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Secret Service
Responsible for the Protection of the President
and Financial Crimes.
About Secret Service
The United States Secret Service has approximately 3,300+ special agents and is mandated by statute and executive order to carry out two significant missions: Protection and Investigations. The Secret Service maintains over 100 field offices throughout the United States and in 16+ countries.
The Secret Service was established as a law enforcement agency in 1865. Its original mandate was to investigate the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, a mission the Secret Service still executes. After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States.
Proper test preparation is among the *most* important steps that applicants need to take if they are seriously considering a career with the USSS. After careful research and review, I have selected one of the best and most highly reviewed courses available on the market. READ MY TEST PREP BLOG
Secret Service Overview
Straight Talk Secret Service
The Secret Service is aggressively hiring entry level special agents with a realistic preview & emphasis on the primary Protective Mission. New special agents should expect extensive travel, mandatory overtime, post standing assignments and an ops oriented mission that routinely involves shift work. Also, despite what you may have seen in the movies, the chances of a new SA being anywhere near the President are extremely remote. Those Presidential Detail positions are reserved for experienced SA's that have proven themselves over years of hard work. The Investigative mission is limited in scope and always takes a back seat to Protective responsibilities. In general, a new SA can expect to travel all over the world, be in the center of political events and hold responsibility for securing high profile assets. For a realistic preview of the job, I encourage all to read this article written by former SA William Gage . Unfortunately, it has been well publicized that the current operational tempo has contributed to the departure of experienced agents (especially those with families), as many have grown tired of the unrelenting pace. Nevertheless, this is an excellent opportunity to become a special agent at a young age, earn tons of overtime (which is unique in the federal system) and travel to phenomenal locations.
Secret Service Investigative Mission
Although a secondary priority, the USSS investigates:
- Violations of laws relating to counterfeiting of obligations and securities of the United States
- Financial crimes that include, but are not limited to, financial institution fraud, false identification documents, access device fraud, advance fee fraud, computer and telecommunications fraud, electronic funds transfers and money laundering as it relates to the agency’s core violations
- Computer-based attacks on the nation’s financial, banking and telecommunications infrastructure
Secret Service Requirements
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- Be at least 21 years of age at time of application and younger than 37 at the time of receipt of a conditional offer of employment to continue in the application process. Applicants with veterans’ preference must be at least 21 years of age and younger than 40 at the time of receipt of a conditional offer of employment to continue in the application process.
- Possess a current valid driver’s license
- Qualify for the GL-07 level or the GL-09 level
- Have uncorrected vision no worse than 20/100 binocular; correctable to 20/20 in each eye (NOTE: Lasik, ALK, RK and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eyes surgeries for special agent applicants provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are the waiting periods before visual tests are conducted after the surgery: Lasik surgery–three months; PRK–six months; and ALK and RK–one year.) Applicants must meet the vision requirement at the time of application.
- Be in excellent health and physical condition
- Pass a written examination
- Pass an Applicant Physical Abilities Test
- Qualify for a Top Secret clearance and undergo a complete background investigation, to include in-depth interviews, drug screening, medical and polygraph examinations
- Certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so, if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959
- The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone).
Secret Service Hiring Process
Phase I - Competency
Job Announcement - USA Jobs
Qualifications/Resume Review
Applicant Physical Abilities Test
Conditional Job Offer
Phase II - Security
Security Interview/Credit Checks
Polygraph Examination
Medical & Psychological Examination
Hiring Panel
All applicants should read the Official Secret Service Special Agent Brochure to understand all aspects of the Secret Service hiring process.
Secret Service New Hires
Newly hired Secret Service trainees are appointed in the GL-7 to GL-9 range depending on their individual qualifications. The initial appointment is under the Excepted Service. After successful completion, Special Agents are converted to Career Status.
Secret Service Academy Training
Special Agent trainees must complete the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at FLETC Georgia and the subsequent 18-week Special Agent Training Course at the Secret Service's training academy outside of Washington, D.C. This follow-on course focuses on specific Secret Service policies and procedures associated with the dual responsibilities of investigations and protection. Trainees are provided with basic knowledge and advanced application training in combating counterfeiting, access device fraud and other financial criminal activity, protective intelligence investigations, physical protection techniques, protective advances and emergency medicine. The core curriculum is augmented with extensive training in marksmanship, control tactics, water survival skills and physical fitness.
