About This Role
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is hiring entry-level Air Interdiction Agents (Pilots) for its Air and Marine Operations. As a federal law enforcement officer, you fly airplanes, helicopters and/or unmanned aircraft to conduct air patrols, surveillance and pursuit operations that interdict smuggled contraband and track suspect people, vehicles, aircraft and vessels along and beyond the U.S. border. The position can be filled as Dual Rated (airplane and rotorcraft), Airplane Rated, or Helicopter Rated. Duty locations are assigned after a three-part assessment and may fall anywhere within the Southwest Border Region, Southeast Border Region, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch, or National Air Security Operations Center UAS sites, and applicants must be willing to work at any location within their assigned region.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct air patrols, surveillance and pursuit activities to interdict contraband smuggled by land vehicles, aircraft or vessels, and monitor the behavior and activities of suspect persons, vehicles and vessels believed to be engaged in illegal activity.
- Collect, refine and analyze strategic and tactical intelligence, and search persons, vessels, baggage and cargo for contraband or weapons incident to detention or arrest.
- Operate aircraft systems while performing law enforcement missions and carry out interdiction duties including detecting, intercepting, tracking and apprehending targets, testifying, and acting as liaison with other federal, state, local, tribal and foreign law enforcement agencies.
- Develop strategies to track aircraft, vessels and people to accomplish effective interdictions, and gather and share intelligence on illegal activity and potential terrorism with internal customers, the general aviation and marine communities, and other agencies.
What We Offer
This is a career-ladder position progressing through grades GS-11, GS-12 and GS-13, with automatic promotion to the next grade (with supervisor approval) after completing 52 weeks at each level. Pay combines the OPM Special Salary Rate (SSR) with Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP, 25% for everyone) and, at certain locations, additional incentives: a 10% retention incentive at UAS sites (Sierra Vista, AZGrand Forks, NDSan Angelo, TX) and a 25% recruitment incentive at the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico). Example first-three-years annual pay with SSR + LEAP is $106,588 (GS-11), $127,754 (GS-12) and $151,918 (GS-13)with the added 10% retention incentive it is $115,115 / $137,974 / $164,071and with the 25% recruitment incentive it is $127,906 / $153,305 / $182,302. Certain veterans may qualify for a polygraph waiver or reciprocity.
Requirements
- Applicants may apply at 750 hours total flight time, but must obtain at least 1,000 flight hours (depending on any approved waiver) at their own expense before attending the three-part flight assessment. The Pilot Enter-on-Duty minimum is 1,500 flight hours, of which up to 500 hours may be waived, reducing the enter-on-duty minimum to 1,000 hours. A current FAA Commercial or ATP pilot certificate is required, with one of the following rating profiles: Dual Rated — airplane (single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument rating AND rotorcraft/helicopter with instrument rating
- Airplane Rated — airplane (single- or multi-engine land) with instrument
- Helicopter Rated — rotorcraft/helicopter with instrument rating
- or an equivalent military rating held at the time of application (proven with official orders, forms or logbooks showing rated military pilot status). Additional flight-experience minimums are 250 pilot-in-command hours, 75 instrument hours and 75 night hours. An FAA Class 1, FAA Class 2, or military medical flight clearance dated within the last 12 months is required to begin the pre-employment process, and an FAA Class 2 medical is required at the flight assessment. Candidates must be referred for consideration before their 40th birthday (waived for veterans'-preference eligibles), pass a polygraph examination, be able to obtain a Secret or higher security clearance, complete 15 weeks of Air and Marine Basic Training Academy at FLETC in Glynco, GA (including Spanish-language, initial survival, aircraft-specific flight and Standardized Tactical Aviation training plus a swim/water-survival course), demonstrate firearm proficiency, hold a valid driver's license, wear the approved uniform on duty, and serve a one-year probationary period.