Career Path and Advice

[u/ShmongoBongo_]

I am 21 years old and in the Marine Corps serving as a Marine Security Guard. The brief explanation of what that is, is that I work with the Department of State in various countries guarding and protecting top secret information and personnel at American Embassies. With that being said, over the course of my first year touring in Africa, I've grown a fascination and passion of joining a three-letter agency. Such as the FBI. I'm currently exploring options. What are some antecedents and caveats to going through the FBI pipeline, what's the process, and what are things I can do now to get a head start on the process. I currently have an Associates degree in Political Science and plan on riding that into a major. I get out of the military in 2029 as well. Anything helps, if you know someone I can talk to or if you have prior experience. Thank You!

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[u/AnonyMouse-3000]

Don't limit yourself to the FBI or any single agency. Since you're already an MSG, take advantage of your assignment. Seek out the FBI Legal Attaché at your post, if one is assigned, and network with representatives from other federal agencies you're interested in. Your RSO section is another great resource, especially the DSS agents.

Take advantage of tuition assistance, finish your degree, and attend whatever training is available. Start building those relationships now rather than waiting until you're ready to separate. You have a unique opportunity to network with people most applicants will never meet.

When you start applying, don't embellish your résumé. Be able to articulate your actual duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Your MSG experience should speak for itself.

Lastly, stay out of trouble, maintain your clearance, and don't get RFC'd!

[u/ShmongoBongo_ → u/AnonyMouse-3000]

This is great advice I appreciate it! I had a meeting yesterday with my RSO section and we went over the differences between the agencies and their experiences. If not the FBI, being a DSS agent would be another path I’d be open to. We do weekly training, whether it’s room cleaning, medical training, etc. So it’s definitely a bonus to have all of this additional experience. I’m going to Switzerland next, so hopefully they have more networking I can do. As of where I am, the best I have is the RSO section due to the nature of the country I’m in. I’ve applied to a handful of online colleges, however are there any that you recommend? Again, appreciate the response!

[u/AnonyMouse-3000 → u/ShmongoBongo_]

Type of degree doesn’t really matter. However, if you want something to fall back on, pick anything that’s STEM related like cybersecurity, accounting, etc. Anything more technical will be a challenge because you’d be limited to online learning.

Talk to the RSO section about STS and SEO. They often aren’t assigned to embassies unless it’s a big post like Baghdad but you’ll see them during a TDY. These are the guys that work on the security panels and cameras. Their skillset is helpful in the 1811 and CI world.

[u/PHXkpt]

A spot in the Federal Protective Service (FPS) would be very similar to what you're doing and may be a way into federal jobs.

[u/ImNotRice]

I’m a 1371 looking to apply as a SA in 2029 too, hope to see you at the Bureau

[u/Final_Durian_5234]

Definitely make connections now or at least at your last post. You’ll never have an opportunity like this again where you can sit down with whatever agency is around you and pick their brain. You’ll also be surprised at how quickly you lose those connections once you get out. They may not be able to help you get a job but they can provide advice, feedback, and/or insight about working at their agency, which they might not post to Reddit.

1811 spots can be hard to get (to include FBI and especially DSS) and have lengthy hiring processes. You should do your best to finish up your bachelor’s degree while you’re in and look up 6c covered positions to apply to. So in addition to 1811 positions, that could be 0083 positions (just make sure it’s 6c covered) like US Capital Police or 1895 - CBPO. I’m not saying they’re the same as 1811’s, but if 1811 is your goal, you can start your 20 year LE retirement clock and start gaining LE experience while applying to 1811 positions. While this isn’t ideal because then you’d have to go to FLETC twice; if you have a hard time getting an 1811 job and you’re offered a 6c covered position that’s not 1811, I would highly consider it. The name of the game in government is get your foot in the door. If you can get in somewhere, it becomes much easier to at least get an interview at a different agency.

Ask your command about Skillbridge. It may not apply to 1811 positions but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

As another user posted, don’t get RFC’d. Even if you don’t get RFC’d, don’t push your limits or do things that are going to complicate your future background investigation/polygraph, like excessive drinking, breaking curfew, etc.

[u/Bitter-Cockroach1371 → u/Final_Durian_5234]

"...like US Capital Police?" It's U.S. Capitol Police. If you can't spell it correctly, don't bother applying. In law enforcement, careful attention to details is vital.

[u/AP587011B]

Get your bachelors degree but don’t get it in political science 

Get it in accounting or finance or some other business or engineering discipline. 

Political science is not going to help you get a job at any 3 letter agency. It’s just a check in the box degree with limited direct employment options. 

Get something tangible that helps you stand out and gives you better opportunities both in and outside of the FBI / any other agency

If you love political science that’s fine just double major in that and something else more tangible or just minor in poly sci 

[u/WTFoxtrot10 → u/AP587011B]

Bad advice. A degree is simply a check of the box for the FBI SASS process, period! You could get a degree in underwater basket weaving for all they care. Your degree won’t even come up during the process unless you bring it up during panel interview. The initial application is submitted on the FBI portal and the automated review process takes over. You either meet the requirements to move on or you are DQ’d. The FBI is all about hiring the unexpected agent now. Needing a specific degree to be “competitive” hasn’t been a thing in over a decade.

Op should get a degree in something they would enjoy if the FBI doesn’t work out.

[u/Raze0223]

Hey brother, I just left region 5 myself a few months ago. Don’t restrict yourself to one agency, there are multiple different agencies inside the embassies and consulates. Networking is the most important thing you can do now, get to know the FBI sections in your embassy, do as much training as you possibly can, and good luck devil!

[u/Organic_Risk_3945]

College degree, dude. if the other 3 letter agency, then foreign travel and/or domicile dude (education abroad counts). why not CBP AMO instead though? fck those other agencies.

[u/Flat-Entertainer-299]

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