usss

[g-mod]

HI. I AM NEW TO THIS SITE BUT I HAVE BEEN READING IT FOR A WHILE AND DECIDED TO JOIN AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I PUT IN AN APP WITH USSS. I WAS WONDERING WHAT MY REALISTIC CHANCES ARE. I AM 23 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN A DEPUTY SHERIFF FOR TWO YEARS. I HAVE A BS IN BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMIN. I GOT THE FEELING THAT THE RECRUITER THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT BE TOO YOUNG. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? ANY INFO. WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

G-MOD

[garyb199]

Hey Just wondering if you applied for UD or Agent? By the way, You are not too young. In fact their are quite a few in the SS at your age. Let me know who you applied for, i may be able to give you some further advice. You can send me a PM if you want. g:talk:

[Chitown]

g-mod,

You would certainly meet the minimum qualifications, and the worst they can say to you is come back in a year or two. In speaking with them it seems like they want agents with a few more years of experience, but they also like people with priorlaw enforcement. One of the 4 or 5 agents I spoke with was a cop for a couple years and they told him to get a little more experience and he went back a year and a half later and they snatched him up. Good luck on the TEA.

[joshp135]

I was in the same situation and age you are a few short years ago. I applied for USSS SA and made it through the process past the poly when I received THE letter saying that I wasn't the most competitive applicant.

At the time, I had a BS and about 1.5 years LE experience. I also scored 92.9% on their TEA, but after the panel interview the agents talked with me a while and I kinda got the impression that I was still a few years younger than they liked to hire. Although, I felt confident that I had processed that far, I was not that surprized when they didn't accept me.

Personally, I used the entire process experience to judge where I need to be, so I set out to make myself that more competitive applicant. I have since gotten 2+ more valuable years LE experience and am finishing my Master's degree. I restarted the fed app process with a couple of agencies and have had great success so far (waiting on the call from ATF).

My point here is that I would continue as long as they allowed, but keep in mind that it won't be the end of the world if they don't hire you. You will definitely be able to use the experience to your benefit in the future.

Good Luck!

[g-mod]

what is the average time for the usss process?

[joshp135]

From what I have heard it is about 18 months.

[g-mod]

does anyone if there is a large turnover rate in the usss?

[Next Level]

I have a good friend who is an SA out of the New York field division. He said there is a big turnover because of the travel and time away from home. Most of the turnover occurs from agents who have families and those who lose interest in the protective side of the agency.
This turnover rate was one of my questions for my panel interview for the senior agents I interviewed with. They were honest and upfront and confirmed that USSS has a high turnover rate...they said most agents with families leave within their first 3 to 5 years of service and ususally jump ship to another agency. The most interesting part is that the USSS actually condones and supports agents leaving to go to other agencies, according to the agents that interviewed me.

Next Level

[Housecop]

The Service has a big turnover. Just like Next Level stated they go through a bunch of Agents and they go through just has much UD. They have told us and encourage us to jump ship. I don't know why, but it is the way it is. You have SS agents jumping ship to Customs, ATF, IRS etc... but seemingly nobody jumps ship TO the Secret Service (except State Dept). And on the UD side you have Officers doing the same, but no other federal officers coming to the UD.


"You are a piece of livestock when in the USSS, they will treat you just good enough to survive until you are scheduled for slaughter, then you are discarded." Ud moto

[CEO39530]

I had applied for SS SA along with several agencies prior to getting my job as a CEO with Customs in 2000. I made it all the way to the end of the process with SS and got “The Letter” as well telling me I was not the best qualified.
I had to do two agent interviews because I guess the guy who started my BI was a rookie and this was his first, so I guess he botched something and a second agent did everything twice with neighbors, high school, etc.
Long story short, I got my phone book sized “packet” back through FOIA with all of the field agent notes. After reviewing some of what agent #2 wrote during one of two re-interviews, I found some untruthful information. From my point of view these were downright lies about things that I NEVER said and or did, and so on.
I am sure that I am not the first or the last person to be disgruntled by “the process” but I have met three others who have some kind of horror story about the SS.
Having been to FLETC and having seen some of the SS recruits, I guess I just picked a bad field office to deal with, because I saw nothing particularly outstanding about any of them in training. I thought I would have made just as good of a bullet sponge as any of them.
One thing that I am sure of is that I have had more fun working my dog that I could have ever possibly had guarding hotel dumpsters, or emergency exits during an election year.

Good luck with the process either way, hope you get it!

[996s]

Percentage wise what are we talking here? Like 30% or more?

I just met with my BI, he said he should be done within the week and then I go to the Panel for the UD. I guess the good thing about everyone leaving is I have a better chance of getting in. I know it sounds selfish, but its the truth.
Mike

[Housecop]

When you have your ERT LTs, CS SGTs and even your Captain going to FAM or elsewere as rapidly as they seem to go, you know it is getting bad. Gonzo you are right, I heard they revised the training for Park and you only need a 5 week course now. If the flood gates weren't open before the are now.

I believe we have 900 officers total. Since October we have lost 135 and anticipate that much more, give or take, leaving in June/July to retirement, not to mention the rest that go FAM, Park, Agent or just flat out leave. They said they were going to hire 140 officers from October last year till this October. We will loose at least double that.

