Thread: Coast Guard Investigative Service

I just wanted to see if anyone out there currently works with or for CGIS. I did some searches through old threads but the most recent information I was able to find was almost three years old. I know the Coast Guard is under DHS but active duty members are subject to the UCMJ and pay structures are the same as other military branches. My question is are CGIS 1811's more comparable to AFOSI and NCIS or closer to ICE/HSI agents due to CGIS falling under DHS. The information on their site seems to be a mixture with a lot of Coast Guard ships conducting counter-narcotics operations.

I applied to the announcement that just closed and the majority of questions were UCMJ investigations based and one maritime law experience question. Just wanted to see if someone had any information.

A lot depends on the location. I know CGIS agents who spend all their time working general crimes like sexual assault and robberies, and others who work more external crimes like maritime drug trafficking and environmental crimes, often in a task force setting.

DB, Not comparable to ICE/HSI. Those guys/gals are able to specialize in particular disciplines of LE (i.e. drugs, international weapons trade, etc.) A CGIS agent's six month stretch might look something like this: Internal investigation of an E-2 Coastie writing bad checks; to an external investigation with NMFS 150nm offshore for a trawler catching tons of illegal fish; to the Caribbean with DEA for a major drug trafficking conspiracy. USCG HQ still charges the entire CG, including CGIS, with massive enforcement mandates but few personnel. It doesn't matter where you're stationed. They'll send you TAD (traveling around drunk) all over the f-ing world. Some offices have 1811s as SACs; while others have senior enlisted or junior officers as SACs. I was an enlisted Coastie during the transition from Coast Guard Intelligence to CGIS. However, I was not a CGI or CGIS agent. I simply have known and worked with them, as an enlisted man and civilian LEO, throughout the years. They get tossed around HARD with little time to specialize. If you want to specialize and be halfway settled in one geographical area with minimal TDY, I highly recommend something like ICE/HSI. BTW I have a buddy in NCIS. They're nonstop between internal affairs (USMJ) and real world exciting criminal stuff also. Not quite as crazy as CGIS, but close. My recent AFOSI observation has been mainly criminal investigations. A lot of USAF internal stuff gets handed over to the Command, at least that's my experience here in GA. I can't speak as in-depth regarding AFOSI management structure/caseload.

Also, CGIS is rather small. From the CGIS agents with whom BIG has worked, there are roughly 150 military CGIS agents & 150 civilian CGIS agents. Where BIG is located there are 3 active CGIS agents. 1 military, 2 civilian and BIG believes 2 reserve CGIS agents.

Here we work together more often than not and get along splendidly with CGIS and USCG.

Although I mostly agree with FedAgent, there are exceptions in CGIS. Again it depends a lot on post of duty, but I do know various CGIS agents whose fulltime job is working on task forces where they do almost nothing except long range, complex cases similar to their other federal counterparts. They get detailed like any agency, but mostly are left alone to work their cases without being pulled away to work internal cases.

Good plan to expect varied assignments, heavy demands and making do with fewer resources than the larger agencies (lack of funding for certain key aspects of investigating drug cases is a major complaint I've heard from CGIS agents for years), but at least know that there are some specialized opportunities available in the agency.

"Some offices have 1811s as SACs; while others have senior enlisted or junior officers as SACs."

We have no SAC that are military, all are 1811's and most of the as acs are the same, there is one asac that is military. NSEDET is right, lack of funding os a major blow. saying that we learn to get other agencies involved. You name the crime we do it. either for cgis or on a task force.

It's been a while. You mean what I know, Coastie. Semper Paratus .

Are the civilians GS12 or 13 like OSI and NCIS.

Affirm. With Law Enfocement Availability Pay (LEAP {25% added to base pay}) & 6c (20-25yr fed LE & FF retirement program).

Has anyone heard anything about current CGIS hiring? I applied to the most recent opening in CA but haven't heard anything since Mid July when the referrals went out. I know they are part of DHS and the HSI component for the department, at least, has had hiring delays recently so I didn't know if CGIS would also be affected.