Running head: A CAREER IN THE FBI 1

A Career in the FBI

Jeff Buck

Salt Lake Community College

Bus1010

4/15/2018

Lon Schiffbauer
A CAREER IN THE FBI 2

A Career in the FBI

I have for some time now been contemplating a career with the Federal Bureau of

Investigations. I think that it might be a good fit for me. I have researched this topic and even

conducted an interview with a former FBI Agent as well as a current FBI Special Agent. I have

compiled the information that I collected over several months into this paper. I have included a

short explanation of what the FBI, what the general duties of an Agent are, and how that all

applies to me. As a result of the research, I have learned that this career might not be my first

choice anymore.

What is the FBI?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federally funded intelligence agency and

is the prime source of investigative resources for the U.S. Department of Justice. While being the

widest authority and jurisdiction of any federal law enforcement agency, the FBI is responsible

for more than 200 federal crime categories and boasts the widest authority and jurisdiction of any

federal law enforcement firm. The FBI Director is appointed by the President and confirmed by

the Senate. Recently, with the election of a new president, President Trump appointed a new

director. The FBI has been involved in the investigation and capture of some of the worst

criminals in American history. (U-s-history.com, n.d.)

According to the FBI as stated on their website, the FBI's main goal is to protect the

American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States and its motto is “Fidelity,

Bravery, and Integrity.” The priorities of the FBI are:

1. Protect the United States from terrorist attack

2. Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage

3. Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes
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4. Combat public corruption at all levels

5. Protect civil rights

6. Combat transnational/national criminal organizations and enterprises

7. Combat major white-collar crime

8. Combat significant violent crime (Fbi.gov, 2016)

The FBI is headquartered at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C., with 56 field

offices in major cities throughout the United States. The FBI also maintains over 400 resident

agencies across the United States, as well as over 50 legal attachés at United

States embassies and consulates. Many specialized FBI functions are located at facilities

in Quantico, Virginia, as well as a "data campus" in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where 96 million

sets of fingerprints. (USA International Business Publications, 2002)

The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, is located in Clarksburg, West

Virginia. Organized beginning in 1991, the office opened in 1995 as the youngest agency

division. The complex is the length of three football fields. It provides a main repository for

information in various data systems. Under the roof of the CJIS are the programs for the National

Crime Information Center (NCIC), Uniform Crime Reporting(UCR), Fingerprint

Identification, Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System(IAFIS), NCIC 2000, and

the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Many state and local agencies use these

data systems as a source for their own investigations and contribute to the database using secure

communications. FBI provides these tools of sophisticated identification and information

services to local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies in order to help in a

coordinated effort to control crime. (USA International Business Publications, 2002)

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General Career Path

The FBI is nearly impossible to penetrate, with applicants intensely scrutinized and

assessed over an extended period. To apply to become an FBI agent, one must be between the

ages of 23 and 37 although qualifying veterans may apply after age 37 with a waiver. The

applicant must also hold American citizenship, be of high moral character, have a clean record,

and hold at least a four-year bachelor's degree. You also need to have at least three years of

professional work experience before you apply. All FBI employees require a Top Secret

(TS) security clearance, and in many instances, employees need the highest level of security

clearance which is a TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance. To

obtain a security clearance, all potential FBI personnel must pass a series of Single Scope

Background Investigations (SSBI), which are conducted by the Office of Personnel

Management. (Fbi.gov, 2016). I had to go through a similar experience when I got my security

clearance with the military. I had to submit paperwork and a background check. Special Agent

candidates also have to pass a Physical Fitness Test, which includes a 300-meter run, one-minute

sit-ups, maximum push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. (Benzon, 2018) If I were to go into the FBI, I

would want to be a Special Agent and be in the field. I don’t like deskwork as much as I like to

be out in the action. Personnel must pass a polygraph test with questions including possible drug

use. There is no way to be employed with the FBI if you fail a polygraph test. (Benzon, 2018)

The FBI Academy, located in Quantico, Virginia, is home to the communications and

computer laboratory the FBI utilizes. It is also where new agents are sent for training to become

FBI Special Agents. Going through the 21-week course is required for every Special Agent.

