fatcatmatt74
Basic Training

Posted Mon 16 June 2008 03:45 AM Hide Post
Don,
Thanks for all the help. I got the job in Key Largo. Start FLETC in July. It was a big leap of faith to leave after 15 1/2 years but here goes....
Posts: 18 | Registered: Tue 22 November 2005



I get numerous emails from Coasties who are interested in becoming a CBP, Marine Interdiction Officer (MIA). I try to give good info to whoever asks and I really don't mind the emails, especially when I get a response like I did from fatcatmatt74...that made my week!

I figured I might as well post some suggestion here incase anyone is reluctant to email me thinking they are bothering me.

Assuming you are in the Coast Guard now, here are my suggestions that might help you to get hired by CBP after your USCG enlistment is up.

You need to know that when the applications pass the Review Board up at Headquarters, all those qualified with a certain score are put on a Basic Qualified (BQ) list. Then, those applications are sent to wherever they applied. Ex: you applied for Miami, the Supervisory MIA will get your application to review.

Applications come from all over. Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, Coast Guard, State and Locals, etc. You are in competition with them so you must put down your experience to show you are the best qualified.

Examples of this can be; USCG Coxswain, Boarding officer, seizures made, court testifying experience, crime scene experience/training, secure radio operations, range experience and type of weapons, MLE schools, college, computer skills, etc.

As some of you know, I left the Coast Guard in '88 as a BM3/Cox'n. The two things that really helped me were;

1) I had been a cox'n for three years in the area I was applying for, Key Largo. I knew the waters and was use to running at night in an LE mode.

2) Whether I was on duty or on liberty, I very often rode with the Customs guys on their boats. They got to know me and the boss knew who he was getting when he selected me instead of rolling the dice on some name on an application.

Of course, it didn't hurt that my crew and I made a 4 a.m. 542 lbs coke seizure only a couple of months before I left the CG.

Now BM's aren't the only types who were hired by Customs. I know many MEO's (Marine Enforcement Officers, later changed the title to MIA) who were USCG MK's. CBP will send everyone to Basic, then Advanced Boat school regardless as to if you were ever a Cox'n or not.

Some suggestions that may help you for your application;

1) get Cox'n qualified if you can. Not required but will probably help.

2) get your CG Captain's License. Again, not required but looks better on an application that you already have that out of the way.

3) I wish I had but I didn't...take some Spanish courses. I don't know if CBP ever went through with the plan but they were thinking about having all MIA's attend Spanish Courses much like the Border Patrol have to.

4) If they are in your area and your command has no problem with it, ride with CBP on their boats whenever you can. If you think the "Who you know" stuff doesn't help you get hired, you're wrong.

5) take any L/E training the Coast Guard will offer you.

6) Stay the heck out of trouble, ie: no DUI's, etc. On that subject, as with the USCG, debt can be a serious problem when it comes to getting a security clearance.

7) when you send out applications, use the shotgun approach. Fire them out there to any office you think you might want to work in. Increase your odds. Just know this, as a MIA, if you start out in remote places like Key West, Key Largo, you may have a very difficult time ever getting out of there. The cost of living can be tough.

8) Go introduce yourself to the boss at the office(s) you are applying for. Like I said, if he/she is impressed, they will remember you when it's time to choose. Heck, I'd even go in uniform.

Hopefully this info will help some of you out. I would sure enjoy reading some more posts of others that succeeded in getting hired. Please understand that I took a Disability Retirement early in '06 so I don't have all the answers for present day hiring. I served 6 yrs in the USCG and 17 yrs as a Customs MEO, all in South Florida.

Good luck,

Don

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 21yrsUSCGUSCS,

I thought I would add two stories if anyone is wondering just how far you can go with your CG experience in CBP.

One friend of mine was a BM1 I believe at Station Ft. Lauderdale before he went to Customs as a MEO.

He was an MEO in South FL, made Sr. MEO, than Supervisory MEO. Last I knew, he was a GS-14 up at Headquarters in DC. No college that I am aware of.


Another friend of mine, and I love telling this story to high school kids. He wasn't a Coastie but you'll see what I am getting at.

Here is his story;

No college, no military experience.

He was a sheriff's deputy in the Keys, Monroe County.

Joined Customs as a Criminal Investigator before the MEO program but ran boats in Marathon, FL Keys.

Got his private pilot's license there at the Marathon Airport.

Took a position as a Air Enforcement Officer at Homestead, FL working the sensors and being part of the take down crew.

