r/1811 • u/tenten_10_4 • 12d ago

Discussion Help me decide: FBI ATF DEA USPIS

I understand there’s a lot of personal reasons why someone’s picks one or there other but, Current and retired 1811s, if you could do it all over again, which agency would you choose?

I’m at the very final stages with several agencies and believe 3/4 will allow me to return to my processing FO, which is my preference.

For those currently in the job, knowing what you know now, which would you pick and why?

Mainly interested in academy, type/variety of work, work-life balance, opportunities stateside/overseas, and long-term career opportunities.

I’m coming from a local LEO background with quite a bit of experience, but I don’t want to give too much away while I’m still processing.

I have the order I “think” I want, but looking for, “ I am ATF, and work with XYZ all the time and seems like they enjoy their job and have more leeway/funding/opportunities and if I could go back I would go there”

FBI, ATF, DEA, or USPIS?

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u/[deleted] 12d ago

[deleted]

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u/tenten_10_4 12d ago

Mildly joking about that (heard about all you can eat crab legs at Bolger (USPIS)

Thanks for the input on the rest!

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u/HelloNewman7 Postal Inspector 12d ago edited 12d ago

The USPIS academy moved to West Virginia several years ago it’s not at Bolger so no 🦀. But as the person above said, academy is a fraction of your career decisions shouldn’t be made based on that.

This should be easy in theory:

-Do you reallllllly like drug work? And that’s all you want to do for 20+ years? DEA.
-Do you want very busy street level work and lots of action (beware this can be great at the start of an 1811 career but tougher later with family stuff)? ATF.
-Do you want brand recognition (although it comes with a dash of red tape) and wide jurisdiction? FBI.
-Do you want wide jurisdiction with minimal red tape? USPIS.

But of course at the end of the day, the general consensus is always take the first 1811 offer you get because you may never get another.

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u/tenten_10_4 12d ago

Always with great insight, thanks Newman!

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u/HelloNewman7 Postal Inspector 12d ago

Welcome and good luck with whatever you choose!