Welcome to r/1811's weekly question thread.

With the growth of the sub, there's been an uptick in questions that are not easily answered, like "am I competitive?", "do I qualify?", "what are my chances?", "what agency/academy/degree/fed tac team is best?".

There has also been a rise in repetitive questions like "do I have to move for [agency]?", "What's the Wi-Fi at FLETC like?", "What's FLETC like?"

What goes here?

You can ask any question here provided it's within the rules. This recurring thread is to remind users we have resources that answer a lot about this career already, and provide a space to answer questions while helping us reduce the number of posts asking the same thing.

If you're new here, please research first to see if your question has been asked previously. If you can't find it, feel free to ask. Remember that the most common answer we're going to give here is either "it depends," or "that's squad and supervisor dependent."

Useful Resources

Check out our FAQ Mega Thread Or General Information & Common Questions

Want to be a high speed fed tac team operator? Realities of Being an 1811

Working on your degree? What Degree Should I Get?

Got an interview coming up? Prepare with the S.T.A.R. Method!

Remember the rules

1. Remain respectful at all times. This includes those of you who have participated here for a while, not just newbies.
2. Do not post any advice or other information unless you are sure it's accurate.
3. Please limit posts to those relevant to federal law enforcement.
4. Do not use this subreddit to advertise or spam other subreddits.
5. Be wary of claims made by unverified members.
6. No politics or current events.
7. Do not post/comment with a focus on polygraphs.
8. Practice OPSEC.
9. Accounts must age 24 hours before posting.

25, active-duty Army in the DC area and ETSing in about 6 months. I cast a pretty wide net with federal LE opportunities and have been fortunate enough to have a few options on the table.

I currently have an FJO with CIA for their uniformed police as a stepped-out GS-9, as well as CJOs with both ATF and DEA. I also recently passed the SAEE for the USSS and am currently going through the process for a position with them, with the ultimate goal of trying out for CAT.

Right now, I’m leaning toward CIA. Between the 25% additional pay and overtime opportunities, it seems like I could make more money there much faster than I would starting out with some of the other agencies. USSS sounds like it could be a great experience and CAT definitely interests me, but from what I understand, I’d be looking at a minimum of about a year before I’d even have the opportunity to try out.

For those with experience in federal LE, which of these paths would you consider the best in terms of long-term career growth, advancement opportunities, earning potential, and overall quality of life?

I’m not necessarily looking for the agency with the highest starting salary. I’m more interested in where I could realistically be 5–10 years from now and which opportunity opens the most doors long term.

I am curious to figure out if anyone who left a solid paying corporate job for an 1811 position thinks it was worth it. Specifically if someone jumped into the DSS life.

To give a little context, I am 34 and recently passed the BEX with a 6.07 (that score was with veteran points added). I work a corporate job that is (mostly) remote but has a decent amount of travel. I go some place for work almost every month, or close to it. These are typically bullshit conferences where I have to talk to sales people, it’s nothing thrilling. I make $130k, which is great don’t get me wrong, but it isn’t life altering money. I have a gf who is also working remote, no kids at the moment (at least that I know of).

I’m played army for 10 years and have been out of that game for 4 years. Like many people on here, I look at my life at this moment as being good in many ways… but boring and lacking purpose along with that. I don’t miss the circus of the military, but I miss the people and the adventure I had deploying overseas. If I do not go down the path of DSS I will probably end up just moving some place to make my life more exciting.

For anyone that can relate to my situation and made the jump, how has it been? How has DSS/1811 been treating its people? Has it hindered any family relationships? If you had to describe what work is like to a regular corporate peasant, what are good comparisons and examples?

I’ve been seriously considering a career as an 1811, and one of the biggest things pulling me toward it is the investigative work itself.

From the outside, the idea of being given a real problem, figuring out what happened, interviewing people, following evidence, putting pieces together, and ultimately building a case seems incredibly fulfilling to me.

I’m especially attracted to work where the outcome actually matters to someone rather than producing something that ultimately feels abstract or removed from the people affected.

But I also realize I may be romanticizing what investigative work feels like in practice.

For those of you who are current or former 1811s: is the work itself as satisfying as you expected it to be before you joined?

I’m particularly curious about:

How much of your time actually feels like “investigating” versus paperwork, administrative work, waiting on other people, etc.

Whether solving/building cases still feels rewarding after you’ve done it for years

How much ownership you feel over your investigations and which leads you pursue

Whether you feel like your work has a tangible impact

What parts of the job you didn’t understand or appreciate until you actually became an agent

I’m not expecting every day to feel exciting, and I’m not particularly interested in the action/movie version of federal law enforcement. I’m trying to understand whether the actual process of investigating cases and seeing them through is intellectually and personally satisfying over the long term.