While flying missions, he was allowed to get some stick time and logged enough hours to apply for a pilot's position with Customs in Puerto Rico.

He was a pilot down there for a few years logging more and more hours on fixed wing as well as small helos.

He then took a position in AZ I believe and last I knew, he was a Sr. Pilot flying the UH-60A Black Hawks.

Pretty cool story of how far you can go on motivation, intelligence and of course, the agency letting you go as far as you can.

I chose not to put in their names without their permission but I am guessing many of you that worked in the Ft. Lauderdale and South Florida area may know them.

Don

I was picked up for the Sandusky, OH office. My EOD is Jan09. I will have 12 years active in the CG as a MK so I am going to stay in the reserves(already have orders to Sta Marblehaead). Cant wait and thanks for the info.

*note- I have taken and passed my master 100ton course, just waiting to recieve it in the mail.

Bama, that's great news. Is that Ohio office hiring you as an Agent (ICE) or MIA? If it's MIA, that must be a newly opened Marine Interdiction office. Glad to hear, if it's the case, that they are really starting to pay more attention to the Northern Border. I know they also have an office in Plattsburg, NY along with one over in Washington State, I believe it's in Blaine.

Don

Hey, my name is greg and im going through the process of joining the beautiful U.S.C.G .... ive always had this weird passion for law enforcement.. have been through criminal justice classes and acadamys in high school... although i have had my fun in college and high school and experimented with marijuana and etc and had ran into an underage dwi blowing a .08 which was about 2 beers... this was about 2 years ago.. even the prior drug use... now what im trying to say i have experimented.. but now im just focused on my career working out ..etc..is there a chance after my CG enlistment(4-8 yrs)if i excell, is there still a chance i can get picked up in MIA or ICE...please let me know when you can because this kind of stuff is my passion and i need to know if i should just give it up and go another route... thanks-greg

Don,
Currently at the academy. Things are great. Lots of new stuff to learn. Graduate 29SEP.
Looking forward to getting back on the water.
Still have to attend MLETP and advanced training at St.Augustine. Anyway thanks fo the help. The proess was long but worth it at the end.

quote:

Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:
Bama, that's great news. Is that Ohio office hiring you as an Agent (ICE) or MIA? If it's MIA, that must be a newly opened Marine Interdiction office. Glad to hear, if it's the case, that they are really starting to pay more attention to the Northern Border. I know they also have an office in Plattsburg, NY along with one over in Washington State, I believe it's in Blaine.

Don

Don,

Yes this is a MIA job and it is a new office. They are also opening offices in, Trenton,MI-Erie,PA- a few in NY and up in the upper penn of MI.

quote:

Originally posted by fatcatmatt74:
Don,
Currently at the academy. Things are great. Lots of new stuff to learn. Graduate 29SEP.
Looking forward to getting back on the water.
Still have to attend MLETP and advanced training at St.Augustine. Anyway thanks fo the help. The proess was long but worth it at the end.

Fatcat,

What office did you get picked up with ?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:
fatcatmatt74
Basic Training

Posted Mon 16 June 2008 03:45 AM Hide Post
Don,
Thanks for all the help. I got the job in Key Largo. Start FLETC in July. It was a big leap of faith to leave after 15 1/2 years but here goes....
Posts: 18 | Registered: Tue 22 November 2005

quote:

Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:
fatcatmatt74
Basic Training

Posted Mon 16 June 2008 03:45 AM Hide Post
Don,
Thanks for all the help. I got the job in Key Largo. Start FLETC in July. It was a
big leap of faith to leave after 15 1/2 years but here goes....
Posts: 18 | Registered: Tue 22 November 2005

I bet he'll be a little warmer than me come winter time !!!

quote:

It was a big leap of faith to leave after 15 1/2 years but here goes....

Please don't tell me you got out of the CG after 15 1/2 years to go with Customs...

Wray.. :

quote:

Please don't tell me you got out of the CG after 15 1/2 years to go with Customs...

Wray.. :

I was thinking the same thing Wray. 4 1/2 years to retirement.......

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:

quote:

It was a big leap of faith to leave after 15 1/2 years but here goes....

Please don't tell me you got out of the CG after 15 1/2 years to go with Customs...

Wray.. :

It's not that crazy, you can buy your time back and you will never make that kind of money in the CG, not even close.

As I see it, part of the problem with folks not retiring is that many of the GS-1811 or similar jobs, deemed "primary" positions (rigorous LE) require you to be under 37 YOA (sometimes waiverable to 40). The 37 age allows you to put in 20 years for retirement, which is mandatory at age 57.

