NSA investigator

[Spenser]

Has anyone here who applied for this position ever heard anything back? I know it has a long period of continuously accepting apps. (apr-june)

I know NSA, CIA all seem to move very slowly even by G stnds...

Thanks,

SH

[wilsoni91]

Has anyone here who applied for this position ever heard anything back? I know it has a long period of continuously accepting apps. (apr-june)

I know NSA, CIA all seem to move very slowly even by G stnds...

Thanks,

SH
I applied a few weeks ago and I haven't heard anything back yet either

[Dave1068]

I also applied back in Jan and have not heard a thing. I think it might be a long time-consuming process.

[sleoII404]

I applied early April and have no heard anything, and my online status has not changed from "Applied"

[1811rBust]

I also applied back in Jan and have not heard a thing. I think it might be a long time-consuming process.

I'm with you dave...it was either late last year or early this year. Nada.

[Mike in Cincy]

Same with you guys. Back around late last year or early this year. The CIA took about 6 mos. to respond to me for their MDSO position. I expect the NSA to take a similar length of time.

[Mike in Cincy]

Take that back. Just checked my status (Active-Applied 6/2004). Didn't realize it's been almost a year.

[Mr. Junk]

Same deal- have not heard anything.

[navy03]

I applied in February... and I still haven't heard anything....

I went to a career fair in Atlanta to meet them... I learned some interesting things. Primarily.... they aren't 1811s. They never told me what they were... but they primarily do background checks of NSA applicants and re-investigations for current employees. VERY RARELY, they may be involved in a case involving a complaint by one person against another on the grounds, but mostly... it's background checks.

[jcglaw008]

I applied a few times with NSA for both the police officer and investigator positions and heard nothing. My online status still states "applied."

As far as the CIA, once you're selected, then make move fast. You might hit some snags here and there, but they're pretty good.

[Dave1068]

I applied to the CIA for their investigator/MDSO position and was contacted to go to an orientation but chose not to pursue it.

I'm more inclined to go w/ NSA. Even though both have NS missions, the CIA gave out no phone numbers and only e-mails w/ "creative" sounding names as POC's You couldnt even contact or ask Q's to anyone prior to attending the orientation.

I didnt realize so many people applied to the NSA. Lets hope for some activity soon.

Dave

[DoDAgent]

but they primarily do background checks of NSA applicants and re-investigations for current employees. VERY RARELY, they may be involved in a case involving a complaint by one person against another on the grounds, but mostly... it's background checks.

I know several nsa agents and they all start out doing this work. however, it doesn't last long. NSA has its hands in everything, therefore, so do their agents. Agents have the opportunity to get into some unbelievably classified work.

The agents are not 1811s, because its in the IC, techinically they are 0000s. But, they do carry and do pretty much everything an 1811 does, just only within the agency.

[ssween2]

What is the pay scale for an NSA Investigator?

[ZippySuzy]

I applied in March 2004 and never heard a thing. Status is still listed as applied.

[nsedet]

What is the pay scale for an NSA Investigator?

Similiar to the GS scale up to a 13 equivalent, no LEAP. Promotions to each grade (7, 9, 11, etc) do not seem to be guaranteed at the one year mark the way they basically are in most agency.

[Terces1]

Is there an age restriction for the NSA Investigator position?

Also, is there an age restriction for the MDSO position?

If one is selected for either position, how is entry salary determined? Does everyone start at the lowest grade or wage level?

[DoDAgent]

Is there an age restriction for the NSA Investigator position?

If one is selected for either position, how is entry salary determined? Does everyone start at the lowest grade or wage level?

No age restriction, but, if you are physically unable to do certain things, you are less likely to have physical assignments.
All entry salaries at the Agency are negotiable depending on experience, some times all it takes to get a higher salary is to negotiate. My .02.

[Terces1]

DODAgent,

I sent you a PM.

