Job Offers Number Of Advantages... Including Security

by ANN Correspondent Franklin Porath

Perhaps you've noticed those young ladies in the desert khaki flight suits, with badges and Brendan Fraser-type criss-cross shoulder holsters near the Federal Pavilion at Airventure. They are US Customs and Border Protection pilots, they are part of an elite group of Air Interdiction Agents, and... the agency is hiring.

If you're a pilot, and you're looking for a job flying with an organization that might tend to still be here next week, you might investigate the CBP (Customs and Border Patrol). After 911, the federal government combined some 22 agencies relating to borders, customs, rescue and TSA under one aegis, CBP. The air and marine division currently has more than 750 pilots and 260 aircraft, which include UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), and the marine fleet has 150 vessels.

Their mission is to detect and prevent terrorist acts, interdict illegal aliens and contraband, utilizing an integrated and coordinated air and marine force. The resulting consolidated system is the world's largest law enforcement air force.

They also deploy to natural disaster areas, operate at night, and fly-low-level over adverse terrain. Sometimes they also provide airspace security over large events, such as the Superbowl, or the presidential inaugurations. If you look at the nose of one of their planes you will notice that they have the same acquisition radar as the F-15.

For those with prior military experience, you will have preferential treatment. In fact, the majority of their current pilot corps comes from the military. There is a sixteen week basic law enforcement course, as well as specific CBP procedures.  

The major duty locations seem to be on the Southern borders, so if you are not already conversant, they will teach you Spanish. There is also lots of recurrency training, primarily at Flight Safety, for their variety of both fixed wing and rotorcraft. Thomas Ahl, a very enthusiastic CBP pilot said, "If you give me ten minutes, I can talk you into it."

What's the pay? You will probably enter at a GS-11 grade, (about $73,000 a year) plus a 25 percent additional Law Enforcement availability pay. This means that your work day does not end at 4:30 PM, particularly if you are in hot pursuit. You are on call, but you are paid for being on call. You also need to be under 40 years, a US citizen, and hold a Commercial certificate with IFR rating. There's more, but you can check the details on their website.

If you prefer to keep you feet on the ground, the Border Patrol is also looking for Agents. They have current staffing of about 16,000 agents which they want to expand to 20,000. The pay scale and the federal government benefits are comparable. You might be working with sniffer dogs or ATVs rather than airplanes.

So, if you qualify, you might want to join the good guys. It isn't a TV show… it's reality! …And, of course, US Customs and Border Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

FMI: www.dhs.gov, www.cbp.gov, www.borderpatrol.gov