These jobs can be (as in our case re: CGIS) GS-13 level jobs, VERY lucrative positions. Take a look at the USAJOBS website under "criminal investigator" at all of the listings and also look at the salary ranges. There were 28 pages of jobs yesterday under that title, about ten listings per page. CGIS is getting ready to post some civilian jobs there in the next couple of weeks.

Sometimes a hard decision switching careers, but with the ability to start a second, higher-paying job with a greater pension ability, folks do make the jump.

quote:

It's not that crazy, you can buy your time back and you will never make that kind of money in the CG, not even close.

With only 4 1/2 years to go I think you were very foolish... You will regret it someday, mark my words... Military retirement checks are very very nice.

I also have a friend working with Customs on the west coast of FL.. He is counting the days until he can retire.. (a former BM2), but he got out after his first enlistment..

Also, have you figured out how much it will cost to buy your time back... Hold on to your hat when you do.. then try to figure out how many more years you HAVE to work, and a predicted retirement income.. You will more than likely be very discouraged.

Good luck, I hope you get what you want, but I still think you have a big shock heading your way.

Wray...

Well Wray I'm glad you asked.
Part of it is the money. With the gs12 and the Overtime plus location and l/e offset I will break 100k a year on my second anniversary with CBP. That is a big motivator. Plus this is a growing agency, there is no reason I cant make gs13/ supervisor in a few years...
That combined with the retirement was a big part of the reason.
The next part was the job I was leaving. I am #32or 37 on the MKC list. I would have made it soon. However that probably guranteed me another EPO job. More than likely at a surf unit. I was not happy doing that job. Not that I didn't take pride in it and do it well I just didn't join the CG to do it. I joined the CG to spend time on boats. Not easy to do as the EPO at a station.
I am second generation CG and have an immense amount of prode in being part of the service. However the day that my job became work and I didn't look forward to it anymore I decided to try something else.
I will buy my time (About 10k or so for 15% extra retirement.) Stay in the reserves, make MKC next year and either swap over to the new L/E rate when it opens up or make warrant. That way I get to collect twice on my retitrement. Once for the 15% and once for the reserves.
As for why I didn't stick it out Jerry hit it on the head I had to be under 37. I would have retire at 38. This was my last chance to either go there or reenlist.
So next month I will be riding a 39 midnite and being very happy doing it.
I will look back on my time in the CG as what shaped me to be the person I am today. I will take the lessons I learned and the skills I developed and use them in a new envoirment. I will continue to pass down the lessons I learned from the MKCS's and BMCS's I worked with or for to the guys at a new unit. Only I will do it as a reserve.

I am confident Imade the right decision for myself, and in the great scheme if things that really is all that matters...........

By the way Bama do you have a date yet????
The hiring center can be a BIT hard to deal with...
If you have any questions about the process hit me up. I'll help if I can.
You are in for a BIG change.
Good but different.

Sorry Bama didn't see the Jan date. That makes sense. The canceled the AUG and SEP academy's. Not enuf folks I reckon. Anyway good luck and be atient with the process...

quote:

Originally posted by fatcatmatt74:
By the way Bama do you have a date yet????
The hiring center can be a BIT hard to deal with...
If you have any questions about the process hit me up. I'll help if I can.
You are in for a BIG change.
Good but different.

Fatcat,
They just gave me a EOD of Jan09 but I have not been given an official academy date yet. I probably will get that within the next couple of months. I can't wait and I do have two questions. Are you getting the AUO or FLSA pay while you are there and what are the PT standards ?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BamaSlama,

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:


I also have a friend working with Customs on the west coast of FL.. He is counting the days until he can retire.. (a former BM2), but he got out after his first enlistment..


Wray...

Wray,

You and I spoke before about him, John, right?

He was in the BM "A" class right behind me in '85. Then in '89, he was in a Customs Academy the class before me.

We have worked many days and nights together but were never assigned to the same office.

I'll tell ya a quick story that goes along with the income of a GS-12.

There we were on a boat in Ft. Myers, the two 12's, the 13 and me, a 12 at the time.

I was suffering through the bills of my third divorce. Meanwhile, these SOB's where discussing which cleaning services they used for their homes, comparing Rolex watches, Harleys, corvettes. Of course, you have to realize that all three of them have or had wives with careers too as far as I know.

I needed to get off that boat ASAP being the poor 3x divorced guy that I was.

Don