[Nanuk]

Just returned from a four-wheeling vacation to southern Arizona and ran into Border Patrol agents multiple times daily (checkpoints, roadblocks, on ATVs in the desert, etc.) and don't recall seeing anyone over thirty years old. A very polite and professional lot, and we were wondering if it's a "starter" agency for future careers in federal LE? Thanks in advance, HH

I retired from the Border Patrol in 2011. I stated with the BP @ 27 after the military and 6 years as a big city cop. It is usually the younger guys on the ATV's. The BP has been having a rough time lately to Obama's policies gutting the Agency.

 

[Nanuk]

On a more serious note I have heard for decades now there is a lot of turnover. Doesn't matter who is in the White House there is a certain amount of Groundhog Day that ruins it.

That and guess where they are spending most of their career?

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That is why I transferred to the Northern Border many, many moons ago.

 

[Nanuk]

Is it possible that from say about 27 years old to 37 years old one bounces around in the dessert on an ATV and then sometime around 37 or maybe 40 one may begin to gravitate to a Border Patrol boat or a Border Patrol van that takes illegals from point A to point B after in custody or maybe a Border Patrol position someplace on the northern border because the snowmobile looks cooler (pun intended) than the ATV or even a Border Patrol station someplace that one may not immediately think of as a border state? Like the one at the general aviation airport not to far away from me in Florida if they really hate the cold weather?

There are so many opportunities today in the Border Patrol. Yes, you can do it all. I was one of the first in El Paso to work ATV's in the early 90's and one of the first to run the FLIR cameras.

 

[Nanuk]

By logical extension, being out on ATV's sounds to me like something for newbie agents on their first assignment or those who've ticked off a supervisor.

Quite the opposite, ATV and horse patrol are coveted. I enjoyed the ATV's in El Paso, the desert heat will get you without water but it is WAY better than the heat and humidity in the valley.

Had quite the running gun battle one night with some train robbers back and forth to Mexico. Me and another Agent saved the lives of some Mexican cops that night.

 

[Nanuk]

Is Border Patrol still issues the H&K P2000 or have they started issuing the Sig P320? Is there a list of authorized handguns that can be used as well? If so what’s authorized?

Still the H&K and only the H&K.

 

[Nanuk]

CBP (OFO and Border Patrol) still Lissie the HK P2000.

About a year ago CBP issued an RFI for replacement of the HK. I haven't heard if CBP issued a Request for Proposal.

The RFI says CBP has 52K HK P2000 in inventory.

https://www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id=87c882630213393e8229854cc7450835

When I went to armorers school 10 years ago they had about 25K of them in the armory....

 

[Nanuk]

Are you including OFO? I heard Air & Marine issues Glocks but I haven't confirmed that.

Nope, I always tried to stay FAR away from OFO....... I don't know many people there anymore.

 

[Nanuk]

When? I’ve been watching the listings and all I’ve seen were the Southern Border. That’s the biggest reason I haven’t applied because I don’t speak Spanish.

They teach you, if you apply yourself.

 

[Nanuk]

I speak two foreign languages but I never needed to speak Spanish. Since they teach you I might apply! Do you know about how long it takes from graduation at the academy until you can work at the headquarters in DC?

Years. It may take a lot, it may take a few. They just screwed everyone on their retirement, instead of "High three" it is now "last three".

Why would you "want" to be at HQ? Mostly ass kissers.

 

[Nanuk]

Unifor

It’s not so much wanting to be at HQ as it is having family in DC which means free rent. Do the BPA’s assigned to HQ wear uniforms or street clothes?

Uniforms, understand that they are GS-14, you start as GS-5 it takes a while to even get to GS-12. Out of 25,000 agents about 250 are @ HQ.

 

[Nanuk]

Does CBP still have provisions for hiring the GS-7 level for an accredited graduate degree?

yep, I was hired as a GS 7.

 

[Nanuk]

One of my buddies that worked at the BP firearms unit says they are staying with H&K 40's for now, but that could be wrong because he is retired too.