FCIP Region 1 Info session

[amhrinda]

I was just wondering if anyone else was going.

I got scheduled for 7/21.
Another officer, the one who mentioned it to me (which prompted me to contact the recruiter myself and leave several messages), didn't get a spot as far as I can tell.

From what I have read here, It looks to me like it will be a long process, so I will just keep doing what I'm doing and go where I am told.

The downside is my duty rig is too big now, since I have left the Belly over Pants side of the BoP. On further thought though, that is still an upside.

[500pearl]

There are very active threads on Law Enforcement Job Center - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums @ Officer.com for regions 1, 2, 6, and 7
Federal Questions - 911 Job Forums a usms thread

[amhrinda]

Thanks for those links, 500.
The question still stands for this forum though.

I am heading down to Philly with a lot of hope.
I would love to not dead end in the BoP.
I have already decided on going back to the Corps
if this doesn't pan out. The BoP is not what I want to do with
the rest of my life.

[schoromanski]

hey amhrinda,

Congratulations! Is this FCIP for the US Marshals? If so how far in advance did you call the recruiter until now?

Thanks,

Steve

[amhrinda]

hey amhrinda,

Congratulations! Is this FCIP for the US Marshals? If so how far in advance did you call the recruiter until now?

Thanks,

Steve

Hey Steve,
Thanks for the congratulations! One step down, many more to go.
I think it was around a month before the announcement came out.
YUes, this is for the USMS FCIP.
One of the guys I work with at the Prison has a Marshal in his guard unit,
so he got the info from him, and passed it on to me.
I looked around and found the recruiter for my part of Pa and tried to contact him. I left two messages with my contact info and my experience,
and basically consigned myself to wait forever and began working on plan B
(getting into good enough shape to put in a Marines Officer package)

About a month went by, and out of the blue I got a restriceted call on
my phone. I thought it was work calling me it, but it was the recruiter.

He told me to get my stuff ready and send it off at exactly 9:00 am on wednesday (it was monday).

So I did as told, and around 3pm-3:15 I got my confirmation email.

[schoromanski]

Thanks for your response amhrinda,

I wonder when they will announce the recruiting again... Just saw on the other thread that for another agency recruiting will start again come september or october. hm...

[amhrinda]

The Information Session went really well, and if I had to guess, there were close to 50 people there.

One step down, quite a few to go.

Also, the recruiter pointed out to me that BoP does count as LE, if anyone was wondering. I wasn't sure that it did.

[tdparmel]

The Information Session went really well, and if I had to guess, there were close to 50 people there.

One step down, quite a few to go.

Also, the recruiter pointed out to me that BoP does count as LE, if anyone was wondering. I wasn't sure that it did.

To me it is funny that this was even asked. When I told the recruiter that I worked for the BOP, the guy told me "we love guys that have BOP experience."

Not sure why the BOP would not be considered law enforcement?

For the qualifications, it said something about a college degree or three years of correctional experience. If you look at the job duties and what you will be doing your first couple of years with the USMS, working for the BOP is very relevant.

1. Your already in the system for the federal retirement
2. You probably have experienced transporting inmates before.
3. You have extensive experience with the use of restraints.
4. You have weapons experience
5. You have already passed a similar background investigation

[Dragoon]

The Marshals are probably the only agency out there that considers Corrections Law Enforcement.
No Police Agency in my state considers Corrections/Sherrifs Law Enforcement experience.

It may be a side of the Criminal Justice Society, but not considered law enforcement experience by most.

[Dragoon]

Ok I did the info session today. Had around 75 people I think.

I think 95% were wearing suits or shirt & tie. A couple in khakis and 3 button shirt. Ofcourse one carrying what looked like a felt Red Sox hat. If your gonna go fancy why not rep your team as well. Apparently shaving is optional in some peoples view. I am not talking about a clean cut goatee; I am talking hasnt shaved in a couple days.

Some wonder why they like prior military candidates? I have no clue hmm.

On a show of hands, from the side of the room I could see, it looked like a small group of police officers, a larger group of vets and a much larger group of college grads.

Almost all looked in shape with only a couple that couldnt pass a pt test.

Good info session though. I am more interested in the job now. Their training looks very good. They were pretty laid back and made you feel comfortable. I dont think they tried to sugar coat anything. Not too much paperwork either.

The only thing I am still confused by is the step increases. I should start 7 I understand that. They said it recently changed so that you went from GS-9 to GS-11 in something like 1 year (or something like that). Anybody have any solid info on this????

[amhrinda]

From what they told us it was 5-7 in a year, and 7-9 the year after and then 3 years from 9-11 for a total of 5 of you started at GS-5.

Since I am a 7-3 right now, they said I would stay at that and then make 9 the year after.

And TD, to echo what you said, the recruiter told me the same thing, and he started in the BoP himself. But yeah, we are like the ugly stepchildren of the DoJ, and in a lot of ways, I understand why.

edit: Most of the people at my info session were in a suit and tie, myself included. Like Gunny Black always told me while I was in (it fits any situation): "Don't be THAT guy."

That advice, applied to anything, has always served me well.

[amhrinda]

To pass the time while I wait to (hopefully) get an interview in October,
I've dropped papers to be a firearms instructor and a self-defense instructor.

I might as well make the best of the BoP while I'm here and stay gainfully employed. (and, not many others seem to want to do it)

[fedmax123]

I attended Boston, MA on 7/24 for the information session and haven't heard anything so far. Has anyone else heard anything? What region will be next under the FCIP program? Thanks in advance :p

[Switchback]

...Also, the recruiter pointed out to me that BoP does count as LE, if anyone was wondering. I wasn't sure that it did.

I believe that you (or he, if he actually said it) may be mistaken.

The Marshals are probably the only agency out there that considers Corrections Law Enforcement.
No Police Agency in my state considers Corrections/Sherrifs Law Enforcement experience.

It may be a side of the Criminal Justice Society, but not considered law enforcement experience by most.

We do NOT consider corrections LE. LE Experience applies to only those positions actually making arrests and working the street. Way back when I applied, the paperwork even stated that corrections did not count.

I have absolutely no reason to believe that it has changed. When they did the recruiting near me, I heard the recruiters discussing who they were looking for and when LE came up, they clarified that that did not apply to corrections (and in most cases MP positions).

[phillyfed]

Switchback is correct. I remember years ago that they didn't consider the BOP having arrest authority. This was more pertinent to what pay grade you came in as. Basically, without a degree with a 3.0 average or LE experience (i.e. patrol work, investigations, etc.) you will come in as a GL-5.