Thread: Any insight to future USSS SA openings?

From searching the forum, it seems that the last opening to the public was late 2010. Recently, there were DEA, ICE, and USMS openings, as well as the FBI going to a 6-month hiring system. Has there been any word of USSS openings coming up this year? I know it's hard for us to know this information, but there may have been some fiscal budgeting that I am not familiar with, that would help answer this question.

As a followup to that, do new SA hires get a chance to rank field offices, similar to other agencies, or is it completely up to the needs of the agency? While aspiring to join the FBI for years now, I am considering the USSS as another option, and I would like to know more about this aspect of the job. From what I have read on the site, it is usually a 7-year set doing investigations, followed by around 3 years of protection, where then the agent can choose how to continue with the rest of their career.

I hope these two questions are valid, and relevant to this section of the site. Thank you.

Originally Posted by siqqq

From searching the forum, it seems that the last opening to the public was late 2010. Recently, there were DEA, ICE, and USMS openings, as well as the FBI going to a 6-month hiring system. Has there been any word of USSS openings coming up this year? I know it's hard for us to know this information, but there may have been some fiscal budgeting that I am not familiar with, that would help answer this question.

As a followup to that, do new SA hires get a chance to rank field offices, similar to other agencies, or is it completely up to the needs of the agency? While aspiring to join the FBI for years now, I am considering the USSS as another option, and I would like to know more about this aspect of the job. From what I have read on the site, it is usually a 7-year set doing investigations, followed by around 3 years of protection, where then the agent can choose how to continue with the rest of their career.

I hope these two questions are valid, and relevant to this section of the site. Thank you.

First, my disclaimer. I am not a USSS S/A.

They recently axed all of their non-veteran applicants in the pipeline. In addition, there hasn't been much movement for those who weren't axed. With all this happening on the verge of a presidential campaign I wouldn't be surprised for the slow down to continue.

New hirees do not rank their prefered field offices, however, the agency does try to get you in your prefered geographic preference. For instance, if you want to go to Baltimore they will try to offer you whatever is closest, so even if you don't get Baltimore you might get NYC, DC, and Philly to chose from.

From what I understand, the job is very demanding. Although you might be assigned investigations, protection is still your primary duty. Sometimes you'll be in the middle of a case and then be sent to another city on a protection assignment for a few weeks to a month, away from family. When you get back you'll have to try to get back into the case.

Hopefully a current or former USSS S/A can offer a better perspective then I.

find a new job may be a little bit easier.. if u want to be a investigator, that's all-right.. but there is a lot of job opportunity today... why u guys stick to just investigation jobs.... you'll serve any kind of security service company.... the job will be different but the charm will be almost same....
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Post edited by Moderator: Please do not post links to other employment sites or job opportunities on these forums. There is a section of 911jobforums specifically dedicated and monetized for that purpose. Thanks.
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Another disclaimer, I am also NOT with USSS, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I am in the middle of a case with USSS nexus and as such have had quite a bit of recent dealings with them. They are NEVER here. Even the US Attorney's Office gets frustrated because as soon as the USSS agents start something, they end up getting called away. This is no fault of their own and these are good agents that I'm working with. According to the agents, this is partially due to a campaign season, but also attributed to the fact that the Service can cheaply and quickly get them pretty much anywhere in the world because we live in a major city with a huge airport. Also according to them, their peers in another big city nearby travel far, far less because it is more expensive for the Service to make those guys travel. They have also commented several times that there are two kinds of managers in USSS, those who grew up doing investigations and those who grew up doing protection. If your SAC is a protection guy, expect to do a lot of protection. Accordingly, the differences between offices seem to be wide ranging.

All of that to say, I wouldn't put much stock in the whole 7 year investigative thing. The agents I'm dealing with are assigned to a counterfeit squad (and few have more than 7 years on the job), but that doesn't seem to matter. They are ALL (including the GS-14 supervisors) doing protection pretty much full time. Just like any agency, some of them are happy with the Service and some aren't. Just know that Protection, Protection support, and Protection planning seem--at least from my perspective-- to be the Top 3 priorities for USSS.

I overheard a USSS discussion in which they stated they had no classes slotted for FY 13 but that can change. CITP classes seem slow compared to some of the other programs going (CBP) MCIOs have some classes going so there must be some movement with them.

I am a USSS SA and hopefully can share a little insight.

The latest is two SA classes and two UD classes for FY 2013. All of this is subject to change. There is a large push to hire veterans and they are generally guaranteed interviews unless there is something egregious in their background. However, other qualified applicants are always considered especially if there is LE experience, masters degree, law degree, or language capability.

I always had a private philosphy that if you have attention deficit disorder - then you grow up and become a USSS agent. The dual mission of protection and investigations keeps you busy and no two days are alike. I've always enjoyed the constant change.

Protection pays the bills and will always have precedence over investigations. Sometimes when you work a big case and have lots of moving parts or it takes a significant amount of time the agent may be pulled away to handle other protection related requests. During a campaign can be a challenging juggling act.

With this being said and depending on the individual - its nice to drop everything and go away for a few days to a place that you have never been to.

As for the hiring - they will tell you or give you a small choice of where you will start before you accept the position. The needs of the Service dictate where you may have to start. Some people start at the office from where they applied from. Others may have to do a "big ugly" like NY, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, or Los Angleles depending on needs of manpower.

Generally speaking you start at a field office and then do full time protection in Wahington DC or a former president and then rotate back to a field office. Generally later in your career you have a better chance to choose where you woud like to go.

How long you are in your first field office depends. It could be about five or so years. You might speed that up by choosing to go to headquarters or going to the Counter Assault Team.

If you are someone who wants routine and enjoys the same style of living and doing the same cases day in and day out then the USSS might not be for you. There is definitely change and you will be subject to many different things.

With the economy and budget the way they are - things are subject to change and the norm isn't what it used to be.

A federal LE job is worth it and you should jump through every hoop and do what you need to do to keep up with the stiff competition of other potential hirees.

Good luck and fight the good fight.

PM me any time.