So the NSA Investigator position that you are talking about that does "a little bit of everything" is the same "Investigator" position that is posted on their website and not a different type of investigator position?

Your information regarding the Investigator position contrasts what NAVY03 stated in the conversation with some NSA folks. NAVY03 indicated it is primarily background checks.

Would the NSA position somewhat mirror the CIA's MDSO position as far as you would know?

[dmclark]

My friends daughter just graduated with a CJ degree last year and was picked up as an 1811 with NSA. Nice job. She's currently undergoing training. DM

[Terces1]

DM,

I thought NSA did not have "1811" investigators?

[nsedet]

I thought NSA did not have "1811" investigators?

NSA does not use OPM classifications for its position, so their agents are not classified as 1811's (just as Diplomatic Security Special Agents are classified under the Foreign Service and are not 1811's). The NSA agents have a pretty wide variety of duties they perform depending on assignments, ranging from background investigations to counterintelligence to protective services, so it is tough to identify an exact equivalent job series under OPM guidelines.

[Terces1]

Thank you for the clarification nsedet.

So DODagent was correct in that there is no age restriction so to speak such as the 1811 positions?

[nsedet]

So DODagent was correct in that there is no age restriction so to speak such as the 1811 positions?

No age restriction for the NSA positions or for MDSO's at the CIA since they are not covered by 6c law enforcement retirement. The CIA does have special retirement provisions, but those apply only to employees who either (a) are hired in clandestine service positions, which do have a maximum entry age of 35, or (b) meet specific service requirements during their career (basically, a total of five years spent in either permanent overseas assignments, or in certain other higher-risk assignments). Probably a little convoluted here, but if you ever look at the statute that address the CIA's special retirement system, you'll see why. Short answer, there is no age restriction for NSA or for the MDSO positions at CIA. Both are similar in many regards, personally I would lean towards CIA based on limited interactions with both security programs, but NSA does have its advantages depending on the specific job assignment and what you are looking for in a career.

[dmclark]

It could be my error but I'm sure that this gal was in an 1811 slot. It could have been an "1811-type" slot. I know she's attended a CI type school and is a qualified gun toter.

If I was incorrect on the job series, my apologies to all. DM

[nsedet]

It could be my error but I'm sure that this gal was in an 1811 slot. It could have been an "1811-type" slot. I know she's attended a CI type school and is a qualified gun toter.

DM,
I just met a few of their folks not too long ago. They are called agents, attend CITP, and can carry guns, but are not specifically 1811's because NSA is excepted service and doesn't use the standard OPM job series. Also, no LEAP and no 6c.

[Terces1]

Thank you to all that posted to the thread.

[DoDAgent]

Nsedet...you hit it on the head.

[3N16MAT1K]

Has anyone here who applied for this position ever heard anything back? I know it has a long period of continuously accepting apps. (apr-june)

I know NSA, CIA all seem to move very slowly even by G stnds...

Thanks,

SH

I applied for the NSA Investigator position back in June of 2004. I received an email six months later from an *nsa.gov email address (can't say who, of course) stating that HR has received my application. Here is exactly what was emailed to me in December:

Hi <<<deleted>>>,

We received your application dated 6/9/04 for positions in the Security
field. Your resume is in our database and is available for recruiters to
review. If your skills/experience match their hiring requirements, they
will be in contact with you.

Thank you for your interest in the National Security Agency.

<<<deleted>>>
Human Resources
National Security Agency

That's the last contact I had. Funny thing is, the job announcement (reference: 290173) is set to close tomorrow the 30th.

Just have to wait and see if they are going to call.

[BCIS_Officer]

Is it possible to apply to the NSA investigator without an opening? I'm interested in applying but missed the open period. I wonder if I will be able to send them an unsolicited application, or will they toss it in the trash as "didn't apply to an open vacancy". In the past (many years ago), they accepted applications continuously, but now I noticed they have a link to current openings.

[governor]

Please follow the rules about posting to old threads.

The Mods