A very interesting question for the S/A community.

[Jael]

Hello,

My name is Charles, I'm a long time reader first time poster (yay for me). Ive been interested in the SA field for possibly 10 years now, that makes me sound old, however I am only 21. Where I am interested in is the USMS and the FBI (not to common huh? *sarcasm intended*). Well really since I've prolonged the question here it goes.

Are you married?

How has your service with the Marshal and FBI affected your Marriage?

I ask this because I myself can see...Myself, marrying whom I am with currently, She is utterly supportive of my desires to pursue this field of Law Enforcement, So its inspired me further to "Up my game" and become more qualified under their needs currently"

Thank you

[Joeyd6]

The only way the job will cause marriage problems is if you let it! Don't bring work home and don't bring home to work. Don't matter if if you flip burgers, drive trucks, firefighter or cop! As long as she is supportive and knows you:
1) Will work irregular hours.
2) Have a gun.
3) May have to move a few times.
...all will be well!

[Kimble]

I'm just a fed-in-training, but will be certified as 1811 upon graduation from CITP in 2 weeks and 2 days. I'm married, and it's tough for my wife. I'm a newly wed, and we literally had a week of married life together before I had to leave for training. I'm in a nother state in training while she's trying to sell our house back home (we'll both be moving together to a separate state for my first duty station). We see each other every 2-3 weeks, but talk daily. So, at least initially while in training, it will be tough.

I'll leave it to the more experienced feds to tell you about life "in the field", as I haven't been there yet, but ~5 months of training away from family isn't easy. Prepare your wife beforehand so she has no misunderstandings.

[Maverick24]

I'm just a fed-in-training, but will be certified as 1811 upon graduation from CITP in 2 weeks and 2 days. I'm married, and it's tough for my wife. I'm a newly wed, and we literally had a week of married life together before I had to leave for training. I'm in a nother state in training while she's trying to sell our house back home (we'll both be moving together to a separate state for my first duty station). We see each other every 2-3 weeks, but talk daily. So, at least initially while in training, it will be tough.

I'll leave it to the more experienced feds to tell you about life "in the field", as I haven't been there yet, but ~5 months of training away from family isn't easy. Prepare your wife beforehand so she has no misunderstandings.

Wow, just 2 weeks left for CITP already? You are really moving along ROS! You will be done before you know it! Time really flies...

[Kimble]

Wow, just 2 weeks left for CITP already? You are really moving along ROS! You will be done before you know it! Time really flies...

Time does indeed fly when you work 6 days a week, bro! ;)

We're all sweating the fact that one of our classmates was in a prior class and got hurt 6 days before graduation, and had to go through CITP with us from the start (all the way back to Training Day 1 of 56). We're all praying we are not as unfortunate, especially him!

[Maverick24]

I hear you ROS. We had a guy slip a disc in his back doing takedowns toward the end of FLETC. Great guy. I thought he was done. He got surgery however, and they recycled him through a later class. I couldnt believe when I heard that he recovered so quick! Just be careful man, and dont get TOO carried away when throwing each other around :D

[BP348]

The time apart is what does it. You can be gone on detail for long periods of time but it could also be simple stuff like having to work on the weekend or X-mas or during your child's birthday party. Sucks but that's part of it.

Just be glad most 1811's work Monday - Friday. Two worst parts about being in a uniformed LEO position is the shift work (bothers her more than me) and the changing days off.

Really sucks to have Monday & Tuesday this week and Friday & Saturday next week, not that I get weekends that much, well OK I now have enough seniority that I've been getting Sunday & Monday as my days off (so I can watch football ) But I worked plenty of the other and when I was an undergrad spliting my day well that really sucked.

2 more weeks and ROS is buying the beer :D:D

[SSA1811]

Just be glad most 1811's work Monday - Friday.

I've got a copy of an intercepted cellphone conversation between two dopers where one was telling the other, "Don't worry, the Feds don't work on weekends or holidays!".

This is obviously not true of course, but the perception nevertheless persists.

Back to Jael's original question: It doesn't matter whether you are FBI or US Marshals, or other Federal, or State, or Local, or plainsclothes, or uniformed Law Enforcement, from my experience, if you are doing your job, there will be times when "the job" will require that that you "steal precious time away from your wife and family". It comes with the territory.

You will not realize it when you are young, gung-ho, and going to save the world, but you will when you get older and songs like Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle" have a different meaning ......


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