age restrictions for federal agents

[Zman1]

Does anyone know if the federal government is ever going to lift the 37 year old age restriction for fed agents? I know that some agencies have started to hire military vets as a result of lawsuit Isabella vs State Dept. Are there ways to get a waiver and if so how? Also, are there any agencies that do hire past 37 years old. I am 42 years old with 15 years in civilian law enforcement with no prior military service. Any response would be appreciated.

[Kimble]

Does anyone know if the federal government is ever going to lift the 37 year old age restriction for fed agents?

Except for people in the future (and I'm not aware of a way with today's technology to speak to them), no one presently "knows" if the age requirement for federal LE jobs will ever be lifted. What I mean by that is that it's OPM regulations, and regardless of the fact that probably all federal LE agencies see plenty of applicants come their way with outstanding skill sets, but who age past the maximum age limit, there's yet to be a lifting of the OPM's regulation (it was increased from age 35 to 37 a few years back, but nothing as far as a lifting in the sense of doing away with it). The unfortunate truth of the matter for applicants like you is that it's not really a priority of the federal LE agencies to fight against the OPM regulation because they have plenty of applicants who fit within the regulation requirements (and agencies that don't can obtain a waiver as needed). FWIW, I'd be in favor of having the age limit lifted, as people tend to stay healthier and in the work force longer today than they did 20 - 50 years ago, but I doubt you'll see a lifting of the federal LE age requirement in the immediate future.

I know that some agencies have started to hire military vets as a result of lawsuit Isabella vs State Dept.

I'm not an agency recruiter, so I'm not always provided the most up-to-date info on hiring for my agency, or any agency, but I believe the results of that lawsuit deal only with military vets. Everyone else does not qualify because of a lack of veterans preference.

Are there ways to get a waiver and if so how? Also, are there any agencies that do hire past 37 years old. I am 42 years old with 15 years in civilian law enforcement with no prior military service. Any response would be appreciated.

Waivers can be given to an agency, not an applicant. Some agencies have waivers up to age 40 (I believe US Border Patrol does, or did very recently), but they are relatively rare. The only other option I know of is Air Force OSI can hire agents with specific skill sets past age 37, but they are the only agency I'm aware of with this sort of hiring program, and most hired under this program are former active duty military agents who are converting to civilian agents (though it might be worth giving it a shot): Air Force Office of Special Investigations - Civilian Vacancies (look at the vacancies listed as "B" announcements, vice "A" announcements).

[John Wilkinson]

There are some exceptions being granted for the 37 year old start date for certain prior military service. However, without any prior military service or other federal service that would qualify towards your retirement, it is unlikely that there is any way around this. While all of the 1811 positions (criminal investigator) have this retirement, and thus the maximum start age of 37, there may be other job series that you may want to look at. Whether these other job series are considered law enforcement would vary. Other job series to look at include;

GS-1800 INVESTIGATION GROUP
GS-1801 General Inspection, Investigation, and Compliance
GS-1802 Compliance Inspection and Support
GS-1810 General Investigating
GS-1811 Criminal Investigating
GS-1812 Game Law Enforcement
GS-1854 Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Inspection
GS-1862 Consumer Safety Inspection
GS-1884 Customs Patrol Officer
GS-1890 Customs Inspection
GS-1896 Border Patrol Agent
GS-1899 Investigation Student Trainee

MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS
GS-0025 Park Ranger
GS-0082 United States Marshal
GS-0083 Police
GS-0084 Nuclear Materials Courier
GS-0085 Security Guard

[Joeyd6]

I am going to be bold and say it won't happen in your life. It would take a complete re-write of federal policy on too many aspects. The age requirement is there for one reason: RETIREMENT. The law states all federal LEOS must be out by 57. The reasons are health related, specifcially when the laws were written, it was found that cops LEOS are under extreme stress andpressure and the irregular shifts, etc..., tend to take years off a life. Thus, cops can retire earliers to balance it out.

Now the fed system states to get a full retirment, you need to work 20 years.

57 years old - 20 years of service = 37.

Try getting anyone on the Hill to even discuss it. The headaches in even considering such are huge. And lets not mention cost.

Most fed LEOS went through a major medical exam to get in, and have a PT routine and PT testing routine. I know in my FLETC class the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had a 45 year old uniformed officer going through my CITP/1811 class since the area he covered was remote and they were tired of sending a 1811 out to him when he volunteered for the duties. This guy was in shape, former Marine, ran his 5 miles each morning in his own, did his pull-ups and push-ups. Great guy. But after week 3 at FLETC, he went back to unifomr because the new FLETC PT/DT program was too much.

The feds look at cost. Why hire man A, 42 years old, no fed experience, has been doing things for 15 years somebody elses way, spend $250K to get him hired and trained our way in an acdemy setting he has not seen in 14 years, and leaves in 12 years, when you can have man B, a 27 year old, who has only been doing thing somebody elses way for 3 years, spend $250K to get him hired and trained our way in an academy similar to what he did only two years prior, and we keep him 30 years? That is the gov's view of it.

[Switchback]

There are some exceptions being granted for the 37 year old start date for certain prior military service. However, without any prior military service or other federal service that would qualify towards your retirement, it is unlikely that there is any way around this. While all of the 1811 positions (criminal investigator) have this retirement, and thus the maximum start age of 37, there may be other job series that you may want to look at. Whether these other job series are considered law enforcement would vary. Other job series to look at include;

GS-1800 INVESTIGATION GROUP
GS-1801 General Inspection, Investigation, and Compliance
GS-1802 Compliance Inspection and Support
GS-1810 General Investigating
GS-1811 Criminal Investigating
GS-1812 Game Law Enforcement
GS-1854 Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Inspection
GS-1862 Consumer Safety Inspection
GS-1884 Customs Patrol Officer
GS-1890 Customs Inspection
GS-1896 Border Patrol Agent
GS-1899 Investigation Student Trainee

MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS
GS-0025 Park Ranger
GS-0082 United States Marshal
GS-0083 Police
GS-0084 Nuclear Materials Courier
GS-0085 Security Guard

Even with military time, it is very unlikely that you will get a waiver... unless you have a Senator as a family friend.

Also, the GS-0082 is also 6C covered and held to the 37 year age cut-off.

[BP348]

Even USBP has a cutoff at 40.

As stated at 42 with no prior Federal Law Enforcement or Military service I'd say you won't be considered.

[1depd]

There are some exceptions being granted for the 37 year old start date for certain prior military service. However, without any prior military service or other federal service that would qualify towards your retirement, it is unlikely that there is any way around this. While all of the 1811 positions (criminal investigator) have this retirement, and thus the maximum start age of 37, there may be other job series that you may want to look at. Whether these other job series are considered law enforcement would vary. Other job series to look at include;

GS-1800 INVESTIGATION GROUP
GS-1801 General Inspection, Investigation, and Compliance
GS-1802 Compliance Inspection and Support
GS-1810 General Investigating
GS-1811 Criminal Investigating
GS-1812 Game Law Enforcement
GS-1854 Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Inspection
GS-1862 Consumer Safety Inspection
GS-1884 Customs Patrol Officer
GS-1890 Customs Inspection
GS-1896 Border Patrol Agent
GS-1899 Investigation Student Trainee

MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS
GS-0025 Park Ranger
GS-0082 United States Marshal
GS-0083 Police
GS-0084 Nuclear Materials Courier
GS-0085 Security Guard

This appears to be an old list as some of the jobs aren't around any longer. 1896 and I believe 0084 are also covered under 12(d) and have a max age.

[Zman1]

Thanks for the information. I may look into the Air Force OSI. I live close to Scott AFB in Illinois and I know they have an office there.