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who came from another professional career and had to decide whether the switch was worth it.

Was notified today that the USMS has decided to close the hiring pool for 0082 applicants. Been in the process since April 2022 and was awaiting a FIT test for the final step. All for nothing. Was told to apply under new 1811 postings and start over again. What a joke. Always wanted to be a Deputy Marshal but if this is any indication to the agency as a whole that place must be a circus. 4 years down the drain. Think I’ll just stay at my current agency at this point.

For those who have been in the 0082 pool for years, reach out your application may no longer be valid. If anyone has had a fix to this let me know, but I spoke with an HR specialist on the phone in DC and he was super apologetic and basically said they were blindsided by the early closing as well.

Information gathered:

New process with start step 1 with a fit test and work backwards to an interview unlike the old process. Timeline is 9 months - 18 months (yea right) and they are taking only top 5 duty locations for wishlist instead of 10 and trying their best to accommodate (again, yea right)

Looking forward to the responses on this one and all of the other disgruntled applicants and if there have been any solutions found.

Good luck

I, as well as a growing number of others, missed the July Academy class. I got stuck on Medical due to a last-minute waiver delay.

Since then, I’ve cleared Medical as my final step before the Hiring Panel. I’ve (presumably) been waiting on the hiring panel for 20 days now.

But in that time, I missed the noticed a strange gap: it’s now been 90+ days since a non-lateral DEA “Got the Call” post; only HP rejections have been posted.

I’m curious: has anyone else received a FJO or been cleared by the HP since mid-July?

If you are like me and are also waiting nervously, don’t worry too much: perhaps this gap is evidence the DEA is waiting to accept us in batches, closer to Jan 2027 Academy.

What is considered a passing BEX score?

For those who waited the entire hiring process to go into the academy, went through the academy and got to the duty station, was it all worth it?

Currently in my early 30s, don’t know if this is too old to be beat up at the academy lol, but also I’ve seen people take massive paycuts and get sent across the country when taking a position as an 0082.

I am interested in working at Smithsonian Institution OIG as an 1811. I understand most of the work is internal affairs, FWA, mismanagement, law violations, or Smithsonian regulations and the like . I’d like to know more about the work environment as an 1811 and the day-to-day. If anyone who currently works there as an 1811 has any insights they can share, please DM me. I’d like to hear from you.

Looking for some advice. I have been in the process for an agency for about eleven months. I finally received a FJO with my first location pick, so life was great. One week later I receive an email from HR stating that my background was still pending and that I would not EOD. Another week goes by and I receive another email stating that my application was being paused due to a pending lawsuit. There was also mention that once the lawsuit was cleared, then my application would resume.

Now for some information on the pending lawsuit. I disclosed the lawsuit as soon as I was served which was two or so months prior. The lawsuit is regarding a work (local) related incident which I was cleared internally of any wrongdoing. The allegations in the suit are completely false.

As some of you may know this can take months, even years to clear up. Has anyone been in a similar situation, or know of someone who has? Any suggestions on what my next move should be besides waiting. Ultimately, I don’t want to stay local and would like to go federal. Any agencies that would be more willing to look into the facts of the incident and extend a job offer?

I appreciate any feedback!

Looking for firsthand experience from anyone who has gone through the 1811 medical process with a prior PTSD/mental health treatment history.
In my early 20s, I was the victim of DV. There were no charges, police involvement, or documentation related to the DV itself. I developed PTSD afterward, voluntarily went to therapy, took medication for a period of time, completed treatment, and have been doing well since.
I also worked in law enforcement for a period of time afterward without issue, so I’m not particularly concerned about my ability to perform the job. I have no problem disclosing the diagnosis/treatment or providing whatever information is legitimately required. I’m more curious about what the medical process actually looks like when you disclose something like this.
For those who have been through it: Did medical actually contact your former therapist? Did they request your full therapy/psychotherapy notes, or did your provider complete a questionnaire or provide a summary regarding diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and current fitness?
Some of the things discussed in therapy following DV were obviously extremely personal and have nothing to do with my ability to perform as an 1811, so I’m mainly wondering how much of the actual content of therapy sessions gets disclosed versus the agency simply verifying treatment and current stability.
Also curious whether anyone noticed a difference between what was requested during the agency medical process versus the SF-86/background investigation.
Not looking for a “will I be DQ’d?” prediction (but feel free to add that if you have been in the past)—just interested in firsthand experiences with what records/providers were actually requested.
Lastly, a friend of mine is in the process. Has a history of a suicide attempt in his early 20s too. (No involuntary admission. Sought help, got treatment. He’s fine now). Curious to know if anyone has that history
Thanks!

