Need Advice... FBI

[mrman]

Hi all, I am currently a High school graduate (18, in case different in your state).

I am currently interested in becoming an FBI agent, as my dad is currently a lt. in law enforcement and the work seems very interesting.

1) I am very much interested in the marines, and as I understand this will count for my 3 years "professional experience"
2) Never used drugs in my life
3) No crimes/nothing/not even ticket

Now the hard part...

The only thing I am having problems with are wondering if I would be disqualified for having sex with my girlfriend (whilst we were both "underage")... And if we traded pictures (said pictures did not have clothes). Also have traded pics with friends (for fun) etc... Not like a pedo or anything we were just messing around. (I'm sure the law doesn't see it this way.) Only other time I have seen a underage girl naked was while on some p2p program and was way young (14 or 15) didn't know what I was downloading (what I'm saying is I downloaded underage **** that was of my own age (14 or 15) not because I wanted to see it but because I didn't know what I was doing, but yes, I did delete it right away and never looked at it again). Anyway, that's about all the illegal stuff I have done in my life besides some underage drinking. Will this d/q me?
^^ Nothing like that has happened since then.

I also understand there is a polygraph test. Now, will they ask me about the aforementioned stuff? (I plan on telling the truth, even if it is embarrassing).

Now obviously, I'm not going to bother with applying if the above stuff will DQ me. I don't want to embarrass me, my family, and my name.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your time in advance,

[MvExplorer]

Well...since this in the Job section and not "ask a cop" I think I can reply here without fear of getting yelled at.

I'm just starting the process now with becoming a law enforcement officer and so far most of the agencies I've talked/interviewed with have said that they don't really care about anything that happened before the applicant turned 18 unless it was really serious. So, in my opinion, I think you should be just fine man. Just be honest and if it seems right, don't hide anything. (I say this because some of the stuff you mentioned might not even be serious enough to bring to light)

best of luck

[yoda]

Alright little man,
If you are interested in becoming an FBI agent, you need to get a college degree (accounting, engineering, Law), you need to be fluent in 2 or more languages, and you have to be past 21 years of age with 3 years work experience. All that said, you need not worry about your polygraph because of some "porn" you downloaded, or having sex with your girlfriend (this stands to show the maturity of your brain as an 18 year old).

If you manage to accomplish the first pre-requisites, and keep a clean record, then you would be golden. How you will get there will be up to you, you have many options ahead in your life, and if your true goal is to become an FBI agent, then you need to research what it means and what it takes to become one. If your father is a Lt. in a PD he should be the one counseling you on this matter, he best of all should know what needs to be done to place you in the right path. Good Luck to you and know that it will take some time and a lot of effort to reach your goal, and the poly shouldn't be the one thing stressing you out at this point in your life. Keep clean, out of trouble, and healthy, get your degree and experience, and apply...after that worry about making the cut and passing all the tests :cool:

BTW
The marines will give you experience, pay for education, and give you some extra points on your test scores...
this if you don't become a casualty of war... Think about it long and hard buddy.

Good Luck!

[mrman]

Thanks for the replies so far...

"BTW
The marines will give you experience, pay for education, and give you some extra points on your test scores...
this if you don't become a casualty of war... Think about it long and hard buddy."

Well, you see if I lose my life for a war defending our country, it's a risk I'm willing (and going to take). I have no fears, but I do realize my parents will be the ones upset/crying when I die.

As for the languages I already have a second language under my belt, and will be learning Arabic or another middle eastern language as this seems to be a hot spot.

I really would be ****ed off if I got d/q'ed for underage sex/and porn.

[yoda]

T
I really would be ****ed off if I got d/q'ed for underage sex/and porn.

