What Degree Do I Need To Become A Secret Service Agent

So you want to be a Secret Service agent?

U.S. Secret Service Overview

The Usa Cloak-and-dagger Service (USSS) has primarily transitioned to a protective service organization with secondary involvement in investigative work. Originally established every bit a police force enforcement agency in 1865, it is at present the world's premier protective service organization with unparalleled capabilities to safeguard our nation's most important executive officers. The Hugger-mugger Service is an umbrella law enforcement arrangement that contains both an investigative and compatible division. Annotation that Clandestine Service Special Agents ( 1811 Criminal Investigator s) are routinely confused past the public with Surreptitious Service Officers ( 1801 Uniformed Sectionalization ) every bit both are Underground Service law enforcement officers.

Reality of Hush-hush Service

A Hugger-mugger Service Special Agent must be prepared to travel extensively throughout his or her career. This makes it an ideal workplace for younger applicants. Special Agents will probable start off working any number of support roles ( i.eastward. driving the limo or continuing post ) and eventually be assigned leadership responsibilities for operations ( i.due east. advance site lead or shift pb ). The Secret Service has a "zero-fail" protective mission, which means protective operations will always accept priority over general investigative piece of work ( with the exception of protective threat investigations ). Special Agents assigned to the field can look to regularly support temporary duty assignments concerning a number of protectees. The Secret Service protection portfolio extends well beyond the President & Vice-President and includes one-time presidents, visiting heads of state and national security events.

The Secret Service also has a formal rotation plan that rotates Special Agents from a Field Assignment, to a Protective Assignment, to a subsequent Post-Protection Field Part or HQ location. This is office of the traditional career-path.

The upside of Secret Service is that a new Special Agent volition be able to travel all over the world, brand a ton of extra money in overtime ( which is adequately uncommon among other 1811 positions ) and participate in events of major national significance ( i.eastward. international treaty conferences, elections, United nations Full general Assembly ). The Secret Service also maintains a number of avails that are of national significance (i .e. Air Force One, White Firm ) with respective specialty units and receives nearly endless support for its Presidential Mission. The downside is that constant travel can take a toll on personal relationships and family unit responsibilities. Additionally, mail standing work tin require long hours of standing and potentially uneventful duties ( there is a reason USSS Special Agents have the most comfortable shoes ).

Other Things well-nigh the Secret Service

The Secret Service is a relatively larger organization and comparative to the Drug Enforcement Assistants (DEA) and Agency of Booze, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) in size. A few things prospective applicants should note:

All field level Special Agents are assigned a take-habitation vehicle.
Mandatory and short notice temporary duties are a frequent occurrence.
USSS has a number of specialty positions available to experienced special agents (i.e. SWAT or Cat, Cyber, Polygraph).
Avant-garde academic and career evolution programs are available to senior agents.
Mostly, Special Agents take top notch issued gear, radio equipment and facilities.
Regular access to military, federal, state and local resources in back up of protective mission.
Counterfeit investigations generally do not result in federal charges due to low loss amount.
The protection mission will e'er take priority over investigations. In general, Secret Service Special Agents deport investigative work on the side just if fourth dimension permits. In FY 2020, Hugger-mugger Service had 41 full time protectees, completed four,244 protectee visits ( 185 foreign ) and documented 2,301 protective intelligence investigations. Protection is now the primary purpose of the Secret Service.
Secret Service Special Agents are constantly in visible public roles and effectually the watchful eye of the media; which can consequence in unwanted media attending for relatively trivial events. This can besides result in very astringent disciplinary actions ( i.e. terminations ) for conduct the agency deems embarrassing.
The Surreptitious Service is actively working to mitigate the impact of operations on Special Agents. This includes child care and potentially a supplemental retirement plan in the near future.
Hole-and-corner Service trainees initially complete the joint Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), which makes transitioning to other federal agencies later in their careers a viable selection.

Getting Hired with the U.S. Underground Service

Similar many other 1811 agencies, the U.S. Cloak-and-dagger Service has a very extensive and stringent hiring standard. However, given the physical demands of its protective mission, the Hugger-mugger Service appears willing to entertain younger applicants. A few things to annotation:

All potential applicants should read the new "Go a Hole-and-corner Service Special Agent " brochure.
Possessing or being inside nine-months of graduating with a master'south degree will go your foot in the door as a young bidder, all the same, they must also meet all required standards.
The Secret Service is extremely stringent on drug abuse ( both prescription & over the counter drugs ) and this has been noted as a major claiming for recent higher graduates.
The Surreptitious Service requires an exhaustive tax review for all applicants.
The Special Agent Entrance Exam is a high bulwark to entry for some applicants and requires a delivery to study. Read my Special Amanuensis Examination Prep Blog to learn more and fix yourself.
In order to prepare for the Pre-Employment Interview and formal Special Agent Review Console, I encourage all applicants to review my Cloak-and-dagger Service Profile Folio.
The Secret Service does have a fitness requirement and recurring fettle plan throughout the lifetime of an amanuensis's career. All applicants should accept a connected commitment to fitness.
Start taking your personal digital security seriously. Read my blog "Basic Online Security for Special Agents."

In Conclusion

The The states Secret Service (USSS) is a vital national establishment with a historical legacy and unrivaled public recognition as an 1811 agency. The USSS Special Amanuensis position requires a range of skills from diplomacy and subject field, to firearms tactics and organizational skills. The USSS offers an astonishing career to adventurous applicants and truly is a service to the American public. The Protective Mission is their speciality and the USSS truly does it similar no other.

Review my detailed U.S. Secret Service Profile Page to learn more!