Border Patrol Agent, northern border

[davejoyce2000]

Do candidates seeking positions at the northern borders require to learn Spanish at the academy too? Why do they need to learn Spanish when there are less Spanish people coming from above then below from the southern borders. It doesn't make any sense at all.

Do the border patrol agents at the northern boders work in checkpoints only? I can't picture them patrolling the desert since there aren't any up north. So exactly what do they do at the northern border?

[drkknght]

Do candidates seeking positions at the northern borders require to learn Spanish at the academy too? Why do they need to learn Spanish when there are less Spanish people coming from above then below from the southern borders. It doesn't make any sense at all.

Just because you applied for the North border does not mean thats where you will go to after you complete the academy. You will be assigned to somewhere on the South west border as it says in the FAQ section on there website. It took me less than five minutes to find this information:rolleyes:



Q: What happens when I finish all the hiring process requirements?
A: You will be offered a position in the CBP Border Patrol at a pay grade of GL-5, GL-7 or GL-9, depending on your qualifications. This is when you will be told where on the Southwest border you will be stationed. The initial offer will be made by phone, followed by a confirmation letter. You will be given a time, date and place to report. Though we try to avoid this, the time between receiving your notification and the time for reporting may be just barely enough time to give your current employer appropriate notice, so please be prepared.

Q: Are trainees required to learn the Spanish language?
A: Yes. Knowledge of Spanish is essential since many of the persons with whom Border Patrol Agents come into contact speak only Spanish. Within the first two weeks of arrival at the academy, trainees will be tested for their Spanish language skills, and if the applicant passes the language test, they will return to their duty station upon successful completion of the basic training. Trainees who do not pass the Spanish Language test will complete the basic training and will also attend an additional 8 weeks of Spanish language training. Applicants must pass a series of Spanish tests after entering on duty in order to continue in the CBP Border Patrol


Q: As a Border Patrol Agent, where will I be stationed?
A: Every new Border Patrol Agent's first duty station is located somewhere along the U.S. Southwest border with Mexico. You can expect your first posting to be in California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas. (Many stations are in small isolated communities, some of which have poor schools and medical facilities.) Here you will learn all the many challenges and rewards of the CBP Border Patrol job more quickly than anywhere else in the country. As one recent academy graduate put it, "This is where all the action is!" Additionally, if you have a location within the border region that you prefer, you can tell us and we will try to place you there, though we can't guarantee we'll be able to. Placements are made based on the current needs of each post.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/c...r_the_usbp.xml

[BP348]

Do candidates seeking positions at the northern borders require to learn Spanish at the academy too? Why do they need to learn Spanish when there are less Spanish people coming from above then below from the southern borders. It doesn't make any sense at all.

Do the border patrol agents at the northern boders work in checkpoints only? I can't picture them patrolling the desert since there aren't any up north. So exactly what do they do at the northern border?

1) Yes all candidates, northern & southern border, are required to learn Spanish at the academy.

2) Just because there are less Spanish people doesn’t mean you won't encounter them. When you do how are you going to handle it if you can't speak Spanish? After the academy you spend several months on the southern border. What do you do if you go on detail to the Southern border? Tell them sorry I'm a northern border agent I don't speak Spanish? :rolleyes:

3) Border Patrol agents on the northern border work all kinds of assignments not just checkpoints

4) Same as they do on the southern border, they Patrol the border.

[Norm357]

Por qué debe usted hacer preguntas tontas? :rolleyes:

[charlydevo]

Basic Spanish speaking skills are a requirement for the Border Patrol Agent job. That's all there is to it. Every Border Patrol Agent is tested on his/her Spanish speaking abilities at the 10 month point in his/her career. Failing that test equals getting fired.

As a Border Patrol Agent, the vast majority of the people that you deal with will speak Spanish. Many of them will speak English too, but they seem to "forget" how to speak English when encountered by law enforcement. This is true even on the Northern border. Regardless, being hired for a Northern border station doesn't mean that you will always be at a Northern border station. You will be expected to work details at the Southern boreder when the need arises. You might also find yourself on the Gulf Coast, where you will need Spanish skills to communicate.

[Redman]

If you get hired, the BP is going pay you to sit in a classroom and better yourself by learning a new language. What's the problem? On second thought, when you get to the academy tell your instructors how it "doesn't make any sense at all" and that you think it should be changed. As a NB trainee, you will already be very well liked by the instructors.

[UpOnBase2]

So, if you apply for the NB there is still a chance they will send you to the SB?

I know the SB is the "bread/butter" of the BP, just seems strange to have a NB announcement and not send those people there.

Also, having Spanish/any language skills are great, it will help in other LE positions moving forward if BP is not for you.

[chewy]

1) Yes all candidates, northern & southern border, are required to learn Spanish at the academy.

2) Just because there are less Spanish people doesn’t mean you won't encounter them. When you do how are you going to handle it if you can't speak Spanish? After the academy you spend several months on the southern border. What do you do if you go on detail to the Southern border? Tell them sorry I'm a northern border agent I don't speak Spanish? :rolleyes:

3) Border Patrol agents on the northern border work all kinds of assignments not just checkpoints

4) Same as they do on the southern border, they Patrol the border.

We actually have a very large amount of spanish speaking people up here. In the summer months we get tons of illegals as well coming up to work on the farms doing corn, cherries, potatoes and the rest. We have just as many French, Chinese, Vietnamise, Indian and Arabic speaking people too but for some reason the BP nor CBP requires nor encourages or will help us get training in any of them. But Spanish is something we see everyday even at the land border crossings.

[BP348]

So, if you apply for the NB there is still a chance they will send you to the SB?

I know the SB is the "bread/butter" of the BP, just seems strange to have a NB announcement and not send those people there.

All northern border interns are given training somewhere on the southern border after finishing the academy. Basicly they do their FTO period on the southern border.

After they complete the FTO program they go back to which ever station they are assigned too on the NB.

Due to operational needs many times NB agents are detailed to the SB as needed. So NB agents need to be able to perform the same duties as the SB agents.

Basic Spanish speaking skills are a requirement for the Border Patrol Agent job. That's all there is to it. Every Border Patrol Agent is tested on his/her Spanish speaking abilities at the 10 month point in his/her career. Failing that test equals getting fired.

No more 6 or 10 month exam. OBP did away with them

[charlydevo]

All northern border interns are given training somewhere on the southern border after finishing the academy. Basicly they do their FTO period on the southern border.

After they complete the FTO program they go back to which ever station they are assigned too on the NB.

Due to operational needs many times NB agents are detailed to the SB as needed. So NB agents need to be able to perform the same duties as the SB agents.



No more 6 or 10 month exam. OBP did away with them

Things have gotten pretty bad for the patrol.