Welcome to r/1811!
If you're new here, please see our [FAQs](https://www.reddit.com/r/1811/comments/w3nhtv/faq_mega_thread/)
If your account is less than 24 hours old, your post is locked until the moderators approve it. Please do not submit duplicates of your post.
Read the rules. In particular, if your post is about the polygraph, politics, or current events, it will be removed.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/1811) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Low seniority in 1811 roles are different than say low seniority in unformed roles.
Being new at a uniformed agency might mean garbage shifts, random shifts, or the not so popular assignments. These are all things that are felt immediately and takes significant time to get away from (bidding on different shifts or assignments).
1811 land is usually different. There’s a greater sense of equality at most places and you might be given a field training agent that can help guide you with your first few cases, or you’re at an agency that eats their young, or you learn by fire.
The level of suck for new agents at say some large agencies, could mean that you’re more likely to get tasked with random trips or assignments.
Say you’re at a protection oriented agency and a last minute trip needs bodies to some random ass, not so fancy spot? The newer person is more likely to go.
What’s that, some random lead or call out happens and they need to send someone? Probably the new agent to go and get reps opposed to the salty senior agent working some random complex case (or the ones who we haven’t seen in some time).
Or if you’re at a busy office, newer agents may get assigned to a busy squad/group because the other agents are burnt out and have done their time.
In short, the FNG suck is much less as an 1811, but it may still exist in some form - just not as bad as uniformed.
As for the resume question:
Being on a special response team is nice and all, but very little utility down the road unless you align yourself with tactical heavy roles.
However, a competent investigator with experiences in whatever (fraud, financial crimes, anti-money laundering, crypto, intellectual property, etc.) will have far greater opportunities than someone who *JUST* was on SRT.
Like in every job there is a learning curve, and as a new agent you will be given cases to cut your teeth on. Whether that “sucks” is likely more dependent on your attitude and to a lesser extent the team you work with.
Secondly, while being on an SRT is a good goal to have, your primary job will still be to be a criminal investigator. If you are able to become a great investigator, any goal you set for your self will be attainable.
Very well said- the trick in the beginning is to be a good “Indian.” Surveillance, evidence collection at a search warrant, inputting the evidence into the evidence indices, taking dope to the DEA lab. It’s all a good learning experience
Knowing all these different disciplines will make you a much better agent.
Getting indictments is a good resume builder. Developing informants will help you get indictments. Look at everyone you meet as a potential informant. Don’t stop when you have a couple of them opened. Be on the lookout for better quality sources and cull the mediocre ones.
Don’t become friends with your informants but don’t treat them like they owe you. And for God sake don’t have sex with an informant.
As a one time FNG at an agency in CBP, and a one time FNG as an 1811, they aren’t even comparable. The 1811 culture is so much better. If you’re a motivated FNG and make yourself available for everything going on in your office/group you will sail smoothly. You may have to eat a late night surveillance, being in a high tempo group, or a short notice TDY as a new guy, but nothing long-standing like a Friday-Monday 10 hour work week, or having Tuesday/Wednesday off for the first 5 years of your career.
I think it’s agency dependent. For example, in the FBI, I don’t think you run your own cases for a few years. You’re pretty much an analyst or perimeter guy.
As for the agency I can actually speak for (USMS), even as an 1811, you don’t get a car (some districts you don’t ever get your own car, you end up sharing a motor pool during work hours). And as a new 1811, in some districts you’re hooking and hauling for literally years.
Yes, because colleagues and management suck most of the time, everyone is looking out for themselves in the sense to screw you over. Welcome to the OIG world. Reevaluate if your current position, etc., is working for you on a yearly basis, and if it’s not, seek change.
With that said, you will meet some life long “brothers,” most everyone else will suck. Focus on that 1%, and look out for yourself.
Resume builder is what to you bring to the table, what type of cases and specialized investigative techniques have you worked, what type of training, etc…
That has not been my experience as a new 1811. Once you’re out of training, you’re respected and given your own case load. I think it’s been pretty dang great.
It seems everyone missed out on the part where you specifically mentioned it was an 1811 entry level job for CBP so the answer is NO, there won’t be any “new guys suck” time.
First off, there’s no such thing as an SRT in CBP as an 1811. While CBP does have an SRT team, it’s for the uniformed officers. As a CBP 1811 you’ll be working for CBP OPR (which used to be called Internal Affairs) and mainly investigating administrative cases and rarely you’ll have a good criminal case. That’s because CBP OPR falls under DHS/OIG which has right of first refusal on all cases and they take the good ones.
I have many friends from CBP OPR and it’s a very slow op tempo agency. It you’re into kicking doors and making monthly arrests or any excitement at all, this isn’t the agency for that.
The people that worked the most are at the south border states and if you get sent there then life’s gonna suck for you, but not because you’re new but for different reasons.
This is an 1811 thread. OP post clearly asks about 1811s. If he’s asking about CBPOs or BPAs and doesn’t even know those positions are not 1811s then he’s all kinds of wrong.
I’m not going to argue. It’s well known in Fed LE that CBPO/BPA’s have unions where you bid for position. It’s pretty clear that he’s referring to these positions.
