The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: sanjuancb on August 15, 2008, 01:30:12 PM
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I was just wondering if anyone on the forums has any experience with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and/or private security companies? I'm working on my bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in Middle Eastern Studies and am interested in these careers. I would love to hear any stories or advice that you may have. Thanks!
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You will need to fluently speak a relevant foreign language to be sure of a job, but those Federal jobs pay well compared to conventional law enforcement positions. Retirement ain't bad either. Private security companies(Blackwater type) who will pay a living wage or better, require government trained, experienced people who have been there and done that already. Security personnel (Wackenhut), like the ones at the nuclear power plants, don't make much and individual thought and initiative is neither required nor desired. I know several.
Stay single in that field. If you aren't, you will be. Good luck.
Mac.
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To echo Mac, Blackwater especially and to some degree DSS is looking for guys from the military in addition to, or instead of, degrees. They will even pass over "straight" infantry for SF/SEAL types. Not to say that the "other" alphabet agencies wouldn't look at you. There are a few positions at DIA and such for Poli-Sci types.
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Well, I am conversational in Arabic and have had about 15 credit hours of formal classes in it, which unfortunately, is all that my university offers. I have however maintained a 4.0 GPA in each class, up to Arabic III. I believe to will be my benefit in the future.
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According to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security:
Qualifications
* U.S. citizenship
* BA/BS degree at time of appointment
* 20 years of age to apply.Candidates must be at least 21 years old but must not have reached their 37th birth date at time of appointment.
* If required, registration under the Military Selective Service Act
* Successfully undergo written and oral assessment
* Successfully undergo a thorough background investigation and qualify for a Top Secret security clearance
* Pass a stringent medical exam, be available for worldwide assignment, and qualify for a Department of State Class 01 medical clearance
* Pass physical fitness tests and be fit for strenuous physical exertion
* Possess a valid U.S. driver's license
* Be willing to carry and use firearms and qualify with firearms throughout career
* Be willing to travel and accept assignments throughout the world. Officers are required to live and work a substantial portion of their career overseas.
* Foreign language ability is desirable, but not mandatory
* Successfully complete all aspects of 6-month training
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According to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security:
Qualifications
* U.S. citizenship
* BA/BS degree at time of appointment
* 20 years of age to apply.Candidates must be at least 21 years old but must not have reached their 37th birth date at time of appointment.
* If required, registration under the Military Selective Service Act
* Successfully undergo written and oral assessment
* Successfully undergo a thorough background investigation and qualify for a Top Secret security clearance
* Pass a stringent medical exam, be available for worldwide assignment, and qualify for a Department of State Class 01 medical clearance
* Pass physical fitness tests and be fit for strenuous physical exertion
* Possess a valid U.S. driver's license
* Be willing to carry and use firearms and qualify with firearms throughout career
* Be willing to travel and accept assignments throughout the world. Officers are required to live and work a substantial portion of their career overseas.
* Foreign language ability is desirable, but not mandatory
* Successfully complete all aspects of 6-month training
That's a Civil service position the listed requirements don't mention that Veterans ALWAYS get preference.
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Those might be the minimums but depending on the position (Personal Security Specialist/Bodyguard) they expect LOTS of documented weapons proficiency (more than basic shooting and familiarization in multiple weapons).
Now some of the other spots (more admin than shooter, but still deployable operators) won't require the military background but you'd start out in a lower pay grade in most instances.
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There was a show in the last 2 years or so about the DSS, before that I knew nothing of them. On the Military or History channel, maybe even Discovery. Interesting job, mostly diplomatic security (duh), bodyguard stuff, usually very personal for the diplomat in question, in addition to Marines at the embassy.
Tough gig. They had one vignette from the really bad days in Haiti when 4 of the DSS got waylaid at night in Port au Prince and then surrounded by bad guys at a roadblock. They managed to get out unscathed and retrieved their ward successfully. You gotta wonder how many don't turn out like that.
Good luck with this.
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I appreciate the input. I really don't know exactly what I'm going to do, I could just as easily go into political research, but this sounds very interesting. Any other solid advice you'd like to share?
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A fellow Poly Sci major! (Are you sure you're mentally fit?) ;) ;D
Sounds like your in for a very ambitious career but tombogan is right, veterans almost always rise to the top and I don't think the security contractors will even consider you without that kind of experience. Have you looked into the Air force? I know they help train for language proficiency, Army Special forces as well and I can't imagine the Navy not having one of some type. The reason why I mentioned Air Force is because of the security teams, if your looking at a security related field that might be an approach worth looking at.
