Expert: Loren Stevens - 11/11/2008

Question
Hello Loren Stevens. First and foremost, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to consider my entry. I am a 17 year old male, who has taken interest in a career regarding law enforcement, more specifically, higher law protection agencies, such as the FBI, SWAT, Secret Service, etc.

I have read previous questions and responses and I fully understand the importance of maintaining responsible habits during my time as a prospering young adult and student, but time for me is of short value and I will be graduating high school and attending a university with my career in mind. With that notion, I have pondered over a question that only a person with your superiority and expertise can answer.

Assuming I attend a university and excel through the classes regarding law enforcement, does this ensure me a position on an high level agency of law enforcement, assuming I meet all basic prerequisites, clean criminal background, physically fit, time served on a police force, etc., or are their more aspects to consider more than I have foreseen? Essentially, I don’t want to have gone through years of college and later find out that I don’t meet whichever standards required to engage in my aspired vocation.


My all time profession of choice is to be a part of the Secret Service. Quite childish it my sound, but I assure you, I fully intend on pursuing this reverie of mine and I hope you have taken this as seriously as I did. Once again, I’d like to thank you for your time and I greatly appreciate any responses you may bestow upon me, you’re opinions well be of great value.


Answer
Hello Joshua,
I admire your interest and goal setting.
Rather than wonder, why don't you go up on the Secret Service web site and see what KSA's they are interested in. This, as you proceed with completing your education, you can steer some of your class schedule to areas more germane to your ultimate objective.
You must know, that all Secret Service do not guard the President, or totally get engrossed in dignitary protection. They all get plenty of specialized training in these associated areas. But you should know, that counterfeiting of U.S currency, and other instruments is also a huge part of their careers.
You might even try to make an appointment to visit with a SS recruiter, or an agent who is knowledgeable in human resource requirements.
I'm sure they also have a ton of literature that will be helpful.
Learning a second language will help you, by expanding your skill sets.
Martial arts is good, as is upper body strength, hand strength, and endurance.
Try to learn observation and perception skills, memory skills, and non-verbal communications (body language).
But, you should also know, there are no guarentees. Being "eligable" and being hired are not synonyms.
These type careers, vocations, (not "jobs") are very competitive, and the field is quite strong.
Along with college, and other skills, you may also be up against former military veterans, with combat experience. The maturity and discipline that tends to go with that, is of value to a recruiter.
With difficult economic times for the forseeable future, I suspedt the competition will even get more ....spirited.
Figure on less than 10% of qualified applicants getting the nod. I suggest that is a close estimate.
Sounds like you have a plan.
Hope my comments are of value to you.
Good Luck,
loren