Once again this is not what they are looking for on a polygraph, yes it will count if you continue this behavior onto adulthood. You having sex while you were on your teens doesn't matter what so ever and if by mistake you downloaded something that would be considered illegal has nothing to do with it either. Your comment as too love for country and all are great if you really believe in it, but it is a bit ignorant on your part as well. Like I mentioned before just because you serve doesn't give you an open door to the FBI, the FBI is not looking for kids that go to war, they look for intelligent individuals that have proven themselves with their studies and intellect. The ones that have the right mental attributes, to handle the special investigations they'll be working on and produce results, rather than not. If the FBI is your goal and you have no other way to pay for college, then go for the marines, but if you have a choice I would advice you to go to school and get your degree, you can even try becoming a Police Officer when you turn 21, and see if Law Enforcement is the right thing for you.
Think about it long and hard, and actually visit the FBI website to find out what you need to know, by the looks of it you stumbled upon this site without doing your homework...
and keep in mind language plays a big role as well, don't write on here as if you were talking with your buddy, this website is for LE or people in the process of becoming part of the LE community.
Good Luck to you on what ever you decide to do:cool:

[tandj1216]

Yes, you do need a degree from an accredited college to be considered for a Special Agent position with the FBI. However, they do not require 3 years experience, you have to be at least 23 years old and you do not need to speak 2 or more languages. However, if you do have both the experience and language skills, it will definitely make you more competitive in the selection process.

[CWU]

In my application experiences with the Bureau it seems as though the most in-demand languages can get you in even without the three years work experience (Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Farsi, etc). The other top critical skill ("CS") seems to be computer science. If I were a HS graduate and looking to get into the FBI as soon as possible, I would major in Middle Eastern studies, learn Arabic fluently, and practice it every chance you get. I would be wary of living in the Mid East or joining a mosque, however.

A guiding light in FLEO apps seems to be to be honest. That doesn't mean volunteer any and all information but if asked directly you should answer truthfully. I found the polygraph a bit boring because I have character trait of being honest and straight forward with people. It wont be like what you saw on The Recruit. Continue to stay away from the drugs, legal infractions, and don't get yourself fired from a job. Oh yeah, don't burn any bridges, esp with your college profs. In fact, find a few you like and develop a good report with them.

[mrman]

"n my application experiences with the Bureau it seems as though the most in-demand languages can get you in even without the three years work experience (Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Farsi, etc). The other top critical skill ("CS") seems to be computer science."

I have Spanish under my belt. Arabic I was/am considering learning along with everything else.
As for computer science, in HS I completed 2 half year (very basic however) computer science classes and one full year AP comp. sci class. I guess I'm really going to have to start considering my options.

Thanks for the input.

"Think about it long and hard, and actually visit the FBI website to find out what you need to know, by the looks of it you stumbled upon this site without doing your homework...
and keep in mind language plays a big role as well, don't write on here as if you were talking with your buddy, this website is for LE or people in the process of becoming part of the LE community."

I have visited the FBI web site and researched extensively through google. Also my dad has asked FBI agents he knows about the job etc. And do I not qualify for "in the process of becoming part of the LE community"???

[steve1568]

My advice to you as someone on the inside of the federal system is to call the recruiter at your local field office. These people will be more than happy to lay out all the requirements for you, answer questions concerning your past and explain what the "current needs" of the bureau are. While language skills are always in demand, the other critical skills kind of move up and down the ladder of importance depending on the climate of the bureau during the time that you apply.

[SA13]

Alright little man,
If you are interested in becoming an FBI agent, you need to get a college degree (accounting, engineering, Law), you need to be fluent in 2 or more languages, and you have to be past 21 years of age with 3 years work experience.Where are you getting that BS? The FBI hires people with a wide variety of degrees, so the three you listed are NOT the only degrees accepted. Also, there is no requirement that you be fluent in more than one language (English), and I know MANY FBI agents who are only fluent in English. All that said, you need not worry about your polygraph because of some "porn" you downloaded, or having sex with your girlfriend (this stands to show the maturity of your brain as an 18 year old). Another sign of immaturity is shooting off statements that are WRONG, while acting like you're an expert on the subject matter, when you clearly ARE NOT.

[a cashew]

I wouldn't say its a requirement to know another language, but applying for a job is a competitive thing. The more versatile and well-rounded you are, the better.

Imagine you and another applicant whom is otherwise identical to you walk in for an interview, except you speak Farsi and he doesn't.

Who do you think has the advantage?

I agree with you on the degree thing. There seem to be a few degrees they do seem to prefer. But I think most of all it is important that in whatever you do you do well. I feel I'm paying the price now for kind of coasting during college and not doing that little extra effort to get straight As.