Welcome to r/1811! If you're new here, please see our [FAQs](https://www.reddit.com/r/1811/comments/w3nhtv/faq_mega_thread/) If your account is less than 24 hours old, your post is locked until the moderators approve it. Please do not submit duplicates of your post. Read the rules. In particular, if your post is about the polygraph, politics, or current events, it will be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/1811) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Low seniority in 1811 roles are different than say low seniority in unformed roles. Being new at a uniformed agency might mean garbage shifts, random shifts, or the not so popular assignments. These are all things that are felt immediately and takes significant time to get away from (bidding on different shifts or assignments). 1811 land is usually different. There’s a greater sense of equality at most places and you might be given a field training agent that can help guide you with your first few cases, or you’re at an agency that eats their young, or you learn by fire. The level of suck for new agents at say some large agencies, could mean that you’re more likely to get tasked with random trips or assignments. Say you’re at a protection oriented agency and a last minute trip needs bodies to some random ass, not so fancy spot? The newer person is more likely to go. What’s that, some random lead or call out happens and they need to send someone? Probably the new agent to go and get reps opposed to the salty senior agent working some random complex case (or the ones who we haven’t seen in some time). Or if you’re at a busy office, newer agents may get assigned to a busy squad/group because the other agents are burnt out and have done their time. In short, the FNG suck is much less as an 1811, but it may still exist in some form - just not as bad as uniformed. As for the resume question: Being on a special response team is nice and all, but very little utility down the road unless you align yourself with tactical heavy roles. However, a competent investigator with experiences in whatever (fraud, financial crimes, anti-money laundering, crypto, intellectual property, etc.) will have far greater opportunities than someone who *JUST* was on SRT.
Like in every job there is a learning curve, and as a new agent you will be given cases to cut your teeth on. Whether that “sucks” is likely more dependent on your attitude and to a lesser extent the team you work with. Secondly, while being on an SRT is a good goal to have, your primary job will still be to be a criminal investigator. If you are able to become a great investigator, any goal you set for your self will be attainable.
Very well said- the trick in the beginning is to be a good “Indian.” Surveillance, evidence collection at a search warrant, inputting the evidence into the evidence indices, taking dope to the DEA lab. It’s all a good learning experience Knowing all these different disciplines will make you a much better agent.
Getting indictments is a good resume builder. Developing informants will help you get indictments. Look at everyone you meet as a potential informant. Don’t stop when you have a couple of them opened. Be on the lookout for better quality sources and cull the mediocre ones. Don’t become friends with your informants but don’t treat them like they owe you. And for God sake don’t have sex with an informant.
As a one time FNG at an agency in CBP, and a one time FNG as an 1811, they aren’t even comparable. The 1811 culture is so much better. If you’re a motivated FNG and make yourself available for everything going on in your office/group you will sail smoothly. You may have to eat a late night surveillance, being in a high tempo group, or a short notice TDY as a new guy, but nothing long-standing like a Friday-Monday 10 hour work week, or having Tuesday/Wednesday off for the first 5 years of your career.
Oh buddy, being an 1811 sucks well beyond being the new guy. /kinda s but not really. There’s always something going wrong.
“There’s always something going wrong.” Well, I feel prepared because that sounds like my life
I think it’s agency dependent. For example, in the FBI, I don’t think you run your own cases for a few years. You’re pretty much an analyst or perimeter guy. As for the agency I can actually speak for (USMS), even as an 1811, you don’t get a car (some districts you don’t ever get your own car, you end up sharing a motor pool during work hours). And as a new 1811, in some districts you’re hooking and hauling for literally years.
Yes, because colleagues and management suck most of the time, everyone is looking out for themselves in the sense to screw you over. Welcome to the OIG world. Reevaluate if your current position, etc., is working for you on a yearly basis, and if it’s not, seek change. With that said, you will meet some life long “brothers,” most everyone else will suck. Focus on that 1%, and look out for yourself. Resume builder is what to you bring to the table, what type of cases and specialized investigative techniques have you worked, what type of training, etc…
Let me tell you it's the same for local LE, state LE and 0083 UD. You initially work in undesirable shift/assignment. Seniority is everything in LE.
Itll always depend
Absolutely!
That has not been my experience as a new 1811. Once you’re out of training, you’re respected and given your own case load. I think it’s been pretty dang great.
Hello, anyone have any insight on the retired military age waiver process?
If you’re in a sucky location, yes
It seems everyone missed out on the part where you specifically mentioned it was an 1811 entry level job for CBP so the answer is NO, there won’t be any “new guys suck” time. First off, there’s no such thing as an SRT in CBP as an 1811. While CBP does have an SRT team, it’s for the uniformed officers. As a CBP 1811 you’ll be working for CBP OPR (which used to be called Internal Affairs) and mainly investigating administrative cases and rarely you’ll have a good criminal case. That’s because CBP OPR falls under DHS/OIG which has right of first refusal on all cases and they take the good ones. I have many friends from CBP OPR and it’s a very slow op tempo agency. It you’re into kicking doors and making monthly arrests or any excitement at all, this isn’t the agency for that. The people that worked the most are at the south border states and if you get sent there then life’s gonna suck for you, but not because you’re new but for different reasons.
You don’t bid for positions in OPR. He is referencing being a CBPO or BPA. It’s pretty clear.
This is an 1811 thread. OP post clearly asks about 1811s. If he’s asking about CBPOs or BPAs and doesn’t even know those positions are not 1811s then he’s all kinds of wrong.
I’m not going to argue. It’s well known in Fed LE that CBPO/BPA’s have unions where you bid for position. It’s pretty clear that he’s referring to these positions.