Secret Service Internship Program
The US Secret Service administers the Pathways Program, which is a paid internship for current students. Upon successful completion of this program, students can be converted to a permanent position. This is highly recommend!
Secret Service
Strategic Plan
The best way to understand USSS mission & responsibilities is to read their own annual reports. I highly encourage prospective applicants to read the latest Annual Report and Strategic Plan for insight. You will learn infinitely more from these documents; versus the rantings and ravings by anonymous posters on various forums.
2nd Trump Assassination Attempt
September 2024: A second attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump was foiled when a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle being pointed towards the golf course. The suspect was immediately engaged by Secret Service personnel and subsequently arrested as he fled the scene in his vehicle. The suspect is now facing federal charges and the incident has resulted inrenewed scrutinyfor the Secret Service.
The incident has resulted in the immediate passage of the Enhanced Presidential Security Act. It has additionally resulted in similarly increased scrutiny of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an agency that regularly supports the Secret Service. See Oversight of Homeland Security Investigations Hearing.
Trump Survives
July 2024: While under U.S. Secret Service protection, former President Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt by a sniper at an election rally, walking away with a bullet wound to his ear. The would-be-assassin was subsequently killed by Secret Service personnel.
This incident will undoubtedly bring back renewed scrutiny for the Secret Service. As previously reported on the SABlog, a series of high profile embarrassments already resulted in several congressional reports commissioned to study the declining morale and staffing shortage at the U.S. Secret Service. As of May 2020, Secret Service leadership advocated for a failed transfer to the Treasury Department; in a misguided effort to improve its budget, prestige & morale. Below are a series of reports & articles thoroughly documenting the issues plaguing the USSS. In 2021, a new book (Zero Failure) again re-opened institutional wounds that are widely attributed by the rank-and-file to a culture of management failures. Privately, several Special Agents had admitted that it would likely take a major security failure to change the structural and management failures identified repeatedly in the below government reports:
- Congressional Report-An Agency in Crisis
- OIG Report - DHS Hiring
- OIG Report - Recommendations Followed
- Morale - Former USSS Agent-Article
- OIG Report - White House Shooting Mistakes
- USSS In Turmoil-2017-Article
- Transfer Cyber Responsibilities-Article
- Investigative Operations Benefits-2020
- Government Accountability Office - 2020
- National Academy of Public Administration - 2021
The open secret is that the
Secret Service currently relies on thousands of Special Agents from
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to manage their basic protective responsibilities, yet it continues to take on several non-presidential related investigative duties. Shortly after the assassination attempt, Senator Josh Hawley
wrote a letter to the US Secret Service demanding to know the exact number of and training of HSI personnel assigned to the security details.
2021 Secret Service Report
At the request of agency leadership, the National Academy of Public Administration has just published their Sep 2021 report on the state of the U.S. Secret Service.
I would highly encourage all current and future Secret Service Special Agents to read this detailed review and develop a current snapshot of the agency. Some interesting facts, it takes between 58K-250K to train a federal law enforcement officer, depending on series and agency. Also, USSS is looking into developing a unique non-transferable supplement to their retirement to assist with retention.
Zero Fail - 2021
Few authors have delved into the inner workings of a federal law enforcement agency like journalist Carol Leonning. Although she provides background on well known historical events; her analysis of the ongoing staffing crisis, low morale and mission creep is dead on and echoes the grumblings of line special agents. Unfortunately, USSS management is notorious for being tyrannical and demanding of overworked agents. At one point, Secret Service special agents were desperately seeking a merger with HSI in order to alleviate their operations tempo. Perhaps a structural change and true reform may arise from this publication.
Standing Post Podcast
The United States Secret Service runs an excellent podcast. This podcast show is a great opportunity to learn more about the selection process, operations and career path of a typical Secret Service Special Agent. All applicants are urged to listen and learn.
Association of Former Agents U.S. Secret Service
Life imitates Art
Like the movie character played by Clint Eastwood, for approximately three years, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Ornato was the Detail Leader for the Presidential Protective Detail.
