Job Offers Number Of Advantages... Including Security
by ANN Correspondent Franklin Porath
Perhaps you've noticed those young
ladies in the desert khaki flight suits, with badges and Brendan
Fraser-type criss-cross shoulder holsters near the Federal Pavilion
at Airventure. They are US Customs and Border Protection pilots,
they are part of an elite group of Air Interdiction Agents, and...
the agency is hiring.
If you're a pilot, and you're looking for a job flying with an
organization that might tend to still be here next week, you might
investigate the CBP (Customs and Border Patrol). After 911, the
federal government combined some 22 agencies relating to borders,
customs, rescue and TSA under one aegis, CBP. The air and marine
division currently has more than 750 pilots and 260 aircraft, which
include UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), and the marine fleet has
150 vessels.
Their mission is to detect and prevent terrorist acts, interdict
illegal aliens and contraband, utilizing an integrated and
coordinated air and marine force. The resulting consolidated system
is the world's largest law enforcement air force.
They also deploy to natural disaster areas, operate at night,
and fly-low-level over adverse terrain. Sometimes they also provide
airspace security over large events, such as the Superbowl, or the
presidential inaugurations. If you look at the nose of one of their
planes you will notice that they have the same acquisition radar as
the F-15.
For those with prior military experience, you will have
preferential treatment. In fact, the majority of their current
pilot corps comes from the military. There is a sixteen week basic
law enforcement course, as well as specific CBP
procedures.
The major duty locations seem to be on the Southern borders, so
if you are not already conversant, they will teach you Spanish.
There is also lots of recurrency training, primarily at Flight
Safety, for their variety of both fixed wing and rotorcraft. Thomas
Ahl, a very enthusiastic CBP pilot said, "If you give me ten
minutes, I can talk you into it."
What's the pay? You will probably enter at a GS-11 grade, (about
$73,000 a year) plus a 25 percent additional Law Enforcement
availability pay. This means that your work day does not end at
4:30 PM, particularly if you are in hot pursuit. You are on call,
but you are paid for being on call. You also need to be under 40
years, a US citizen, and hold a Commercial certificate with IFR
rating. There's more, but you can check the details on their
website.
If you prefer to keep you feet on the ground, the Border Patrol
is also looking for Agents. They have current staffing of about
16,000 agents which they want to expand to 20,000. The pay scale
and the federal government benefits are comparable. You might be
working with sniffer dogs or ATVs rather than airplanes.
So, if you qualify, you might want to join the good guys. It
isn't a TV show… it's reality! …And, of course, US
Customs and Border Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer.