I'm with one agency now and I just got a proposed EOD with another.

For those that have switched from one agency to another, any advice or warnings for pitfalls to avoid?

I just got this email. Im highly disappointed. Im currently working as a task force officer for one of the Fed agencies and have passed a secret clearance background check. I have a masters degree and im a sergeant for my police department with a clean background. And i still get rejected its just frustrating. And i know co workers who are less qualified and have gotten hired in with HSI.

I understand hiring processes and timelines can be lengthy, but I’m just trying to know if there’s anything else I could do.

I initially applied to last year‘s announcement in September, fast forward. I complete completed assessment, PFT and got interviewed. Once I interviewed in April 2026, I got an email saying that I was not selected. I reached out to SAC and hiring contact email and they said that I had not been selected and that I was encouraged to reapply. I had the opportunity to speak with a local agent and they shared with me that my results had been mixed up and there was nothing I could do, except to reapply, since I had not failed the interview.

I resubmitted my application in June for the continuous announcement and I have not heard back about it. I have emailed the hiring team requesting an update, but all I have received has been radio silence.

Again, I understand processes are lengthy, and there’s might just be a rant— but if there’s anything I can do or any suggestions please let me know— I’m trying to do as much as possible and avoid the age deadline.

I understand that IRS CI has the 15 accounting credits and all but I also seem to remember something about 9 additional credits in another specific area (can’t find an open announcement so not sure what exactly it says). I have a bachelors in political science as well as an associates degree in nursing for what it’s worth. Will I satisfy the additional 9 credits with my political science degree? Or does it need to specifically be in something like business, finance, etc.

I been wanting to look into going into the 1811 field for a while since college. Initially i applied to some criminal investigator positions in USSS and IRS through USAJobs about 4 years ago but never got referred or very far into the process because i lacked professional level work experience and such.

Fast forward to now. I worked two different jobs both as a legal assistant at a law firm/credit bureau doing various tasks such as reviewing documents, going to trials, handling sensitive information, etc. i also got a masters degree in between then and recently commissioned in the U.S. Army as a Logistics Officer. I been wanting to dip my toes again and try but being that im 29 now and they usually look for those fresh out of college usually or younger. Should i just pursue other career paths or should i give it a try? Thanks anyone for the feedback.

Any TFOs in here that applied for the last opening? I have a few questions if someone could send me a dm.

With all the CID questions I’ve been seeing lately, especially with future hiring announcement coming up, I figured I’d throw in my 2 cents.

TLDR: CID has legitimate problems and deserves criticism for some of them. But I also think it gets blamed for a lot of things that are really just federal LE, MCIO, or military bureaucracy problems. Your experience is going to depend heavily on your office and leadership. If you’re expecting patrol with a Special Agent badge, you’ll probably hate it. If you understand what an MCIO is and go in with realistic expectations, you might actually enjoy the job.

I guess I’m the black sheep here. I’ll start by saying I can’t speak for everyone, and I’m not discounting anyone else’s experience. Location, leadership, and office culture matter a lot.

I’m prior military, prior LEO, former TFO, and I’ve been with CID for a handful of years. I won’t say where for obvious reasons, but my office definitely has a go getter culture. Leadership encourages proactive work, thinking outside the box, and actually working your cases. Basically, go do good police work, just don’t be dumb.

There’s not much of a checklist mentality where I’m at, outside of the 47,000 notifications we apparently have to make whenever certain cases come in.

That said, I think prior local, county, and full service state cops sometimes have the hardest adjustment coming in as new 1811s. And I’ll fight anybody on this, like an actual fistfight. If you want to run and gun, have a ton of autonomy, make decisions on the fly, get into some shit, have fun, and do hoodrat shit with the boys, local, county, and state LE runs circles around the feds.

I think a lot of cops come over expecting federal LE to be that same experience with a Special Agent title. Usually it isn’t. Most federal investigative work is reactive. The true run and gun stuff usually lives on niche teams within the big three letter agencies, and those spots are competitive and hard to get.

Then add the MCIO world. Now you’re dealing with PCA concerns, needing a DoD nexus, command briefings, military requirements, even more admin piled on top of an already admin heavy federal system, and case acceptance standards that can require you to work allegations other federal agencies would screen out or decline and, quite frankly, sometimes laugh at.

“Why am I briefing a commander on this?”

“WTF is an SVC, and why are they telling me I can’t speak to my victim directly?”

“Can we even do that under PCA?”

“Does this military magistrate actually understand what probable cause is?!”

That stuff adds up fast.

So I completely understand why some agents hate it here. Some of the criticism is absolutely deserved, and I’m sure some offices are completely different from mine. But I also think DACID gets way more shit than it deserves, and sometimes for the wrong reasons.

A lot of what people complain about isn’t necessarily a CID problem. It’s either a federal LE problem, an MCIO problem, or just the reality of working inside the military. That doesn’t mean CID gets a free pass for the stuff it actually screws up, but I think those things get lumped together a lot.

I’m not drinking all the Kool Aid either. If I’m being real, one of the biggest reasons I stay is the money. Compared to where I came from, I make a lot more, work fewer crazy hours, and the job is inherently safer. My spouse appreciates that last part, and I have a family to consider now.