Featured prominently in a recent Nat Geo documentary, special agents with the rank of SAIC like Ornato represent a minority of (1%<) of USSS personnel.
Secret Service
Investigative Portfolio
Although it often takes a back seat to Protective Operations, the USSS has a significant financial investigations portfolio. The USSS additionally has leading edge capabilities in Document Forensics & Online Intrusion.
Special Agent vs.
Uniformed Division
Although they are similarly (and confusingly) branded, the USSS is composed of two distinct positions, the Special Agent & Uniformed Division Officer. It is common for both to wear lettering that simply states "Secret Service."
The officers of the Uniformed Division are NOT 1811 criminal investigators. These officer positions are more analogous to the Federal Protective Service or uniformed FBI Police. The UD supports the presidential protective mission in various roles (i.e. white house security, patrol, K-9, motorcade, etc.).
Presidential Assassination Attempts
The attempts to assassinate the U.S. President have been constant throughout history. Some Presidents (i.e. Bush & Ford) survived several attempts during their tenure. It is the job of the USSS to always be vigilant to this mortal threat. Strangely enough, the FBI tends to take jurisdiction in the event a protectee is killed, mostly due to their infrastructure.
Security Incidents
The number of incidents impacting the security of the President & White House are too numerous to list. It appears that the White House attracts a number of unstable personalities every year. USSS personnel have encountered folks that have shot at the White House, attempted to ram barricades, shown up with firearms, breached security events, jumped the security perimeter, crashed a plane, & even flown a helicopter onto the lawn.
SA's in History - JFK Assassination
Perhaps no event is more inextricably connected to the modern Secret Service than the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Two seconds after the first shot, SA Clint Hill launched himself onto the limo in what turned out to be a futile effort to protect JFK. The Warren Commission Report later exposed several failures by an agency hampered by inadequate funding, training & personnel.
The USSS learned from this historical failure and reinvented itself into the best protective service agency in the world.
USSS & HSI Partnership
The USSS & HSI have a close partnership that dates back to their legacy days in the Treasury Dept. The USSS relies on thousands of HSI special agents to support presidential election candidates & large events such as the UN General Assembly, RNC, DNC, & Inauguration.
Presidents Killed by Assassins
SA's in History
Reagan Assassination Attempt
Gear Review
Zerogrand Shoes
Often referred to as "post-standing," 1811s assigned to Protective Service Details must often stand at a fixed location during their shift. When adding the suit and gear (firearm, radio, cuffs, non-lethal), a comfortable dress shoe is a must but often difficult to find equipment.
A Secret Service Special Agent shared this gem and highly recommended it for use. Although it looks like a normal dress shoe at first glance, it is designed for comfort and has a low profile rubber sole, which makes it suitable for extended shift work. I sorely wish somebody had shared this tip with me at the start of my career.
School Shootings
The U.S. Secret Service has taken the lead in researching school shootings and has completed several recent studies to enhance our understanding and preparation. Responding to mass shooting is a chaotic event that can involve multiple agencies; which has resulted in accidental firearms discharges by officers. Preparation and familiarity is key to a swift & proper response while avoiding bad outcomes such as the 2016 inadvertent shooting of a special Agent or accidental firearms discharges by law enforcement personnel in general (See Related AP New Article).
Evy Poumpouras
Former Secret Service SA Evy Poumpouras is a 12 year veteran who recently made the transition to civilian public life. Poumpouras was involved in the 9/11 recovery effort, served on Presidential protective details and later specialized as a polygraph examiner. Like many others, she is using the "Secret Service" brand to jumpstart a successful private sector career.
In 2020, Poumpouras released a book titled "Becoming Bulletproof" that "hopes to teach others to be brave while staying safe." She was also featured on Spencer Lodge Podcast No. 116.
Future of Secret Service
After a series of high profile embarrassments, a number of congressional reports were commissioned to study the declining morale and staffing shortage at the U.S. Secret Service. As of May 2020, Secret Service leadership has advocated for a transfer to the Treasury Department; in an effort to improve its budget, prestige & morale. Below are a series of reports & articles thoroughly documenting the issues plaguing the USSS. In 2021, a new book (Zero Failure) has again re-opened this institutional wound.