DEA Info

[RAMEDIRK]

Good evening,

I'm sure all of you have seen that the DEA plans to lift the freeze and hire 200 agents...good news!

I was in the process before the freeze before joining OSI and have received a good deal of info from some of the DEA guys I've worked with, but the question I do not understand is regarding first assignments.

How are they determined and what are the primary offices new hires are sent to work (NYC, LA, MIAMI, etc...)? I get different answers and maybe it's one of those "it depends" answers. Also, if there are any DEA guys on this site, without violating opsec, what is your feel for the job? Satisfaction, day-to-day... Tons of paperwork? Always looking for different perspectives. Thanks in advance for any information you are able to provide.

[Switchback]

First assignments are dependant on the needs of the agency. PERIOD. You find out where you are being assigned towards the end of the academy.

There's a DEA agent that frequents the board. Perhaps he will grace our thread with his presence and enlighten you on any further questions.

[SSA1811]

Let us not forget about Group9, if he can't give you info about DEA, no one can (Administrator Karen Tandy notwithstanding).

.

[Switchback]

LOL
I was referring to Group, not wanting to throw him under the bus, though. :D

[RAMEDIRK]

I'd love to hear from this legend known as "Group", who is this man who you speak of :D

Thanks for the info, please if there are individuals knowledgeable on this subject please chime in.

[BP348]

I would think that all 200 spots will be filled by guys/gals who have already finished the process and were waiting on the call when they put the freeze on.

[Group9]

Group here!

First, I wouldn't get too excited about that 200 agent hiring thing. With the current budget situation, I personally, will be highly surprised to see 200 agents hired in FY 2008.

Second, as to the job. It's an investigative job and you have to document what you discover. That is the bulk of the paperwork. I doubt it is much better or worse than any other agency in that regard.

Third, as to where you will be sent. A lot of agencies say you can be assigned anywhere in the USA. DEA is one of those agencies that really means it.

There are a lot of opportunities for different assignments.

As to what the job is like, well that depends on where you are. The job of an agent in Miami, New York, Houston, or some other large source city, is going to be a lot different than an agent in a small RAC office. An agent assigned to Bogota or Kabul is going to be doing different things than an agent assigned to Paris or Saigon.

Some days its really fun and thrilling, and some days, it is boring as hell, like most police work.

I've been doing it for about 17 years with this agency, and I worked at another large federal agency before that, and two state agencies. I've been very happy here, but that doesn't mean that you would be happy here. You have a lot of freedom, and DEA is very unstructured. Some people like that, and some people don't. Self starters thrive here, but those who need to be given specific tasks and assignments kind of wither. Supervision is generally minimal, especially if you are making cases and arrests. You either need to be an A type, or quickly partner up with an A type.

Ask some more specific questions and I'll try to answer them.

[RAMEDIRK]

Group here!

First, I wouldn't get too excited about that 200 agent hiring thing. With the current budget situation, I personally, will be highly surprised to see 200 agents hired in FY 2008.

Second, as to the job. It's an investigative job and you have to document what you discover. That is the bulk of the paperwork. I doubt it is much better or worse than any other agency in that regard.

Third, as to where you will be sent. A lot of agencies say you can be assigned anywhere in the USA. DEA is one of those agencies that really means it.

There are a lot of opportunities for different assignments.

As to what the job is like, well that depends on where you are. The job of an agent in Miami, New York, Houston, or some other large source city, is going to be a lot different than an agent in a small RAC office. An agent assigned to Bogota or Kabul is going to be doing different things than an agent assigned to Paris or Saigon.

Some days its really fun and thrilling, and some days, it is boring as hell, like most police work.

I've been doing it for about 17 years with this agency, and I worked at another large federal agency before that, and two state agencies. I've been very happy here, but that doesn't mean that you would be happy here. You have a lot of freedom, and DEA is very unstructured. Some people like that, and some people don't. Self starters thrive here, but those who need to be given specific tasks and assignments kind of wither. Supervision is generally minimal, especially if you are making cases and arrests. You either need to be an A type, or quickly partner up with an A type.

Ask some more specific questions and I'll try to answer them.

Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it. I don't remember my timeline since it was so long ago by I know I had the PT, Poly, Hiring Pool and BI left.

Is it difficult to get the assignments to Kabul and such?

Does DEA conduct it's own crime scene investigations or is that a separate team? I guess I want to know are you allowed to specialize in drugs, which is something I really would love to get into.

How has the job affected your personal and/or family life?

I've always been impressed with the DEA guys I've worked with. Very professional, outgoing personalities and independent. I wish I would transfer over but you guys don't accept FLETC/CITP...what the hell;)

Thanks for any info you can provide!