[yoda]

Lets see, I never touted myself as an expert and I was simply pointing out what he would need to do to get ahead. The degrees listed are simply examples, The more languages you have the better it is for you, and The kid is still 18 years old, with a wide range of opportunities and decisions he has to make if the FBI is what he wants. My comment to his concern for the poly is a personal opinion not an expert one, and instead of trying to take a stab at me, how about you give him some advice...since you seem to be the "EXPERT".
:cool:

[sap123]

Have you looked into the FBI internship programs? highly competitive, but it wouldn't hurt to see what they have available, and will give you a decent perspective on FBI work to help you make an informed career decision.

[mrman]

SA13 could you please clarify your statement "Another sign of immaturity is shooting off statements that are WRONG, while acting like you're an expert on the subject matter, when you clearly ARE NOT."

Are you saying, I do in fact need to worry about being d/q'ed for sex and trading pics with my girlfriend?

Man, this is kinda disappointing, I mean, all this hard work in school and not being to work for my dream job (assuming I even got accepted) because of that. :\

[sap123]

SA13 could you please clarify your statement "Another sign of immaturity is shooting off statements that are WRONG, while acting like you're an expert on the subject matter, when you clearly ARE NOT."

Are you saying, I do in fact need to worry about being d/q'ed for sex and trading pics with my girlfriend?

Man, this is kinda disappointing, I mean, all this hard work in school and not being to work for my dream job (assuming I even got accepted) because of that. :\

Stop.

I'd just like to say that while you're not too much younger than I am, you're still fairly young, and really shouldn't be worrying about what happens when you have to go through a poly or some sort of questionaire. Don't worry about that. Everyone has to own up to that stuff; everyone has done something regrettable. Worrying about it now won't help you, even if it is a DQable thing (I'm not even sure your situation is, frankly I don't think it matters). You need to focus on other things besides this. Look into the Marines, look into getting that four year degree, possibly look into a foreign language to practice. You're sweating something that you can't do anything about. If you're dead set on FLE, then maintain high grades in everything you do, stay out of trouble, and you're already on your way.

[NYCardinal85]

Mrman, in a word? Relax. You've got a few years before you have to start worrying about your SA application process. No sense in getting disenchanted about it now. I just took a polygraph two days ago for another federal agency. The investigator explained it as such: "I ain't got a halo over my head and I sure as hell don't see one over yours. You're human, all I want from you is the truth."

Everyone does stupid/ill-advised stuff when they're young, it comes with the territory. Stay out of trouble, get your degree (As others have mentioned, I'd try to pick up some proficiency in a foreign language), and keep your eyes on the prize.

[CWU]

I have Spanish under my belt. Arabic I was/am considering learning along with everything else.
As for computer science, in HS I completed 2 half year (very basic however) computer science classes and one full year AP comp. sci class. I guess I'm really going to have to start considering my options.



Don't try to be a jack of all trades and an expert at none. How far along are you with Spanish? If you have only taken two years in HS, learned the basic vocab, and skirted on through, then I would definitely hit the Arabic hard. However, if you took like 3 or 4 years in HS, went on a few mission trips with your church to Mexico where you got some real immersion, then I'd stick with that. I don't know where that other poster came up with needing to be fluent in TWO foreign languages. My guess is that they'll ask you what you're best at, and test you in that. From what I've read in the news the Bureau only has a small handful of Arabic speakers. If you can get fluent in that I'd guess they'd pick you up right out of college. BTW, big hiring bonus with FLEO agencies--25% of a years salary ($10,000+). :eek:

[ynagics]

I am currently in the FBI SA process and will share the following info with you:

I was invited for PHASE I testing because of my education and foreign language knowledge (undisclosed)

Once I passed Phase I, the Justice Department administered my foreign language proficiency exam, which had 3 parts: listening, reading and speaking.

The test was extremely hard, especially the speaking portion. It was complex and tough even for a foreign-born applicant.

You cannot expect to pass the proficiency test if you took some classes in high school or college. You have to be a "veteran" in your foreign language.

...hope this helps...

[Ceridwen]

The FBI isn't your mom or dad or rabbi, which is to say they dont care about your pre-marital sexscapades for the most part.

Additionally, taking naughty pictures of yourself and sending them to your GF -- so long as they dont appear on some porno website again I doubt the FBI will care or even know about.

