The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a special yet the fundamental investigation wing of the US Department of Justice. As thrilling as the movies portray it, the FBI deals with the laws concerned with federal law enforcement and defense from terrorism– minus the drama and exaggerated action. Though a career in the FBI is highly sought after in the US, it might be one of the stressful jobs out there. In this overview of how to become an FBI agent in American Samoa, you will learn about the steps, the requirements, and duration along with the pay scale and other benefits.
The main duties of an FBI agent revolve around questioning, examination, investigation, and law enforcement activities. The processes for each activity require secrecy in order to maintain the confidentiality of the case. They might have to work undercover, participate in search warrants, raids, arrests, and even serve under circumstances of jeopardy.
Since the US Department of Justice is also considered for serving international requirements of justice, FBI special agents are also employed to monitor large-scale criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, organized crimes, cybercrimes, high-profile corruption, terrorism, and much more. These agents have to devote their lives fully to dealing with stressful conditions and rely on their agile decision-making ability to perform a nerve-racking task. For a competent FBI agent in practice, he might be scheduled to serve 50 hours per week, but we all know that duty calls never cease even after those hours. Moreover, the seriousness of their task requires them to transfer across the US or abroad for a certain kind of training or a secret operation.
Steps To Become A FBI Agent In American Samoa
Like any professional recruitment service, the FBI requires the candidates to adhere to the steps to become a full-fledged FBI agent in American Samoa. In order to apply for an FBI position, the candidate must have the appropriate degree, socio-economic background, and a sound mental and physical state.
To become an FBI agent in American Samoa, you must:
Pursue a Higher Degree
As per the rule, the incumbent must hold a minimum of bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or above and related work experience of 3 years. If the incumbent holds a master’s degree, then only 2 years of experience in the field is required. However, the degree you hold depends on which type of entry program you’re interested in. In American Samoa, special skills and experience call for a variety of fields, such as cyber security, intelligence, engineering, lab sciences, IT, police, military, and aviation.
TIP: Try to participate in an internship program and gain an on-hand training experience. Secondly, apply for a higher degree in the relative field and build your endurance and strength to pass the physical tests put forward by the testing authorities.
Earn Field Experience
As mentioned above, you need an experience of 3 to 2 years depending on the level of your degree. Other than that you must seek work experience in the fields mentioned above to solidify your application.
Complete Your FBI Application Process
The position of an FBI agent demands great sensitivity, which is why it’s crucial for every candidate to undergo a deep background check, a drug test, and a polygraph. Candidates with charges of felony or student loan issues disqualify for the position. However, the deep background check involves investigation of your personal information, interviews with the people you’re connected with, and monitoring of your routine practices. This process can take up to several months of post-application submission.
Moreover, the ideal candidate for an FBI special agent position must be physically and mentally fit to take charge of the duties. You must pass a complete physical examination test conducted by doctors and submit your medical history records. With that, the applicant must also undergo hearing and vision tests along with physical fitness self-assessment test, which includes sets of physical exercises like sit-ups, push-ups, a 300-meter timed sprint, and a 1.5-mile run.
Enroll in an FBI training Academy
Once you have got past all the necessary requirements, you now will have to enroll in an on-campus training at the FBI academy in American Samoa. Besides classroom education, the short-listed candidates require on-hand instruction as well as firearm handling and training.
Once the training completes, the new agents enter the workforce after taking an oath. The first years in service count as probation, which is usually operated under the supervision of a senior FBI mentor. However, you must continue to broaden your set of skills and experience in the different areas of the field. The more you advance, the greater are the chances of your promotion.
Requirements To Become A FBI Agent In American Samoa
To become an FBI agent in American Samoa, you must:
- Be a US citizen
- Be aged between 23 and 36 years (exceptions for Federal Law Enforcement Officers, 1811s, and Veterans)
- Have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the aforementioned fields. Candidates who haven’t received their bachelor’s degree aren’t eligible for application.
- Have lived in the US for 3 out of 5 years unless relocated abroad by the US Government or military)
- 3 years of full-time work experience (in case of a bachelor’s degree) or 2 years of experience (in case of a master’s degree)
- Have a credible driving license with 6 months of driving experience
- Pass all the physical tests
- Pass the FBI eligibility criteria requirements
- Obtain Top Secret security clearance
- If you’re currently serving in the military, you must be within one year of completion of your tenure (in order to process the FBI application)
- Be actively available for assignments
According to the press release for the FBI special agent vacancy in American Samoa,
“Speakers of foreign languages are also highly sought, with a priority for Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Maghreb (Moroccan/Algerian), Yemeni, Afghani, Pakistani, Somali, Uighur, Chinese (all dialects), and Uzbek.”
Duration To Become A FBI Agent In American Samoa
To start, your academic course might take up to 4 years for a bachelor’s degree and 2 additional years for masters prior application. Besides, the candidate must have the relative professional work experience of 3 or 2 years.
The application process might also take several months when the agency is running the complete background check of the candidates. After that, the on-campus training takes up to 20, 21 weeks. The FBI career in the agency starts with 2 years of probation and chances of prospects with time.
Salary of A FBI Agent In American Samoa
The pay scale for FBI agents begins with level 1, also known as GS-10, which pays $43,441 per year with an adjustment of $7,602 for the year (for the training period).
The agents assigned to the field retain their status of receiving the level 1 salary along with local Cost of Living Adjustment, which can be regarded as a bonus between 12.5 to 28.7 % on top of the basic salary. To compensate for their long hours and availability, the agents also receive an additional 25% of the basic pay.
Author Bio
Elizabeth a serial freelance copywriter who’s been working with the copy challenged clients for 4 years. Within the bounds of his expertise, she has also produced ad copies for digital as well as print commercials. She also runs his own writing company in the USA, going by the name of Write My Paper. When not working, she can be found blogging, writing about helpful tips for newbies in the field.