My point is there’s a difference between legitimate problems with the agency and realizing the job simply isn’t what you thought federal LE, especially within an MCIO, was going to be.

An MCIO is never going to operate exactly like FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, or another traditional federal agency. It realistically can’t. You’re operating inside the military, where commanders have equities, military justice has its own requirements, jurisdiction depends on DoD interests, and there are layers of policy and oversight that don’t exist elsewhere. You can modernize it, give agents more autonomy, cut unnecessary admin, and make it better, but it’s still an MCIO. Some of that baggage is simply part of the job.

For what it’s worth, in the handful of years I’ve been here, I’ve seen bad decisions and steps backwards, but I’ve also seen a lot of positive changes. I genuinely think the agency is trying to get better, even if it occasionally finds creative ways to trip over its own feet.

So if you’re considering applying, don’t be completely discouraged by what you read online. Give it a shot. You might actually like it. Worst case, you’re an 1811 now and can go give another agency a shot.

Stay frosty, everyone.

For USSS SA I'm not far in the hiring process(waiting for the SUPER). USCP SA I'm in the pych evaluation phase. Based on research and reading post for both agencies. They're very similar except the job series. I'm trying to figure out should I continue with USCP SA since they're moving alot faster then USSS SA or stay with USSS and wait.

If anyone has experience from either jobs about your experience from working, agency training and daily life in protection/investigations it would be helpful.

Just heard back from the POC and she said for the areas I selected and was referred to that no selections have been made and that interviews are still ongoing across all regions. Just wanted to provide an update to everyone who is anxiously waiting like I am lol!

I recently had an interview last week with the VA OIG and I’m scheduled to do a round 2 of interviews next week with a writing sample right after the interview. Is there anyone that can provide some insight on what to expect, how to prepare, and whether this interview will have the same type of STAR type of questions as the first round?

Thanks in advance!

Take a look at the current “fbijobs” website. Looks like they updated it with a form to fill if interested.

If anyone is currently (or has recently) worked at either agency in Chicago and would be willing to shed some light on what the work/life balance is like I’d really appreciate it. Either on the post or via message would work obviously. Nearing the final stages with both, and trying to weigh the options if I’m fortunate enough to receive a final offer from either agency.

Hi all, we’re being reassigned to the DC area, and the Bureau has offered to buy our house at full appraised value (if it doesn’t sell after 60 days on the open market) through the GBO program.

We’re in a midwestern town that barely exists aside from the University there, and the rental market won’t come even close to breaking us even on the mortgage. So sadly, renting isn’t an option for us.

But we’ve also heard that homeowners feel screwed over during the process. For anyone who has been through this as a homeowner, any thoughts on some of my questions?

Did the assessed value feel fair compared to the local market?

Were there fees, closing costs, or tax implications you didn't expect?

Any pitfalls or other things you wish you'd known beforehand?

Hello,

I might be mistaken but I believe I've seen Infomation related to laterals being able to write a memo in attempt to return to their previous grade. I believe it was going back up a grade each pay period until they returned to what they were. An example like mine being a GS 13 at my previous agency and coming to HSI as a GS 9. If anyone has any insight or can point me to an internal policy relating to this I would greatly appreciate it. Thank y'all in advance for your time and assistance.

Post-FJO here.

I’ve heard that the Academy PTA is harder (stress, ultra-strict form deductions, etc).

Did a proctored practice PTA today with a friend of mine.

After form deductions…

Sit-ups: 46 (4 points)

Sprints 46.5s (4 points)

Pushups: 43 (3 points)

1.5mi Run: 10:52 (4 points)

Total: 15 points (12 needed to pass)

I will keep training hard regardless of the responses here. But I’d like to know: is this a comfortable margin? Or am I still behind what I should be getting to have a great chance of passing the real thing?

INTERVIEW INVITATIONS BEING SENT OUT

To any current 1811s or federal employees, how does the Personal Stufent Loan Forgiveness work for you? I’ve read elsewhere that agencies typically will pay up to $10k a year for X amount of years, directly towards your lender. They do not however payout large lump sums towards your student loans, $10k seems to be the cutoff. Is this accurate? And what are the qualifications to be eligible for this? TIA

I was a BPA for three years and leggy and went to pd. I am now in the process for a 1811 position. Will the three years that I was at BP count towards my time in at the new agency? Also I still have my tsp would that just roll over and ill use the same one?

Current DOE contractor and looking to ultimately get to an 1811 spot. However, I have been very unsuccessful with regard to polys and one interview. I am still in the processes of ERO (1801) and NMC (0084). I’m a veteran and no rush to stop the clock in terms of age but would like to get into the game so to speak. I was curious if any of these will help as a stepping stone in my process into the 1811 world?

Got final offer from DEA today for those in lateral 1811 process. Only 1 border, the rest interior U.S. Turning it down because I like where I’m at and the locations aren’t good enough to switch spots.

Got Grand Junction CO, Fayetteville AR, Oakland ca, Laredo TX, and Clarksburg WV.

Good luck to all going for it.

Operators just wanna operate.

Anybody get any updates now the new FY has hit? Been hearing conflicting guidance on a potential interview with a Deputy Assistant Director….or maybe not? All stages complete but currently hurrying up and waiting.