First opened for use in 1972, the facility located on 385 acres of woodland. The Academy also

trains state and local law enforcement personnel from all over the country, which are invited to
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the law enforcement training center. The FBI recruits from agencies, including the Secret

Service, for personnel, investigators in particular. (Fbi.gov, 2016)

Once you are employed with the FBI, you are given a set of cases that you work on and

investigate. There are additional responsibilities that you can apply for and pursue such as a

position in a scuba team or other tactical operations groups. (Garcia, 2018) Tactical operations

teams include the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) which is made up of the

federal government's most elite tactical teams – (SWAT) Special Weapons and Tactics, (HRT)

Hostage Rescue Team, (CNU) Crisis Negotiation Unit. (FBI Tactical Operations, 2018)

Career Outlook

I am fairly optimistic a career with the FBI. I was able to conduct interviews with 2

individuals. My first interview was with the current Warden of the Utah State Prison. He was a

Special Agent with the FBI for about 10 years and then moved to the prison. He had a crazy

story about a time that he was shot at. There was a man that had barricaded himself in a house

and he opened fire on the Agents outside the house. Benzon was hit in his left arm (he is left

handed) and then had to shoot with his support hand at the individual 50 yards away. In the end,

Benzon was hit 3 times. One bullet hit his chest but he was wearing a vest that protected him.

Another hit his arm and the other bullet hit the helmet he was wearing. After that he left to come

to the prison. (Benzon, 2018)

The second interview I conducted was with Special Agent Roman Garcia. He is currently

a Special Agent and just moved back to Utah from New York. The reason for his move was

because he had just gotten a divorce and wanted to be closer to his son. I asked Special Agent

Garcia what the pay is like and he was able to tell me that "the average salary of a new Agent in

2012 was $43,000 but is probably somewhere around $60,000 now" and "the starting pay for a
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Special Agent in 2016 was $72,000 but is probably somewhere around $85,000 now." (Garcia,

2018)

My Fit

There are advantages and disadvantages of working as an FBI agent just like there are

with any career. One of the "pros" is that I would be doing what I feel makes a difference in

society. I have experience working as an armed security officer, a correctional officer at the Utah

State Prison, as well as my experience in the United States Marine Corps. I have chosen to work

in all of those fields because they make me feel like I make a difference to society. Another "pro"

is that I would get to travel. I love to travel. I would also be in a difficult occupation which is

both a "pro" and a "con." Another con is that it is a somewhat dangerous job. It is similar to a

Police Officer because you put your life on the line when you go out and catch criminals. During

my interview with Special Agent Garcia, he told me that "it can be an easy nine to five job if you

want it to be." He said that each agent is given a certain amount of cases that they are required to

investigate and then when the day is over, they just go home. That is really important to me

because I value my time with my family. Special Agent Garcia told me that his career was hard

on his family and that "it might not be the right choice for a family man." (Garcia, 2018)

Conclusion

I have contemplated applying for a career in the FBI for a while now. As a result of the

research, I have learned that this career might not be my first choice anymore. I value my family

above all else and I might want to find a career that is less dangerous. I still have some more

research to conduct and will also continue to research and try to find other careers that meet my

values and help me to achieve my goals. I have found this information to be helpful in my

pursuit to find a fitting career for me.

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Sources

Benzon, L. (2018, April 4). [Personal interview].

Fbiagentedu.org. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.fbiagentedu.org/careers/tactical-

operations/

Fbi.gov. (2016, May 03). Mission & Priorities. Retrieved from

https://www.fbi.gov/about/mission

Fbi.gov. (2016, May 03). Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/history

Fbi.gov. (2016, July 14). Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/about/leadership-and-structure/fbi-

executives

Fbi.gov. (2016, May 07). Security Clearances for Law Enforcement. Retrieved from

https://www.fbi.gov/resources/law-enforcement/security-clearances-for-law-enforcement

Fbiagentedu.org. (2018). FBI Special Agent Careers. Retrieved from

https://www.fbiagentedu.org/careers/fbi-special-agent/

Fbijobs.gov. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.fbijobs.gov/

Wikipedia. (2018, April 20). Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation

Garcia, R. (2018, April 10). [Personal interview].

USA International Business Publications. (2002). Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Academy handbook. Washington, DC: International Business Publications, USA.

U-s-history.com. (n.d.). United States History. Retrieved from http://www.u-s-

history.com/pages/h3866.html