Thread: FBI placement

I have a question about FBI field office placement. Do they take into consideration your spouse's work when deciding placement and moves? For example, my wife is a doctor (M.D.) and she won't be able to relocate her practice easily. She is still a resident right now. However, when she gets established somewhere moving will not be the most feasible. Any credible info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

My wife was hired by a different Fed LEO agency.
Officially the FBI has told me that no consideration is given in line with the policy of world wide placement (which all candidates sign). Off line they have told me that they'll try but not to hold my breath. We are hoping to at least be in the same geographic area.
S/F GRG

The AC told my group that you can count on NOT getting your recruiting office on the first assignment. She said it could be possible afterward, but all that depends on their needs.

No, they do not take your spouse's occupation into consideration when they place you. My wife is in a professional position and I was in a situation similar to yours. I'm not going to get into the details (you can PM me), but we were sent to a very rural area (in your state) where there are limited job opportunities.

MAKE SURE you spouse understands that you will move in almost all cases. We had some severe marital problems in our class, which was a shame because it distracted the new agents from what they were there to do. In almost every case, it was because the spouse stated they didn't understand that they "had to move", they just thought there was a slight chance.

Luckily, my wife fully understood what was told to her during more than one pre-employment interview.

My wife and I were discussing this, and she came up with this idea.....If you make it to the academy and your spouse is a professional or doctor or something like that, and you think that it would be difficult to find employment in certain areas, why dont you just LIST cities that are LARGE in your top 10. Places where you probably will get sent if you want to go. Like SAN FRAN, L.A., N.Y., and D.C.........I know that they might be expensive at first, but it be set off by the fact of your spouse working. ................Just a thought...

P.S. If your wife is a Doctor then this might be a good idea...

DJScott:

I was trying to PM you but your box is full.

Usually your wife's profession is not taken into consideration, unless she is already an agent. In your case, unfortunately the chances of getting back to Louisville are not good. It will happen every now and then that a person will get their first choice if it's a smaller city, but if you also processed out of Louisville, that chance to return is probably nixed. It is possible to return to your processing office (I did), but that usually only goes for SF, LA, NY and San Juan.

If you're looking to stay in the general area, you might have a shot at Cincinnati or Chicago if you put those first.

I have recently been thru this, they will put you where they want you. Period.

Originally posted by unit83
I have recently been thru this, they will put you where they want you. Period.

Unit83 speaks the truth..Needs of the Bureau and all...

The agent that conducted the spousal interview with my wife, told her two things regarding assignments.

1. One of the agents in her class was from New York City. That agent requested New York City as Choice #1. Everyone told her she was "essentially" guaranteed that assignment, cuz nobody wanted NYC, it is a huge office, blah blah blah. When the assignments came out, that agent was sent to some small RA on the opposite coast. Go figure!

2. One reference to the assigment selection process was, QUOTE, "a drunk monkey sitting in a dark cellar throwing darts at a dartboard."

Obviously some of the replies prior to mine are from people much more in the know, but this kinda goes along with what they've said. Count on moving.

I've heard number a couple times, and I think I believe it.

Our class went out and bought a stuffed monkey, taped a big (empty) bottle of Jack Daniels to his hand and a dart to the other, blindfolded him, and hung him from a noose from the ceiling for orders night.

We couldn't really tell if the senior guy giving out orders and our counselors were amused or not, but it sure amused us!!!

Who actually makes the assignment decision? Is it people at Quantico or HQ at DC? I'm from NYC and hope to get back NYC as my #1 choice (if I make it to Quantico.) I like living in a big city so I don't mine going back to one of them.

Thanks.

daihung

Originally posted by daihung
Who actually makes the assignment decision? Is it people at Quantico or HQ at DC? I'm from NYC and hope to get back NYC as my #1 choice (if I make it to Quantico.) I like living in a big city so I don't mine going back to one of them.

Thanks.

daihung

The decisions come out of the Transfer Unit, a part of the Administrative Services Division at FBIHQ.

Originally posted by Time Traveller
The decisions come out of the Transfer Unit, a part of the Administrative Services Division at FBIHQ.

TT,

Thanks for your reply. Now I have more questions. How does the Transfer Unit decide where to place a new agent? Does each field office submit a list to request agents with certain skills? If these questions are not appropriate to ask in the public forum, please disregard.

Thanks.

Daihung