ATF Career Path

[e46jester]

Hello everyone. First I want to say how greatly informative this forum is. I have been reading and searching on here for hours and I have decided to write about my career path and see if anyone has any suggestions or advice.

I joined the Military (US Army) at 17. My MOS was 31U (Signal Support Systems Specialist). I always had an urge to become some type of Federal Agent and I decided that the Military was the best start. I fell in love with communications and figured that would help later on in life. After 4 years, most of which in Germany and deployed, I was Honorably discharged. I was hired soon after by a hospital working as a Telecommunications Tech.
I have almost 9 years under my belt at that hospital and I have just turned 30. I am now pursuing my career as an ATF agent and here is what I have as a plan:

January, I am starting my AS in CJ. I think that will help me with being competitive in this field.
Within a few months I plan on testing for one of the local LE agencies. I believe this will give me the needed job experience. I am assuming that at least a few years will be needed before even filling out an application for ATF. However I am trying not push the 37 age limit too much. I'm really praying that I did not start this too late. I am not entirely sure on how long it takes to become a Detective in the force, but I think that will be very helpful with landing an ATF job as well.

If this all works out, I will have Military experience, a College degree, and LE experience before applying for an ATF Agent position.

Does this sound like something that is accomplish-able?
Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks again.

[Kimble]

ATF is one of those agencies that doesn't do a lot of mass advertising for agent positions (I can't remember ever seeing a vacancy announcement for them on USAjobs.gov), so it really benefits you if you're interested in them to go and speak to an agent recruiter at the office nearest to you. You're plan seems plausible, but their recruiters will have more accurate, ATF-specific answers for you.

[e46jester]

Thank you. I have been spending time on the ATF website trying to find career information. I couldn't find much information on contacting a recruiter, but there is a satellite office in Ft. Myers, FL which is closest. I suppose I should start by calling them. Or would you recommend calling one of the larger offices in Tampa or Miami? None of the contacts specifically mention a recruiter.

[Kimble]

Thank you. I have been spending time on the ATF website trying to find career information. I couldn't find much information on contacting a recruiter, but there is a satellite office in Ft. Myers, FL which is closest. I suppose I should start by calling them. Or would you recommend calling one of the larger offices in Tampa or Miami? None of the contacts specifically mention a recruiter.

Like I said, ATF does not do a lot of advertising, even on their own website. Reason being is a lot of people they bring on as agents were detectives and officers with agencies they work with, whom they've been able to see their work ethic (not saying all ATF agents were hired this way, but many are). If Ft Myers is near you, feel free to call, but often in federal agencies small offices don't have a recruiter, so they may refer you to someone in a larger field division office. Miami is a good sized office for ATF, so I would imagine there would definitely be a recruiter there.

[SHSURobert]

Keep track of these websites too, e.g. 911JobForums.com, **EDIT**, etc. Doing so will keep you updated on which agency has an open announcement. Apply to whichever agency interests you even if you only have the minimum experience level because you never know. Good luck!

**MODERATOR EDIT** Nothing wrong with suggesting helpful information on other sites, so long as the sites are not competitors to this site (i.e. sell police equipment comparable to what is sold on RP), as this is a violation of the site's TOS. Thanks! **

[e46jester]

Thank you both for the info. I have started reading up on the 911 job forum as well. Since I am Veteran, should I apply as soon as an opening is posted? I read the minimum requirements as a Bachelor degree or an equivelent of LE experience. Im not entirely sure how much my Military experience counts torwards getting in though. My plan was to wait until I have my Associates in CJ and some years in the local LE Agency. What do you think?

[Kimble]

What do you think?

I could have sworn someone already suggested talking to an ATF recruiter, but if not, talk to a recruiter.

[e46jester]

Doh! Thanks again for your help!

[BP348]

Is ATF the only agency you're going to apply with? You need to relize that federal law enforcement is extreamly competive.

Your background & work history sound good but why wait till the CJ AS degree? you are really going to be fighting the age cut off. I know you should be 32 or 33 by the time you get the degree but you don't know when or if ATF will have an announcement or how long the process will take. What if you fail the test the first time?

Now that I'm thinking about it does ATF have an education requirement? I believe that most agencies require a BS. Some may waive it if you have LEO experience but I don't know about ATF. If you factor in 4 years to get a BS degree you are really pushing the age limit clock.