[Switchback]

You've been through CITP and you still have to ask what type of effect the job has on personal/family life? Unless you are from some small OIG, live as an 1811 is pretty similar across the board.

Of course, UC work can be a bit more demanding, as well as the overseas assignments (which are no limited to DEA). Being on the FAST team seems like one of the most demanding federal LE gigs I have ever seen (and this is comong from someone gone a lot on our Special Operations Group)!!!

FWIW, all the guys I met overseas were a little more seasoned. They want guys with a little time and experience under their belt.

[RAMEDIRK]

You've been through CITP and you still have to ask what type of effect the job has on personal/family life? Unless you are from some small OIG, live as an 1811 is pretty similar across the board.

Of course, UC work can be a bit more demanding, as well as the overseas assignments (which are no limited to DEA). Being on the FAST team seems like one of the most demanding federal LE gigs I have ever seen (and this is comong from someone gone a lot on our Special Operations Group)!!!

FWIW, all the guys I met overseas were a little more seasoned. They want guys with a little time and experience under their belt.

Because I've been to CITP doesn't mean I'm a genious regarding every agencies affect on the personal life. From a OSI point of view I can tell you it's tuff at times, we investigate a lot of different things. Broad and limited jurisdiction in some ways. You are more of a jack of all trades (rapes, murder, child molestation, drugs, CI, etc...). I think I'd prefer the specialization of other agencies such as DEA, USSS.

I heard a lot about the FAST team, if I got on w/ DEA that's something I'd definitely inquire about. We have something similar called AST.

Thanks

[Switchback]

Well, as I said, I am on our SOG and it is rather demanding by most standards. I average being gone about half the year, having been gone 9 months this year. Take THAT in consideration when I say that FAST looks a bit demanding for me... it's tough to have a life outside of it.

[Group9]

Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it. I don't remember my timeline since it was so long ago by I know I had the PT, Poly, Hiring Pool and BI left.

Is it difficult to get the assignments to Kabul and such?

Not once you have a few years on, and if you have a good reputation. Some jobs, like FAST, which was mentioned above, have some extra qualifications and extra training, but that's true for some domestic assignments, like clan labs, as well. Since about ten percent of DEA is assigned overseas at any one time in sixty something countries, it is pretty easy to go overseas as long as you are not looking for just vacation and resort type areas. There aren't many agents with good reputations who want to go overseas, who don't get to go. Plus, if you are working good cases, you will be going TDY overseas from time to time as well.

Does DEA conduct it's own crime scene investigations or is that a separate team? I guess I want to know are you allowed to specialize in drugs, which is something I really would love to get into.

No, we pretty much process all of our own evidence, as long as it is a drug investigation. And, yes, everyone in DEA pretty much specializes in drug investigations, unless you are assigned to some collateral job or duty at some point in your career.

How has the job affected your personal and/or family life?

About like most police jobs. I'm on my second marriage, but it would be too easy to blame that on the job. I had too much fun working when I first started.

I've always been impressed with the DEA guys I've worked with. Very professional, outgoing personalities and independent. I wish I would transfer over but you guys don't accept FLETC/CITP...what the hell;)

Thanks for any info you can provide!

Well, we have our ten percenters like everyone else, (even though I myself, am pretty amazing and all of those wonderful things you said) but being happy in a federal job is getting the one that makes you happy, not the one that makes me or anyone else happy. Do some more research and you will probably find several agencies that would suit you, too. You don't want to have all your eggs in one basket in these financial and budgetary times.

Good luck!

[RAMEDIRK]

Group..

Thanks for the info, very detailed and helpful. I appreciate it. Always good to see somebody elses view of the job. Thanks Switch for the FAST perspective. I'll let ya know if I hear anything. Have a great New Years and don't do anything stupid (telling myself to be honest).

lata

[SSA1811]

Contrary to DEA's own humble and self-effacing pronouncements of only being a "single mission" Agency, much of what the Agency does frequently overlaps with US State Department, Defense Department, and Intelligence community initiatives.

I'm more familiar with DEA's domestic Mobile Enforcement Teams ("MET") than I am with their Foreign-Deployed Advisory and Support Teams ("FAST"), however, even cursory internet research about FAST Operations in Afghanistan will reveal the Departmental cooperation and "overlap".

If you want to be on the front lines of the "war on drugs", DEA is the lead Agency!


.

[Switchback]

Oh, yeah... and in some places there is a lot more "war" in that "war in drugs"... I know first-hand. Many have no idea what quiet professionals many of these guys are.