress for money. THAT is where they excel and they do a great job.

However, in all other regards, they are just like anyone else... there are good investigators and bad ones. They have some great agents and some real POS agents.

The biggest flaw in the agency is that they do not recruit enough agents that can provide any tactical expertise. They recruit specialists for specific investigation roles. These roles generally are not in violent crimes and the personnel they choose often reflect that. Frankly, most agents that I work with are not all that comfortable on the street. They often seem more adept to a desk. I am VERY lucky to work closely with an FBI task force where there always tends to be a really good street agent or 2, but they are not the norm. I worked with a phenomenal agent in Afghanistan, while his partner seemed like more of a liability when leaving compound.

I didn't mean to hurt your fragile ego. I am just saying that while recruiting certain specialists proves very useful for specific investigations, it often precludes the knuckle-dragging-trigger-pullers needed for tactical operations... and yes, I have been called that before. If I am wrong, why is the bureau having a hard time staffing the HRT? Why are they waving the time requirement for those with desirable experience?

If it makes you feel better, you can refer to us in the Marshals Service as court-jockeying, prisoner chauffers. I really don't care. I am happy with what I do and I know plenty of FBI agents that would love to be on my fugitive task force.

(Also, FWIW, I am not a disgruntled FBI reject. Belive it or not, I was being fast-tracked for my degree and experience a few years back. I backed out, deciding that the cut-throat, morgue office environment was not for me.)

[bel]

Do I disagree, yes. Just like any other Agency, we have our Agents who don't spend all that much time on the street (specifically in the CT/Intelligence realm). But for you to generalize about the rest of the Bureau is not giving the general pubic (since this is a public forum) a good idea of what I do day to day. I've arrested more than my share of fugitives, drug dealers, murder for hire, innocent image offenders, etc., etc., etc. in my last five years than many other law enforcement officers I work with on a daily basis. Congrats, you work for the USMS, but I'm pretty happy where I sit. We have numerous squads: fugitive, drugs, gangs, violent crimes, major offenders, and our resident agencies where our Agents work alongside PO's everyday. Oh yeah, and when we go out to make an arrest we get a full magazine of ammo too.

It's easy to generalize, but I try not to make sweeping comments about other Agencies and their sworn officers.

[Switchback]

Ooooh... it seems I have hit a nerve. Sorry.

FWIW, I never doubted they gave you a full magazine. The problem is (as with many of our newer hires), that does not speak to one's proficiency to use it.

As I already said, the bureau is like any other agency. Trust me when I say that we have had our own issues with hiring initiatives, such as our wonderful co-op program. I did not speak poorly of the FBIs ability to perform investigations proficiently. There is nothing wrong with the agency recruiting those who they feel can perform those investigations most effectively. So, it was hardly the slam on your precious agency that you are making it. Rather, I was speaking about operators for your HRT.

For example, I will agree with you that the CT/Intel guys are great at what they do. However, that is neither here nor there, as that rarely correlates to an operator for you HRT. Isn't that what this thread is about? Isn't it true that your HRT is hurting for personnel?

I am sorry that you took offense to my statements about your often very specifically-recruited investigators not necessarily possessing the skillset to be on HRT. You see, I don't bring any particular investigative talents to the table. Fugitive investigations are rarely that complicated. As I already said, I'm just a knuckle-dragging trigger puller that does a decent job at catching half-wits with felony warrants.

I promise to not to say anything else that you could perceive as a slam to the FBI... for at least a week or so. (I'll try to behave a little more nicely... really)

[Joeyd6]

I promise to not to say anything else that you could perceive as a slam to the FBI... for at least a week or so. (I'll try to behave a little more nicely... really)

Switch, you better watch the DOJ website. I bet there will be a press release from the Bureau taking credit for pointing out they screwed up in the past few years hiring desk jockeys and not cops.

[bel]

Ooooh... it seems I have hit a nerve. Sorry.

FWIW, I never doubted they gave you a full magazine. The problem is (as with many of our newer hires), that does not speak to one's proficiency to use it.

As I already said, the bureau is like any other agency. Trust me when I say that we have had our own issues with hiring initiatives, such as our wonderful co-op program. I did not speak poorly of the FBIs ability to perform investigations proficiently. There is nothing wrong with the agency recruiting those who they feel can perform those investigations most effectively. So, it was hardly the slam on your precious agency that you are making it. Rather, I was speaking about operators for your HRT.

For example, I will agree with you that the CT/Intel guys are great at what they do. However, that is neither here nor there, as that rarely correlates to an operator for you HRT. Isn't that what this thread is about? Isn't it true that your HRT is hurting for personnel?

I am sorry that you took offense to my statements about your often very specifically-recruited investigators not necessarily possessing the skillset to be on HRT. You see, I don't bring any particular investigative talents to the table. Fugitive investigations are rarely that complicated. As I already said, I'm just a knuckle-dragging trigger puller that does a decent job at catching half-wits with felony warrants.

I promise to not to say anything else that you could perceive as a slam to the FBI... for at least a week or so. (I'll try to behave a little more nicely... really)

Ok Switchback, I'll try to briefly address your points, and avoid Joey's altogether since I can tell his were wise, well thought out, and most importantly, really very mature remarks.

Yes this topic is about HRT and probably should stay on track, but I think it began to derail right around the pencil pusher comments and only being good at asking congress for money. The reason we get some money is because we are reasonably good at doing our jobs, by in large.

One of my buddy's who I processed with just went to HRT, and yes they are strained for manpower. They have tradionally been strained for Agents since they began to expand the team years ago, and never more so strained than since the Iraq war began. They depoloy to Iraq on a regular basis, and spend a lot of time on other deployments, and it is hard to staff the team when the average Agent spends approximately 4-5 years on the team. Many (who are qualified) don't go because of time away from family, and the satisfaction of being a "knuckle dragger" on each Division's SWAT or enhanced SWAT team. I have never heard that HRT will be opened to other DOJ components, although I am fully aware that they have gone into to assist the USM and others in major operations (waco, ruby ridge, freemen, etc).

Any other agency, including the USMS, may have problems staffing a team like HRT because of the reasons above, even though they don't hire pencil pushers like us.

My roomate in Quantico was a SWAT member of a large PD prior to joining the Bureau (we do have plenty of PO's who apply and make it through the process, apparently contrary to popular belief), and he is perfectly happy with FBI SWAT now that he has two kids of his own.

Did you strike a nerve (since you like to try to bait me with your ohhs and ahhs), somewhat, but its because you (and Joey apparently), like to disparage a FLEA and I don't think it's fair to allow the comments to go unchallenged, especially when the poster of the question asked about HRT and in addition gets a lot of sidebar opinion.

Again, we have our people, just like you readily admit USMS has their people, including in our District. Some of those, rightfully so, are babysitting prisoners or standing in courtrooms. Some of ours are not on the street on a regular basis.

You love your job, I love mine, so to the original poster, believe it or not, you can be very happy, satisfied, and content arresting bad guys and putting them away for a long time working for the Bureau. You are evaluated by how bad guys you put away, and you can't complain about a job like that. A few years down the road, they will give you the chance to try out for SWAT and/or HRT, but you are an Agent first.

OK Joey, bring on the "one liners"...