Looking into a career with CBP and can use some help

[RocketF22]

As the title states, im looking into a career with border protection and customs. Seems like a cool job just wondering if anyone here has any insider knowledge about the job, how you like it, pros and cons, etc.

For some background, I'm a civilian and have never even held a job in security.

Thanks

 

[jkcerda]

yeap, that is me.

seems like a cool yob until you learn you will be relocated from town to town. .

Border Patrol agents do not have to relocate, but they are subject to temporary deployments and can transfer if they choose. [1, 2]
Here is how moving works for agents:

• Initial Stationing: New hires are assigned to specific duty stations based on the agency's needs. You can pick your location from a list of available openings before you start, but you are not forced to relocate after graduation. Most new stations are in border states like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. [1, 2, 3]
• Temporary Assignments: Agents may be sent on temporary duty deployments to other parts of the country. These are temporary trips and do not require moving your home permanently. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Voluntary Transfers: If you want to move later, you can apply for transfer programs. The agency allows you to request lateral reassignments to other stations, though this usually requires approval and depends on your seniority

it's as "voluntary as the military............

 

[RocketF22]

Thats border patrol tho. Im looking more into protection and customs side of it.

 

[RocketF22]

I was told border protection is different in the sense I take a cut in the sign on bonus offered to choose my location. And I'm of the understanding border protection are the men and women at our border entry points

 

[jkcerda]

Thats border patrol tho. Im looking more into protection and customs side of it.

look the other way when I cross...............

 

[Gawernator]

Federal benefits and retirement are very good, and they'll payback your student loans

 

[Gawernator]

Also it would be easier to lateral into another agency later if you wanted to

We even had police at my old 3 letter agency lol https://www.oni.navy.mil/Careers/Civilian-Careers/ONI-Police-Force/

 

[mossy]

Their polygraph used to be the hardest to pass. not sure how it is now, but a few years back to washout rate on the poly was 70%. If you have any bad debts get them cleared up now before you apply.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

Federal / LEO in general

No, or low debt as said. Shows you're "responsible" and less likely to take bribes, etc.

No, or very few, old traffic tickets.

No "hardcore" or psychedelic drug use. Marijuana use can be waved depending on frequency and last use, etc.

Beware of your social media postings, likes, "friends" online and what they are posting.

Family members who are felons is acceptable, can't choose relatives. Friends, etc not so much.

They WiLL follow up on references, contacts, etc.

Don't lie, automatically DQ

 

[jayson_b24]

Federal benefits and retirement are very good, and they'll payback your student loans

Federal benefits and retirement have been very good to me.

 

[mossy]

Also if you are in a relationship or married, be extremely careful when you make it to FLETC. What happens in glynco dosent always stay in glynco. I know of a few divorces that happened because of FLETC activities. If your single, enjoy the fun but use protection. Brunswick county water sucks, don't drink it and consume the chow hall fried chicken with extreme caution. It could be a tasty lunch, or it could flush your digestive system clean. You never really know.

 

[RocketF22]

Their polygraph used to be the hardest to pass. not sure how it is now, but a few years back to washout rate on the poly was 70%. If you have any bad debts get them cleared up now before you apply.

I don't have anything on my record. Clean as a whistle

 

[RocketF22]

Federal / LEO in general

No, or low debt as said. Shows you're "responsible" and less likely to take bribes, etc.

No, or very few, old traffic tickets.

No "hardcore" or psychedelic drug use. Marijuana use can be waved depending on frequency and last use, etc.

Beware of your social media postings, likes, "friends" online and what they are posting.

Family members who are felons is acceptable, can't choose relatives. Friends, etc not so much.

They WiLL follow up on references, contacts, etc.

Don't lie, automatically DQ

Don't think I have anything to worry about here either...spoke to a recruiter regarding MJ use. He said clean for 90+ days and ur good.

 

[mossy]

I don't have anything on my record. Clean as a whistle

Don't matter. If the magic box says it thinks you lied about something you are bounced out.

 

[RocketF22]

Also if you are in a relationship or married, be extremely careful when you make it to FLETC. What happens in glynco dosent always stay in glynco. I know of a few divorces that happened because of FLETC activities. If your single, enjoy the fun but use protection. Brunswick county water sucks, don't drink it and consume the chow hall fried chicken with extreme caution. It could be a tasty lunch, or it could flush your digestive system clean. You never really know.

Lmao. Maybe a noob question. Whats FLETC? They said for training they would transfer me to Georgia?

 

[RocketF22]

Don't matter. If the magic box says it thinks you lied about something you are bounced out.

Its that crazy huh? Good to know.

 

[mossy]

Lmao. Maybe a noob question. Whats FLETC? They said for training they would transfer me to Georgia?

federal law enforcement training center in Glynco Georgia. its a magical place where federal agencies send their recruits for training. CBP, ATF,BOP, TSA, Forestry everyone's there. they have this bar where memories and bad decisions are made every night. its a wonderful magical place you will hate, love and never forget the time you spend there.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

Its that crazy huh? Good to know.

I’ve had to take so many friggin lie detector tests over the years it’s not funny. The 90’s sucked because you were still hooked up to a machine that looked like an electric chair by the time you were all strapped in.

Now days, most everything is the voice stress test lie detector. It’s a little Mike clipped to your shirt. Don’t overthink , answer the questions calmly and truthfully. If you borrowed a pen, etc from work, brought it home to do work or was in pocket and you later realized it at your house, that was NOT stealing from work, no intent. A good test giver will explain these kinds of things before the test and talk for a few minutes before beginning to put you at ease.

The last voice stress test finished in record time and he unclipped the mike and it went like this:

Test giver: All done, you passed with flying colors.

Me: What, really?

Test giver: What?

Me: What?

We looked at each other for like four seconds than I was like, “Thank you Sir”. Stood up to leave.

 

[Gawernator]

OP, polygraphs and every test they give you are completely bunk, that's why they can't be used in court. Stress test, eye test etc, it's pseudoscience and none of them are accurate or detect deception. They are mental tricks.

 

[RocketF22]

Thank you everyone. I really do appreciate all the insight. I had actually forgotten the poly lol. But I'm not really worried about it. I've got nothing to hide and haven't done anything wrong... (if an arrest was expunged over 10 years ago was a felony, took a deal for a misdemeanor (weed before it was legal, no sale, was smoking in public) is that something I would have to disclose? Or only if asked?