Getting Competitive for DEA

[mleehogg]

I'm trying to research on what I need to do to make myself competitive for getting hired as a DEA SA. I have a B.A in communications (Along the lines of public relations/and how people communicate), was an Officer in the Air Force doing PA, and I currently am a flight instructor. I am in excellent physical shape.

I have read that only about 30% of new hires have no prior law enforcment experience. What can I do look better? I have considered becoming a deputy sheriff to gain that LE experience if needed, but my ultimate goal would be DEA.

THanks in advance for any help.

[Group9]

You really need some law enforcement experience to be competitive. DEA, while occasionally hiring people without military or law enforcement experience, really prefers it.

Even better, is an investigative law enforcement job somewhere, non drug related.

The gold standard would be a guy with good grades, who pulled a hitch in the military, who then went to work for a state narcotics agency, or who was assigned to the narcotics unit of a police or sheriff's department.

Here is the actual back grounds of several DEA agents I know. All have college degrees (your major is usually not a significant factor).

State Game and Fish
State Bureau of Narcotics
DEA

Navy (basic swabbie stuff)
Local police department, later tranferred to narcotics
DEA TFO (Task Force Officer assigned to DEA by their department).
DEA

Army (intelligence)
DEA
(two guys with this exact background).

NCIS (civilian working for the Navy)
DEA

Navy (SEAL)
(somewhere else)
DEA

Army (Special Forces)
Local Police Department (Patrol)
DEA

Army (Ranger Battalion)
DEA

State Bureau of Narcotics
DEA TFO
DEA
(I actually know about five or six guys well with this background)

Air Force (enlisted with a Master's Degree)
DEA

Air Force (para-rescue jumper guy)
DEA

Large, well known, police department (patrol).
DEA

State Bureau of Narcotics
DEA
(Again, I know lots of guys with this background.)

Local Police Department (patrol)
DEA

State Highway Patrol
DEA
(3 guys with this exact background from the same agency that has a really good reputation)

U.S. Secret Service (uniformed)
NCIS
DEA

U.S.Secret Service (1811)
DEA

Local Sheriff's Department
USMS (1811)
DEA

Border Patrol
DEA
(Thanks, Redman).

Like I said, these examples have no significance except that they are people I actually know well who work for DEA as agents (and I kept editing it as I though of more people and their backgrounds)..

I also know about ten people who were hired straight out of college for DEA. Seven are absolutely worthless. Three are really switched on and good investigators. And, that's the problem with hiring people with no work history. You are really buying a pig in a poke, and most large federal agencies know this, and have enough applicants that they don't have to do that very often.

[mleehogg]

Thank you for the quick response. I am very interested in pursuing a law enforcement career, and I choose the DEA route cause of the direct impact of taking drugs off the street. I am attending a DEA orientation session next week to ask more questions. I guess I need to look into the state narcotics route. Again, I appreciate your response.

[Piggy]

If I remember right, DEA website has a section on their website for recruiters. You may want to give one a call and see if they have any suggestions.

[puma2]

mleehogg,

You mentioned that you worked as a Public Affairs Officer for the Air Force. How long was this for? Were you active duty or reserves? If you have a few years active duty in the military and you did well there, you may be competitive now. Of course law enforcement experience never hurts and it will help you better see what law enforcement work is like.

[Ispbear]

ex-military
hardcore
built like bulldogs
half crazy

=

DEA



At least that describes most DEA guys that I know! :D

[mleehogg]

Here is a more specific run down of my career and schooling:

AFROTC at Washington State University (Graduated in the top 1/3 of my class)

Graduated with a 3.5 GPA with a major in Communications and a minor in aerospace studies

On active duty I attended Air & Space basic course (graduated #1 in my class)

Attended the Defense Information School at Fort Meade (did good there)

Earned a few awards on active duty (Achievment Medal, Outstanding Unit ect...)

Did very good as a PAO, or so says my OPR.