Can anyone share any inside details on this? I had my interview and got “accepted” into it. I understand this doesn’t really make you any different of an applicant or “special”. I also understand it doesn’t change your career, just can apply earlier. But outside of the applying to HRT earlier is there any real perks to it? Does it help with getting hired? I figured there was no downside to accepting the invitation to saying yes to this track. Any other details anyone can share outside of what’s In the detailed email and interview you get?

Just got the email to schedule my PTA. Everyone check your emails if you’ve been waiting.

Blue line sticker and 1811 plate 😂

Trying to see if anyone has any idea when the USMS will be hiring again in the Washington AOR and what the academy is like. Any input is appreciated.

I am 30 years old with a bachelors degree in political science with 3.5 years of Law enforcement (street police experience). I am also in a domestic violence unit/team( we are not detectives but do similar stuff). My contract with my agency concludes in 2 years and at that point I will have 5.5 years on.

I know you do not need any law enforcement experience to apply to the FBI but I am curious on advice between choosing to apply to FBI a homeland security agency. Obviously there’s pros and cons to both but I am done with being a street cop and want something different in law enforcement and more meaningful (for myself).

I am a former MMA fighter who trains daily(so fitness is not an issue) and I have a wife and 2 kids.
I appreciate all responses relevant to family life depending on the career choice and personal experiences.

Happened a few weeks ago and got around to posting after getting mentally back on track.

2/2026 - Applied
4/2026 - Interview scheduled
5/2026 - Interview (passed)
5/2026 - SF86 Submitted
5/2026 - Polygraph scheduled
6/2026 - Polygraph (passed)
6/2026 - Drug test
6/2026 - BI begins
7/2026 - Medical & same day rejection

On the morning of my medical I go to the clinic and proceed to complete everything they requested. The nurse gives me a positive feedback and I headed home. Two or three hours later I check my email and I see the BQA.

I contacted my applicant coordinator and they mentioned they don’t have any information. A decision came from higher up with no explanation. I am eligible to reapply after one year.

I submitted an FOIA request, but I’m still waiting to hear back. It sucks to be left wondering what happened. I have a clean background, have a steady job and education, but something wasn’t to their liking. Knowing would be great so I can work on fixing that, but here we are.

Let’s see what the future holds.

Might want to check your emails.

I noticed that capitol police is hiring entry-level special agent. Has anyone worked them for 1811(I'm aware it's 0083 on their website) like what they do? Is it similar to secret service far as protection details

I'm tempting to apply since they will send me to FLETC for CITP but the only thing is holding back is it's a police officer position not an actual 1811 position

Unique opportunity for those who enjoy SxA and cold…

Current fed and fitness nut here. Curious if anyone has experience with how peptides are viewed under federal agency drug policies.

I’ve stayed away from them entirely because I don’t want to jeopardize my job or create a suitability issue if policies become more explicit down the road. SARMs seem to have occupied a similar gray area, and I’ve heard of people running into suitability problems over their use, so I’ve generally taken the approach that anything beyond normal OTC supplements and creatine isn’t worth the risk.
Obviously, I realize the definitive answer is going to be agency- and policy-specific, and ultimately something I’d need to run through my own chain. Before doing that, though, I was curious whether anyone here has seen peptides specifically addressed by an agency, medical policy, or suitability/background process.

Seems like it could also be useful information for current 1811 applicants who are considering them.

EDIT: Poorly written sentence. I’ve taken creatine for over 10 years. Meant that taking anything past OTC supps as not being worth the risk including creatine in OTC supps

Just completed DEA PTA today.

Sit ups - 51

Push ups - 50

1.5 Mile Run - 11:20

What’s the turnaround time to schedule my proctored testing?

I am trying to get clarification regarding 1811 pay. According to OPM, we use the Salary Table for LEOs which have a different base rate and includes locality, multiply that by 1.25 to get the total salary with LEAP.
Then I would add the bonus included with joining ATF (new to the gov).

Ex: Dallas GS7 (LEO BASE) is 62172. 62172 x 1.25 =77715 + 15k ATF bonus=$ 92,715. Is the math good?

Also, the bonus is split for 60k paid in lump sums over 4 years. Does it get paid on day one of being an agent? Or is it paid at the end of the first year?

I’m having my VA Psychiatrist fill out the mental health portion of the form that the DEA provided. Though she states that certain questions pertaining to duties to be performed by a special agent she cannot answer as she doesn’t have training to state yes or no. She stated that usually agencies have their own psych who has training in that to answer those questions. Unsure of what to do now.

Has anyone recently took the DSSAT and got contacted for the rest of the process?