Air Interdiction Agent, DHS

Avalon781ML said:
Puerto Rico is hard to fill? Pardon? Why doesn't anyone want to go there? That would be a fantastic place to be assigned!
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We had a PR Police Pilot transfer up to my unit here about 2 years ago. Hes a native, and he sought to get out due to a lot of different reasons, but mainly crime and the economy. He was 10 years there and decided to get his family out, before it got worse. A lot of his co-workers have applied to get out as well, places like Florida and the like. Seems like things arent all sunshine and rainbows down there. But, he did say, as a CBP Pilot, you could have a pretty decent QOL based on the pay. I guess the location of the CBP base is a very decent part of the island, just expensive.
 
MikeD said:
Puerto Rico is one thats hard to fill, as is the Rio Grande Valley such as Laredo/McAllen/Alpine/El Paso, Texas. Other areas open here and therealso, but these are the focus areas for HR to fill.
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Is it almost a sure thing to get assigned to one of those hard to fill locations, or does it just depend on whats hot at the moment?
 
Donnie Kahn said:
Is it almost a sure thing to get assigned to one of those hard to fill locations, or does it just depend on whats hot at the moment?
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It's where they try to fill first, right now. Namely because they're always short it seems, at these places.
 
Donnie Kahn said:
We had a PR Police Pilot transfer up to my unit here about 2 years ago. Hes a native, and he sought to get out due to a lot of different reasons, but mainly crime and the economy. He was 10 years there and decided to get his family out, before it got worse. A lot of his co-workers have applied to get out as well, places like Florida and the like. Seems like things arent all sunshine and rainbows down there. But, he did say, as a CBP Pilot, you could have a pretty decent QOL based on the pay. I guess the location of the CBP base is a very decent part of the island, just expensive.
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Unless they've relocated the base its on the west side of the island where the cost of living is actually very reasonable and crime is lower than other parts of the island. I've lived there and would love to go back given the opportunity. I'd stay until retirement if it were up to me but I'm not like a lot of other folks.
 
Our Fleet & Family Support in Whidbey Island just announced an info fair for CBP coming up next month. Flyers were put out for P-3 Pilot slots in Corpus Christi. There was no requirement listed to be rated in the P-3 or be dual rated. They did say it was a Veterans Recruitment Appointment, however, and would not be posted on USA Jobs.
 
ElihuSmails said:
Our Fleet & Family Support in Whidbey Island just announced an info fair for CBP coming up next month. Flyers were put out for P-3 Pilot slots in Corpus Christi. There was no requirement listed to be rated in the P-3 or be dual rated. They did say it was a Veterans Recruitment Appointment, however, and would not be posted on USA Jobs.
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Only P-3 people go to the P-3. It's their mafia. They're over and above the peon riff-raff rest of the pilots in the agency.
 
MikeD said:
Only P-3 people go to the P-3. It's their mafia. They're over and above the peon riff-raff rest of the pilots in the agency.
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Buddy of mine just got a transfer from the 206/CJ2 in BLI into the P-3 in Jax. He's a current CBP pilot, but not a former P-3 or military pilot. I know they've typically only taken P-3, or at least C-130 guys before. Understandable since it's not a real simple machine. However, other friends I have at the P-3 unit in Jax have told me that they expect to be hurting for pilots, given the current airline hiring picture. I know some of the folks at Jax have actively been networking at the hiring conferences and putting their apps in. This used to really surprise me, but I guess it's not the kind of flying that a lot of people envision when they sign up.
 
ElihuSmails said:
Buddy of mine just got a transfer from the 206/CJ2 in BLI into the P-3 in Jax. He's a current CBP pilot, but not a former P-3 or military pilot. I know they've typically only taken P-3, or at least C-130 guys before. Understandable since it's not a real simple machine. However, other friends I have at the P-3 unit in Jax have told me that they expect to be hurting for pilots, given the current airline hiring picture. I know some of the folks at Jax have actively been networking at the hiring conferences and putting their apps in. This used to really surprise me, but I guess it's not the kind of flying that a lot of people envision when they sign up.
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The P-3 mission looks to be tedious and boring.
 
What's the likelihood of getting a transfer to your preferred location after your first year? Or a few years? Also, are you expected to be familiar with the aircraft you are tested in? I've never flown an A-star or C-206/210.
 
DaveN said:
What's the likelihood of getting a transfer to your preferred location after your first year? Or a few years? Also, are you expected to be familiar with the aircraft you are tested in? I've never flown an A-star or C-206/210.
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Transfer won't happen until around 3-4 years on station. So that's 3-4 years in the hiring location, most likely McAllen or Laredo TX, or Puerto Rico.

No, the test is on flying ability, safety, general airmanship and judgement. Not on knowledge of the specific aircraft.
 
Not that I am even close to being qualified for a job like this -- 300ish hours and all but done with CFI -- but are there any ways into this kind of flying aside from prior military experience? I've been in and out of government contracting over the years, but I realize that those qualifications mean little when trying to get a flying position with CBP, FBI, DEA, State, etc.
 
There are civilans from various flying backgrounds in the agencies. Vast majority are on the fixed wing side of the house, but its entirely possible so long as the min qual for certs and hours is met.
 
MikeD said:
There are civilans from various flying backgrounds in the agencies. Vast majority are on the fixed wing side of the house, but its entirely possible so long as the min qual for certs and hours is met.
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GS 13-10 to start with no backseat duties and I'm in, Mike. ;)
 
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