I already have a Top Seceret clearance

And now that I'm out of the Air Force, I teach people to fly airplanes. I don't know if all that makes much of a difference. I am attending an orientation next week, so we will see how that goes.

[Kimble]

Here is a more specific run down of my career and schooling:

AFROTC at Washington State University (Graduated in the top 1/3 of my class)

Graduated with a 3.5 GPA with a major in Communications and a minor in aerospace studies

On active duty I attended Air & Space basic course (graduated #1 in my class)

Attended the Defense Information School at Fort Meade (did good there)

Earned a few awards on active duty (Achievment Medal, Outstanding Unit ect...)

Did very good as a PAO, or so says my OPR.

I already have a Top Seceret clearance

And now that I'm out of the Air Force, I teach people to fly airplanes. I don't know if all that makes much of a difference. I am attending an orientation next week, so we will see how that goes.

Apply! Unless I'm grossly misinterpreting Group9's prior post, those with LE or military (officer in the USAF would certainly count as military) are competitive. I'd suggest applying to DEA and any other agency that interests you (fed, local, and/or state). If DEA works out on the first run-through, great. If not, get on with another agency, get some investigative experience to couple with your degree and military experience, and you'll probably be as competitive as an applicant can be.

[BP348]

I agree with ROS. I'd apply as is.

I think as a Military officer with an honerable discharge and steady work experience you would be competitive.

[Group9]

Here is a more specific run down of my career and schooling:

AFROTC at Washington State University (Graduated in the top 1/3 of my class)

Graduated with a 3.5 GPA with a major in Communications and a minor in aerospace studies

On active duty I attended Air & Space basic course (graduated #1 in my class)

Attended the Defense Information School at Fort Meade (did good there)

Earned a few awards on active duty (Achievment Medal, Outstanding Unit ect...)

Did very good as a PAO, or so says my OPR.

I already have a Top Seceret clearance

And now that I'm out of the Air Force, I teach people to fly airplanes. I don't know if all that makes much of a difference. I am attending an orientation next week, so we will see how that goes.

You have nothing to lose by applying. I've seen people with worse resumes get hired.

[mleehogg]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate all the information. We will see what happens next week. I just found out that the father of one of the young guys that fuels the airplanes at the airport I instruct at is a DEA SA. I have talked to that guy a dozen times and never knew thats what he did. I'm trying to set up a meeting with him too to get further insight. Small world! Thanks again guys! This website is a gold mine!!

[Redman]

You really need some law enforcement experience to be competitive. DEA, while occasionally hiring people without military or law enforcement experience, really prefers it.

Even better, is an investigative law enforcement job somewhere, non drug related.

The gold standard would be a guy with good grades, who pulled a hitch in the military, who then went to work for a state narcotics agency, or who was assigned to the narcotics unit of a police or sheriff's department.

Here is the actual back grounds of several DEA agents I know. All have college degrees (your major is usually not a significant factor).....

Group, Do you know many agents that are prior BP? I'm loving the BP right now, but a DEA 1811 position will always be a long term goal of mine.

[Group9]

Group, Do you know many agents that are prior BP? I'm loving the BP right now, but a DEA 1811 position will always be a long term goal of mine.

Actually, you just made me recall two more agents whose history was college to BP to DEA (and one of them was my partner for two years and one of my best friends, so I can't believe I forgot him!)

[BP348]

Group, Do you know many agents that are prior BP? I'm loving the BP right now, but a DEA 1811 position will always be a long term goal of mine.

i know at least 2 former USBP guys who are now with DEA.

[mleehogg]

I talked to the local recruiter today, and she seemed to be positive on my resume. The only thing that I felt she wasn't happy with is the lack of a second language, but I am working on Spanish through Rosetta Stone. And my wife is mexican, so that helps! Anyhow, the orientation is Wednesday of next week. We'll see how it goes. I'll update the post as things develope for future knowledge.