Question regarding the USSS

[psu11186]

Hello Everyone,

I have a question regarding getting hired as a Secret Service SA. Does anyone know that when it comes to getting hired if the USSS prefers any type of law enforcement experience over another. For example, would a local cop have a better shot at getting hired than someone who is in the private security field (i.e. casino security). I ask this because my father's friend was hired and he was casino security at Harrah's, I believe, but it has also been 25+ years since then. Also, I have heard that if you are UD, you have a slim shot at making it through the SA application process.

Thanks in advance.

[Maverick24]

Secret Service is like most federal agencies. There is no one magic "formula" that they go for. They hire a variety of experience levels, both leo and non-leo. Although there is no "fast-track" for UD applicants, they can and do get hired as SA's. A friend of mine was UD and went to SA a few years later.

[Kimble]

For example, would a local cop have a better shot at getting hired than someone who is in the private security field (i.e. casino security).

To be clear, security (whether for a casino or otherwise) is not law enforcement. Apples and oranges. Both wear uniforms, and security does some of the same functions of law enforcment, but the two are not the same and will not be counted as the same by a hiring agency.

I do know of an agent with USSS who started out in corporate security doing fraud investigations. Law enforcement isn't the only background that will get you on board with USSS.

[Valor55]

I very seriously considered going USSS after college but ended up going local LE. Anyway, I was told at that time that it was more difficult to to SA from UD than from outside the agency. I was told I would have to apply for permission to apply to SA. I don't know if it's still like that or not.

I did work with a guy who spent time in the UD. That is essentially asset protection. Sit here and guard this gate for your whole shift. It's tedious. It is also essentially just security work. My co-worker spent 5 years there and even made it into their "patrol" division. He said even that was bad because you would get in trouble for being proactive. If a serious felony occurred in your presence you might not get in trouble for intervening.

If you want to be a USSS SA I would recommend just being a cop in a busy city. Get some SWAT training if you can.

[basher52]

I have several personal friends who jumped ship, from Police agencys to USSS and were very disapointed. You need to decide what you are looking for in a law enforcement job, as the job discription varies, especially among the FED agencys.

[psu11186]

I have several personal friends who jumped ship, from Police agencys to USSS and were very disapointed. You need to decide what you are looking for in a law enforcement job, as the job discription varies, especially among the FED agencys.

Thanks for all of the responses. Basher, I am doing some research on other agencies also. So far, I've done some on the USSS, USPIS, FBI, ATF, and DCIS (by research I don't mean that I'm doing this for a project or anything, just looking at websites, etc to see what I am interested in). Thanks for your input as well. I have heard that a lot of people nowadays are jumping ship from the USSS because of travel and being away from family, etc.

[basher52]

Thanks for all of the responses. Basher, I am doing some research on other agencies also. So far, I've done some on the USSS, USPIS, FBI, ATF, and DCIS (by research I don't mean that I'm doing this for a project or anything, just looking at websites, etc to see what I am interested in). Thanks for your input as well. I have heard that a lot of people nowadays are jumping ship from the USSS because of travel and being away from family, etc.

The friends I mentioned were NYPD and NY State Police. Two were street cops and one an investigator. They all felt the Fed benefits were far superior to their agency's, but the work was lackluster compared to their former jobs. They all dreaded the protection details and equated it to being a high paid security guard. Luckily none were assigned steady protection details, they primarily did investigations. The investigations can be very interesting work, just not as exciting as what they were doing.

[zxcvbnm]

Thanks for all of the responses. Basher, I am doing some research on other agencies also. So far, I've done some on the USSS, USPIS, FBI, ATF, and DCIS (by research I don't mean that I'm doing this for a project or anything, just looking at websites, etc to see what I am interested in). Thanks for your input as well. I have heard that a lot of people nowadays are jumping ship from the USSS because of travel and being away from family, etc.

Whatd you think about DCIS?

[LastChance36]

DCIS is not a very proactive law enf. agency per say. Alot of thier mission involves BI's on DOD personnel and applicants, and alot of fraud inside DOD. Only DCIS agent I have ever met worked out of his home with very little oversight or supervision of any larger office. He was not enamored with the job, but after leaving another 1811 gig he disliked even worse, he said he would stay for a while.
As for doing reasearch on an agency, that is a wise move. Remember that each fed. agency is not like a local or state police agency in that they do not investigate all types of crimes. Each fed agency is charged with investigating a different area. Look at it like a pie and each fed. agency has a different size piece and they have to have a "nexus" or proof that a crime falls under their jurisdiction before they can be involved. Whatever decision you make, try to imagine if you will be happy investigating ONLY the types of crimes that agency handles for 20-25 years. I.e. DEA..will you still enjoy working dope in 15 years?
From most of the former USSS 1811's I know for example, (and I know alot of them) that are with other agencies, the vast majority of them signed on with the image of doing protection and all the other high profile assignments people see them doing. Investigating counterfeiting, credit and access device fraud and being away from home so much were not what they bargained for. Given, it is their fault for not putting as much forethought into it as maybe they should have, not the USSS', but regardless of whom is to blame, once they got there they could not see themselves doing that job for the next 20 years.
Talk to as many different agents from as many different agencies as you can and ask them how they like their jobs. Ask them more importantly, if they could do it again, would they chose that same agency. Bear in mind that some people just can not be happy regardless of where they are and what they do, but it would still give you a good honest view of that agency.

[Kimble]

psu11186,

Your profile says you're a student at Penn State, so I'd recommend doing an internship (or more than one). I did one with USSS, and it was after doing so that I decided it wasn't right for me. I've since found the federal agency I think I'll be most happy with and end up retiring from (rather than becoming an "agency jumper").

[Big Sexy]

(rather than becoming an "agency jumper").

As a man who is currently with his third agency, BIG SEXY resembles that remark!! :mad:

[Big Sexy]

:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

[Kimble]

As a man who is currently with his third agency, BIG SEXY resembles that remark!! :mad:

I didn't want to name names, but seeing as how you left yourself right out in the open....




:p

[Big Sexy]

I didn't want to name names, but seeing as how you left yourself right out in the open....
:p

It does sem to be a trend as of late. :confused:

[psu11186]

Whatd you think about DCIS?

ZXC,

The main reason why I was interested in DCIS is because my neighbor is an 1811 with them and really enjoys it. His son recently joined right out of college and likes it as well. The only downside that I see with that is that it seems to be very repetitive, and I've also seen some things said about that agency that are quite negative, like you will not advance unless you "know somebody" in the 'front office' per say.

ROS,

I am currently in the process of applying for an internship at my county detective's narcotics unit. I missed the cut off date for most fed agencies due to the fact that my adviser messed things up with my transcript and other details like that.

I will be a senior next year, so do you think that it would be wise to do an internship next summer after I graduate? The Secret Service really interests me because I am very interested in white collar crimes and counterfeit investigations, etc. and because it seems like a good opportunity to travel the world (I am sure that would change when I have a family). I have a high attention to detail.

With that being said, thank you all for your input. I look forward to posting on here more and getting more input. You all seem very knowledgeable.

One more question: ROS, from viewing other threads, I have seen that you have been through FLETC, as I am sure many of the posters here have. What is it like? Is is like a normal police academy (PT, firearms, classroom), or is it more unique?

Thanks

Edit: Nevermind ROS, I see your sticky thread