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Honestly, I really haven't considered military service. I understand that organizations such as Blackwater usually require at least three years experience in law enforcement or the armed forces. Ideally, I'd like to begin at the State Department and after paying my dues perhaps venture into the private sector. I am attracted to these positions because I have a desire to travel, a fondness of firearms, and a love of my country. The security/diplomacy aspect of the career interests me more than the military association. There is really no telling what I will do, I may actually wind up with my graduate studies paid for, but there is no telling.
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Try the CIA.
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Your language skills will open many doors (Chinese fortune cookie)
Go, and do good.
Mac.
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Thanks, I really appreciate it!
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sanjuancb,
I recommend the Army. Airborne, Ranger, CIB, RECONDO, Defense Language School qualified, Graduate School, and lots more provided in my Army career make me recommend it to you. Plus an exciting second career to make real money is a benefit of all that schooling and training -- if you live through it. But it sure is exciting from time to time with lots of weapons experience and world travel thrown in as well.
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sanjuancb,
I recommend the Army. Airborne, Ranger, CIB, RECONDO, Defense Language School qualified, Graduate School, and lots more provided in my Army career make me recommend it to you. Plus an exciting second career to make real money is a benefit of all that schooling and training -- if you live through it. But it sure is exciting from time to time with lots of weapons experience and world travel thrown in as well.
Go to unpleasant places, meet obnoxious hustlers, and kill their friends and relatives who are on the other side. While being crapped on by liberal media and dem politicians who are SUPPOSED to be supporting you because their the ones who sent you in the first place. Other than that it's a great job ;D
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Tom
I said it was an exciting job. "Better than shoveling shit in" New Hampshire.
BTW NH was my legal home for most of the time I was in the Army. Having to shovel snow on April 20 to get back to our place qualifies as shoveling shit in NH -- but other than that I like NH after the snow and black flies leave. ;D
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My 2 Cents.
Forget Blackwater. They want fully trained folks they can vet out with military experiance. They are in the refreshing training not basic training. There is a lot to being a good security operator and they pay well for the experiance.
State Department Protective Services, Federal Protective Services, Capitol Police, US Marshalls are all Civil Service jobs that 1) must be hiring, 2) require Civil Service Exam testing 3) Do give preference points for veterans, minority and women. You can find out if they are hiring and how to apply on the web with a little work at the Civil Service website.
DHS-ICE is alway looking for people with language skills. The Border Patrol is always hiring.
Defense Intelligence Agency, Naval Intelligence, DARPA, DITRA, NSA and CIA all hire civilians, but like military experiance. FBI and DEA are always looking for people with language skills but like 4 year degrees in anything.
Naval Reserve and Air Force Reserves are both looking for folks and offering some pretty nice programs. This gives you veterns points for other jobs in federal government. It has a perk of pretty decent pay for a part time job once your an E5/ O3 or better.
DOE and the Federal Reserve hire protective services people all around the country.
Please note, these are careers, not jobs. If you want a job please go some place else.
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Ratcatcher is on the ball, and I am looking at careers!
We will see what happens in a little over a year...
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Tom
I said it was an exciting job. "Better than shoveling shit in" New Hampshire.
BTW NH was my legal home for most of the time I was in the Army. Having to shovel snow on April 20 to get back to our place qualifies as shoveling shit in NH -- but other than that I like NH after the snow and black flies leave. ;D
That only leaves the first 3 weeks of May, and the month of Oct. ;D
By the way, Do you have any idea what an ancient tradition it is to join the Army or Navy to get away from "shoveling shit" ? It's what decided Ike ;D
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Tom,
I thought your would recognize the quote as an history buff. It's from a Gen Patton speech to his troops. When he tells his troops at least they won't have to say to their kids when they ask what did you do in the war? "You won't have to say shoveling shit in Louisiana." or something like that.
I don't recognize your allusion to Ike. Where did that come from? Or did you just make it up?
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Ike grew up on a Farm in Kansas, Joined the Army because he "Wanted to see more of the world than a mules ass".
No I did not recognize the Patton allusion although I thought it sounded familiar when I read it, for a good Patton speach go here <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xyUX6wV1lBQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xyUX6wV1lBQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Where in NH are you from ?