US Border Patrol Seeking New Agents

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- (http://www.myprgenie.com) -- If protecting the American borders from terrorists and instruments of terror sounds like a job for you, you're in luck. The job is not only open, it's part of an active recruitment program by the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) that is accepting applicants for U.S. Border Patrol Agents for the Southwest Border, specifically South Texas, West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

The CBP, under which the Border Patrol Agents operate, is in active recruitment mode from now through the end of September to boost agent ranks that already have swollen by more than 50 percent in the past few years.

The CBP originated in 1924 at which time its relative handful of Border Patrol agents concentrated on monitoring immigration and drug smuggling traffic across U.S. Borders. After Sept. 11, 2001, the CBP was moved under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security and the CBP mission statement expanded its view to "safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders."

According to the CBP, the ideal Border Patrol candidate would be someone "interested in preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States." Additionally, of course, agents look for and apprehend drug smugglers and "undocumented aliens... in violation of the immigration laws."

Eligible applicants, unless applying under Veterans Preference or with previous federal law enforcement experience, must be less than 40 years of age, a U.S. Citizen and resident and possess a valid state's drivers license. Fluency in Spanish is preferred, but the ability to learn the language is an acceptable requirement. Applicants will also need to pass a background security check, a medical exam, and drug and fitness tests.

Once hired, agents undergo extensive training to prepare them for such duties as covert surveillance, responding to electronic sensor systems and aircraft sightings, and interpreting and following tracks across border crossing areas, and identifying marks and other physical evidence of smuggling activities. There's marksmanship and physical fitness training, and, for those who need Spanish language instruction, there's an additional 40-day school.

Exciting, occasionally dangerous but always fulfilling, the job of a Border Patrol Agent provides a salary range that is dependent on grade level from $38,619.00 to $63,259.00 per year. Salaries also are adjusted for locality once the selection is made for a specific sector and/or station assignment. There are annual salary increases, overtime compensation, a retirement program, a uniform allowance, and a benefit package that includes vacation days, and a variety of health and life insurance programs.

At a time when jobs are difficult to find, the job of Border Patrol Agent offers many benefits not the least of which is the opportunity to protect the nation. Additional information about the job and applying for it can be found at www.borderpatroljobs.net

To see press release go to http://myprgenie.com/8211

SOURCE BorderPatrolJobs.net