Border Patrol

Answer 1

Border Patrol Agents work as uniformed law enforcement under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) division. The CPB is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The mission of the Border Patrol is to find and stop aliens from coming into the United States illegally. In order to do this they must patrol the Mexican and Canadian borders as well as the 2000 miles of coastline and waters around Florida and Puerto Rico. Border Patrol agents are also responsible for finding, detaining and/or deterring terrorists and stopping terrorist weapons from getting into this country.

The activities a Border Patrol Agent must perform in order to fulfill their duties include setting up surveillance, tracking down leads, responding to signals from electronic television systems and looking for illegal aircraft flying over the borders. They also follow tracks and markings and unravel important evidence.

There are a number of requirements that must be met in order for someone to be a Border Patrol. A candidate:

•Must be a U.S. citizen

•Must have been a U.S. resident for 3 years

•Must pass a drug test

•Must pass a background check

•Must successfully complete a series of physical fitness tests

•Must maintain a 70% average in each of the academic classes

•Must have no convictions for domestic violence on their record. (Other small misdemeanors may not necessarily prevent acceptance.)

•Must be less than 40 years of age.

Trainees are required to learn the Spanish language if they do not already speak Spanish.

Border Patrol Agents receive Federal Government benefits. There are three different levels at which agents may be hired at: GL-5 with a starting pay of $38,619 per year; GL-7 that has a beginning salary of $43,964; and GL-9 that begins at $49,029 per year. These salaries may be adjusted accordingly depending on the agent’s Duty Location. There are also plenty of opportunities to earn overtime. Each agent is also given a $1500 per year uniform allowance.

Pay increases as agents receive promotions to the next pay level. An agent hired as a GL-5 is eligible to be promoted to GL-7 after completing the 6-month training course. The level and pay of GS-11 are earned through a competition for promotion.