[Tboneage]

I saw part of the Congressional Subcommittee hearing regarding the USSS' fiscal year 2003 budget proposal. Basically, it was Director Stafford and another man, whom I believe was a Treas. Dept. administrator, although not with the USSS, discussing the needs of the agency and the reason for budget increases. A panel of Congressmen/women, asked specifc questions relating to many issues, including hiring and staffing. Stafford said that the attrition rate in the UD is the highest in the agencies history at approx. 6.5%. S/A's were leaving at a rate of just over 2 %. He also said that more than 160 UD officers are eligible to retire in July of 2002. Additionally, he noted that at the time of the budget hearing, which was about 6 weeks ago, UD officers were working approx. 120 hours of OT per month. If my math is right, that works out to be a 70 hour work week. I found that to be astounding. The problem of inflated work hours was a major concern of the Director and seemed to be echoed by the Congressional panel. Stafford said they are vigorously trying to bring those numbers down. He said one way to do this was by hiring additional officers, which no one on the subcommittee seemed to think unreasonable but rather necessary. Maybe Housecop can shed some light on the topic of work hours and say whether these figures still ring true. I thought these were some interesting stats to pass along...

[SenorGG]

All:

I was working out at my YMCA last night and heard an ad come over the radio for the Secret Service. They said they were holding a job fair this Saturday for UD candidates. Guess this is an attempt to refill the ranks with all the people leaving.

SenorGG

[Housecop]

I saw the budget hearing by Stafford, no comment on that issue.

As far as applying 1811 and getting offered the UD position, that was happening all the time prior to 9/11. Just about everyone in my class, even those with a degree and LE experience, went through the SA process only to be offered the UD position. I hear it may have changed since, but most of those with no LE experience are still going though the SA process and getting offered UD.

If agent in the USSS is what you truely want DO NOT join the Uniformed Division. For some reason the Service only picks up one or two UD people for Agent every month or two, only about 10 or so in a fiscal year. That is at the base of the UD manpower problem. People getting told to join UD for a year or so and then it is easy to become an 1811 in the Service. We find out that isn't the case and most leave for other Agencies.

I may come off a bit harsh on the USSS:rolleyes:, you all have to make your own opinions and know what you are getting into. UD is post sitting, guard type work, nothing more-nothing less. You will probably never make a traffic stop, never make an arrest, never even see a ticket book-let alone write one. You will never go on a drug raid. If you get into ERT you will just be confined inside the fence of the house, you don't travel or do SWAT type work.

But it is an easy job and you get paid well (even though you will work 6 to 7 days a week, 8 to 12/14 hour days). You do get to travel, but it may just be for 2 or 3 days every quarter. Like others have said it's what you make of it.

[garyb199]

Not to mention about how hard it is on your family to be away from home at work for so many hours.

If you want a nice house you need to be at least 45 min. to an hour away from the district so you can afford one. A 12 hour day turns into a 14 hour day with the commute, or a 14 hour day turns into a 16 hour day.

I missed the first 6 months of my son's life because of mandatory 12 hour shifts. I leave at 5am, if i work 12hours, I don't get home until 1945-2000. Eat,sleep,work....eat,sleep,work... for six months! My boy was asleep when I left and asleep when I got home.

Just some things to consider.

[baelfyre]

Well for me as I put in an earlier post, I applied at 22 with 1 and a half years with the Border PAtrol and a bachelors. 2 days ago, nearly 2 years from when i applied, they gave me my offer for the SA position in LA. So yes you have a sgood a chance as any. My friend who is at the academy right now said the average class age is 28 but that there were 2 23 year olds in his class.

[g-mod]

how long after you all first put the initial app. did you hear a response? i turned it in about 2 weeks ago and haven't heard a thing.

[996s]

2-3 weeks maybe

[g-mod]

if it has been two three weeks already is that a bad sign? should i call the FO or just wait.

[baelfyre]

well G Mod i was told by the Resident Agent in Charge that did my final interview that when he gets an applicant he makes them wait a while. Me, I got a call 24 hours after tunring in my app, but at my local office they just jump on those things fast. Calling is always touvhy, because to some its annoying and to others it shows a great interest in getting the job.

[lil-punisher]

HouseCop, are you working at the white house and if so do you ever get any interaction with scumbags or just tourists?

[g-mod]

baelfyre. i spoke to an agent a couple of weeks back who called me to clarify a couple of things on my app. but he did tell me anything. he just wantedtoclear up those issues and that was it. what do you think? should i call or is it best just to wait until they call me. thanks

[baelfyre]

Well the respone I got every time I called was to be patient, that they hadn't and wouldn't forget about me. Its your call, but it might be best to chill for another week or so and see if things don't happen before then.

[Chitown]

Is it common for people to make it all the way to the end of the process with USSS (pass the BI), and still get the "not among the best qualified" letter? I can't imagine having my current employer know I applied for another job (which would happen during the BI), and then not get the job. In the business world that would be very bad. Anyone have any ideas or experience in that regard?

[baelfyre]

I will go one further, yes that is in fact possible, but even worse I had a friend get selected, get his verabl offer over the phone and then the day his fed-ex came they called him on the phone and rescinded his offer. Imagine trying to leave another agency, telling everybody you are leaving and then getting stuck there.

[Housecop]

Yes I am at the WH and it is a magnet for freaks, scumbags and all other nuts. See them on a daily basis along with the normal tourists.

[996s]

Housecop, whats the chance of not getting stuck at the WH when you first come in? And whn do you find out where you be sent?

Mike

[Housecop]

A month ago I would have said it is one hundred percent, however the last class got split up evenly over the three branches so it is possible. I have heard that they may have the next 3 or 4 classes all go to the WH but you never know. You don't know were you are going for sure untill you graduate. They will give you choices based upon senority, age, in the class once you get back from FLETC.

[Housecop]

We have lost about 150, 90 of which went to FAM alone. I'd say we only had about 10 retirements the rest went to other Agencies or Agent in the USSS.

[996s]

What kind of schedule are you guys working? Days on/off? How much overtime are most guys pulling in a week?