| Although hiring is lagging in most | | | | strong candidates because "we offer an |
| organizations, Customs and Border Patrol Jobs | | | | opportunity to protect America, in America. |
| are widely available. The Department of | | | | In fact, veterans make up more than 20 |
| Homeland Security is aggressively ramping up | | | | percent of the Border Patrol." |
| its force of Border Patrol agents. | | | | |
| | | | While prior law enforcement experience is |
| Border Patrol Background | | | | helpful, Dunlop said, it is not required |
| | | | because the Academy will provide agents with |
| The United States Border Patrol is the | | | | the knowledge and skills they will need to do |
| uniformed part CBP, which falls under the | | | | the job. |
| Department of Homeland Security (DHS). | | | | |
| According to CBP.gov, CBP was founded in | | | | Dunlop said that Spanish language proficiency |
| 1924. That first year, Border Patrol started | | | | is highly desirable. |
| operations with 450 officers, and set to work | | | | |
| regulating traffic across the country's | | | | Qualifications for Border Patrol Jobs |
| borders. Most of the patrol's work was | | | | |
| focused on stopping illegal immigration and | | | | The CBP trains students from a variety of |
| alien smuggling. | | | | backgrounds, and Dunlop said the agency |
| | | | welcomes those with college degrees, and |
| The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 | | | | those with a military background have proven |
| changed that mission. Now, Border Patrol's | | | | to be highly successful; approximately 25% of |
| focus has shifted toward prevention of | | | | CBP are military veterans. |
| terrorism through working to stop the flow of | | | | |
| terrorists and terrorist weapons into the | | | | A law enforcement background may be helpful |
| country. Border Patrol works to secure the | | | | but is not required. Dunlop said CBP training |
| 6,000 miles of international border with | | | | standards remain at a high level to ensure |
| Canada and Mexico, and the 2,000 miles of | | | | new agents are adequately trained to meet the |
| coastal waters around Florida and Puerto | | | | law enforcement standard. |
| Rico. | | | | |
| | | | Fluency in Spanish or the aptitude to learn |
| Border Patrol Jobs | | | | Spanish is necessary. Spanish language |
| | | | immersion is provided at the Academy for |
| In 2006, President George W. Bush announced | | | | those who need it. |
| his commitment to add 6,000 additional Border | | | | |
| Patrol agents by the end of 2008. | | | | Agent Training |
| | | | |
| With respect to Border Patrol staffing, Tara | | | | Agents attend a rigorous training academy, |
| Dunlop (CBP Public Affairs Officer) said the | | | | currently located in Artesia, New Mexico, |
| agency has seen a dramatic increase since the | | | | where they learn immigration, nationality and |
| President took office in fiscal year 2002. At | | | | criminal law, and receive defensive |
| the end of fiscal year 2001, CBP started with | | | | techniques training, firearms training, and |
| approximately 9,800 Border Patrol agents. | | | | task-based Spanish language immersion |
| Today, their numbers are more than 16,690. | | | | training. All training is conducted at the |
| "Our goal for the end of 2008 is 18,000 | | | | Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico. |
| Border Patrol agents on duty ('boots on the | | | | Candidates receive full pay and benefits |
| ground,') and we are on track to meet that | | | | during training. |
| goal," Dunlop said. | | | | |
| | | | The basic training program is further |
| Border Patrol has had to find creative new | | | | supplemented by a 12-week National Field |
| ways to recruit. Innovations include national | | | | Training Officer Program, and a minimum of |
| recruiting in non-traditional regions of the | | | | two months on-the-job training with a |
| country, sector-based recruiting, NASCAR | | | | journeyman-level agent during which the |
| sponsorship (now in its second year) the | | | | interns' performance will be evaluated. |
| Minority Recruitment Strike Team, a | | | | |
| Professional Bull Riders sponsorship and | | | | Where will I work? |
| recruiting at U.S. military installations in | | | | |
| the continental U.S. and abroad. | | | | Initial assignments for Border Patrol agents |
| | | | coming out of the Academy will be in Arizona, |
| Additionally, a branding campaign has just | | | | California, New Mexico, and Texas. |
| launched, which includes television ads and | | | | |
| an updated website that can be found at | | | | What's the Downside? |
| BorderPatrol.gov. | | | | |
| | | | One disadvantage to Border Patrol work is |
| Agent Personality Traits | | | | that it can be emotionally draining to turn |
| | | | people away from the U.S. country, |
| Dunlop said that the agency's ideal recruit | | | | particularly when young children are involved |
| is someone "who prefers working outdoors and | | | | and you realize parents are only trying to |
| can successfully complete an oral interview, | | | | give their families a better life. For this |
| medical and fitness exams, drug testing, and | | | | reason, people who understand the Border |
| background investigation." | | | | Patrol mission and believe in its importance |
| | | | are better-equipped to handle the job. |
| Dunlop also said that military veterans are | | | | |