If so you may want to consider a CBP Officer, U.S. Border Patrol Agent, or even a BOP Guard position because that will stop the age clock.

At 30 with no LEO experience and no college you are really going to have to work at getting that 1811 position.

As ROS said talk to a recruiter and see what your options are.

Good Luck.

[e46jester]

Hi BP348 and thank you for your input. To answer your question, ATF is the only agency that really interests me. However, I am not putting aside any agency that may help me ultimately achieve my goal in getting into the ATF. I was not aware that by starting out in one of the positions you mentioned may give me some extra time. You have opened my eyes to maybe a better track because of my age.

The ATF does require a BS Degree or an equivalent in LEO experience which is listed on thier website. I am useing my MGIB to pay for my AS and was hoping to get a few years in real LE experience at the same time which would hopefully get me to the minimum to apply while working on the BS. I am really starting to think I have waited a year or two too long. It is a bit discouraging but I feel I still have to try. Ill be 31 when I finish my AS and I will need at least 2 more years as an LEO, which puts me at 33 (at the very earliest).

On Monday I will begin calling the field offices for recruiters and see what they can tell me. I am prepared to hear that it is too late, but Im praying that is not. Thanks again for your input and support!

[e46jester]

Apparently getting in touch with an ATF recruiter is not as easy as it was for the Army. Ive emailed and called multiple locations with no luck. If anybody on here may have a contact or know a better way, Id appreciate the help. Thanks!

[Kimble]

Apparently getting in touch with an ATF recruiter is not as easy as it was for the Army. Ive emailed and called multiple locations with no luck. If anybody on here may have a contact or know a better way, Id appreciate the help. Thanks!

It's been said many times on this forum before, but it bares repeating, agent recruiters are regular case agents, and have caseloads to handle. Also, many federal agencies have plenty of interested applicants, so you have to take the initiative often times to make yourself a known commodity. If you call and email, you may get a response from the recruiter, but if they are TDY or otherwise out of pocket, it may take some time. Some recruiters are better than others, but nearly all do so as a collateral duty to being a regular case agent (and they don't get paid commissions like military recruiters, so they're not going to bang down your door for you to apply). With various case needs (interviews, surveillance, court testimony, etc.) and the thousands of other administrative tasks agents have to handle on a daily basis, being a recruiter is often not their top priority unless you're a known commodity.

If you've already called and emailed to no avail, take the initiative and go to an ATF office in person. If there's a recruiter in the office, great, but if not you may make some good contacts to help get the ball rolling.

[e46jester]

Thats great advice, ROS. I do realize that recruiting is not thier top priority, but Im sure someone on this forum has had contact with one before so it was worth my while asking. Im going to use every resource I have to accomplish my goal, and this board seems to be a very good one. Thanks again for your input. In person may be a great way to get a contact on the inside.

[Kimble]

Im going to use every resource I have to accomplish my goal, and this board seems to be a very good one.

In addition to this forum, if you're interested in ATF or any federal LE agency, I'd suggest reading up on 911jobforums.com. Their federal LE forums are full of good hiring-related intel, and many applicants with various agencies keep tabs on one another with updates and latest RUMINT.

[JitsuBear]

I have been a police officer at a local dept for the past 7 years. in reguards to what your end goal is and what you have to work with i would reccomend Definetly taking the advice of one of the previous posters. which is border patrol-customs. get into the federal pipline anyway you can and hope to transfer. i am currently looking into a job with a couple federal agencies. im a local cop 28yrs old with a BA in CJ and begining my masters this spring. with my experience and trainning within my dept and degrees and pursuing of my masters i still Believe that it will Not be Easy for me to obtain one of the jobs im looking into. A lot of people want the position just like you, for simply that, the position. i make GREAT money now just as much as a 1811, but would easily take the inital pay cut to become apart of somthing bigger. it is competitive, these agencys only hire So many people at a time. As far as getting hired and as a local and making detective, you have to understand that somtimes Time in matters, in my 80 man dept usually guys with 6-10years are gettin those positions. So as far as accumulating enough experience within the time frame you provided to obtain a job as any 1811, it Seems to me (and i by far am only going off of my own understanding, as little as it may be) that it may be difficult. but do not let Me or anyone else deter you from a Goal, get after it, stick with it and you can do it. i just recommend trying for other agencies as suggested, seems like a good idea.