I myself smoked the reefer on two seperate occasions back when I was in highschool (never really did anything to me.) That was like 10 years ago... I'm just going to be honest about it, I don't think it will be a big deal unless I try to lie about it in which case it wont be my youthful indiscretion that is a problem but my lack of honesty right now.

Just go to college, stay out of trouble. Use a condom, by the way if youre sexually active. I dont think you want any babies at this age, but that is kind of unrelated advice.

[SA13]

Lets see, I never touted myself as an expert and I was simply pointing out what he would need to do to get ahead.Again, someone does not need to speak anything more than English, but your post said multiple languages was a need, as in required, if someone wants to get hired. It's simply not true. I know many FBI agents, and a minority speak more than one language. Does the FBI attempt to recruit people with language skills? Sure do, just like other agencies, but there are a wide variety of skill sets they recruit for, and plenty of skills are just as valuable as language skills. The degrees listed are simply examples . . . Nothing you stated suggested they were only examples. Again, the FBI recruits for certain skill sets, but a degree alone will not qualify someone for their Accounting program, you would need to be either a CPA or pass the FBI's equivalent of the CPA exam. A JD alone will not qualify a person for the Law program, you would need to pass the bar and be a practicing attorney. Just two examples there.

Too often I see here, posts like yours which claim to tell people what they "need" to get hired by the FBI, but are not based on reality. The FBI lists their requirements, and those can and do change. A person will need to meet their qualifications when they apply, but one thing does not change. They seek well rounded applicants, with a track record of success in both academics and work. Chasing claimed "needs" at age 18 when a person won't be eligible to apply for several years is foolish. The hot "need" at the FBI can and will change over time, so the best advice is to do things that interest you and that you are likely to be successful at, because whatever the hot "need" is this month, they are always looking for well round successful candidates....since you seem to be the "EXPERT".
No not an expert, but I have enough experience with this topic to know that certain claimed "needs" are not needs at all.

[SA13]

SA13 could you please clarify your statement "Another sign of immaturity is shooting off statements that are WRONG, while acting like you're an expert on the subject matter, when you clearly ARE NOT."That was directed at yoda not you.

[k85o911]

there are many other agencies. is sitting behind the dest investigating while collar crimes what u want to do? and you have 5 yrs, so a lot of things can change from now and that time. going for a major (not CRJ) would be good but it is veryyyy difficult to get hired by them at age 23, unless u know one of the needed languages perfectly

[SA13]

From what I've read in the news the Bureau only has a small handful of Arabic speakers. If you can get fluent in that I'd guess they'd pick you up right out of college.While they are seeking Arabic speakers the emphasis is not in the agent ranks. Would be a nice to have skill as an agent, but again not a requirement, nor does it make an applicant a "shoe in."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/10/AR2006101001388.html

"FBI officials said it is not crucial for agents working in the ITOS sections to know Arabic or other foreign languages, because they rely primarily on documents or interviews already translated by FBI linguists. As for agents in the field in the United States or overseas, FBI officials say translators are readily available when needed by investigators, usually within 24 hours."

Again, it would be a nice skill to have as an agent, and the FBI would be interested, but as you pointed out it requires significant time and resources to be fluent in any language. So anyone who wants to learn a language and become fluent should truly have an interest in that language, not just do it to check a box on an application.[QUOTE]BTW, big hiring bonus with FLEO agencies--25% of a years salary ($10,000+).Which agencies? None of the agencies I have worked for paid a hiring bonus.

[sap123]

Which agencies? None of the agencies I have worked for paid a hiring bonus.

I think State and CIA do? One of which definitely doesn't do FLEO.

[SA13]

I think State and CIA do? One of which definitely doesn't do FLEO.I have no idea about CIA as that is NOT a law enforcement agency. However, I am not aware of Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) Special Agents getting a hiring bonus.

I do know that DS pays their Special Agents the Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP), which is an additional 25% of salary, but they are also required to average a 50 hour work week, rather than 40. Further, most criminal investigators (aka Special Agents) with the feds get LEAP. It is not a bonus paid for getting hired, it's additional salary paid for doing additional work, and being available at odd hours.

[manstown]

CIA police are considered a law enforcement agency.