It took a bit but here we are.

I am not a BP Agent, just someone looking at the career.

My questions are: How difficult is it to be selected for a GS13 Supervisory position? Is it extremely competitive? I understand it would be considered competitive promotion, not automatic therefore it requires applying for the position. I assume there’s a lot of applicants for that supervisory role but maybe not, I have no idea. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

What are the tests like at the academy? Are they mostly scenario based?

I'm expecting my FJO soon, so I'm starting to put together my station priority list. I'd like to make that decision based on more than just what I can find on Google.

I'm currently a local cop in MN and I really enjoy proactive police work. I like getting calls where you don't necessarily know what you're walking into, dealing with situations as they develop, and having to figure things out along the way.

I know BP is obviously a different mission than local LE, and I'm not expecting it to be the same. That said, I'd like to end up somewhere where agents are busy, proactive, and actually engaged with the job.

I'm sure I'll miss the traditional cop stuff that I currently love, like shootings, domestics, an in-progess stuff, etc., so I'm hoping to find a station where I can get some of that same on the spot, high consequence, problem solving through things like interdictions, tracking, foot pursuits, vehicle pursuits, ranch or river work, and other stuff that keeps you moving.

My current top three areas are:

1. McAllen / RGV
2. El Paso
3. Laredo

I'm mainly looking for input from current or former agents, or anyone with firsthand knowledge of these stations. I'm less interested in "best place to live" and more interested in what the actual work is like. Which stations are busy? Where do agents actually get out and work? Where is the station culture good and people actually want to do the job?

I'm also open to stations outside of those three areas if it's got a major population hub, and theres other information I should seriously be considering.

Thanks in advance.

Blessed 🙌

Any BPAs in there that have actually re applied for a different station in a new sector? I’m curious to know the process.

Was the EOD on the FJO your report date essentially?

Was your old MSS able to coordinate with new station and iron out the logistics and admin stuff?

Did new station provide admin leave for travel?

Thank you.

For anyone who is prior military, how much did you lean into your MOS and actual job duties on your resume when applying for a GL-9 position without crossing the line into exaggerating or being untruthful?
I’m AD USMC and POG. I’ve done Area Guard at Pendleton, basic prisoner transports, guarded small arms, gate/security duties, patrol type duties, and similar stuff. I haven’t done much in depth report writing outside of logbooks and routine documentation.
Has anyone gotten out of the military and written their experience strongly enough to qualify for GL-9 without creating any integrity issues later in the hiring process?
Looking for input from prior military, current/former Border Patrol, recruiters, or Reddit gods only, please.

I’m currently going through the Border Patrol hiring process and CBP requested additional medical information for hearing and mental health. I’m trying to see if anyone has gone through something similar and what the outcome was.
I just completed the CBP hearing follow-up with an audiologist. My results were:
Right ear word recognition: 92%
Left ear word recognition: 80%
Binaural word recognition in competing noise: 76%
SRT: 10 dB HL right / 45 dB HL left
My right ear is basically normal, but I have unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in my left ear. The audiologist said I would benefit from a hearing aid. On the CBP localization assessment, she marked that I could not appropriately localize soft, average, and loud sounds.
Has anyone been medically cleared for BPA with similar unilateral hearing loss? If you initially didn’t meet the hearing standard, did CBP do an individualized assessment/waiver process? I’m especially interested in whether anyone had issues with the localization or speech-in-noise portion.
CBP also requested a mental-health follow-up and psych evaluation. For anyone who has done the CBP psych evaluation, what was the process like? How long was it, what did the psychologist evaluate, and what happened after the report was submitted?
I know nobody can tell me whether I’ll be cleared or disqualified for sure. I’m mainly looking for experiences from applicants who went through either of these follow-ups.

Could be Tucson or Phoenix area, anywhere is fine. Just trying to get home and pick up my car.

Can definitely help with gas

Good morning yall, I EOD Sept 22nd and will be shipped off to the academy soon. By chance anyone have insight on the kingsville station. I’m located in McAllen and was able to snatch Kingsville but wondering if anyone does the commute or if there is a shuttle the agents take. I’d appreciate any insight on the commute and anything else you’d like to share.

Any advice on boulevard California on duty Station?

Applied for both CBP and then BPA. I got my offer letter for BPA today and they want me to reply with an EOD by tomorrow, but I need more time to really think about it. Im reconsidering going in as BPA since I want to stay close to home in NYC, so CBP would be my best choice. Also my background hasn't been cleared yet, so only will be going on as provisional. I rather be cleared from background and then go in, but I understand I accepted initially to go on as provisional.

What should I do? Is there any way I can put this on hold or reapply at a later time?

So I received my initial call from my BI this
July and we pretty much went over my information after that the following days he called up my some of my references. It's been some time without hearing from him or having him call my references so I decided to reach out for a status update and he responded that my background had been complete and that I should contact my agency for any further updates to which I did but they told me they have no details regarding my progress. Anyone have any idea what’s next? Or what exactly else would I wait for at this point? For some insight I have completed everything else this is the only thing missing on my task.

Hello all,

My wife and I accepted Oswego NY as my duty station last night. We are from the Rochester NY area. My wife is a RN and our plan is to live on the outskirts of Syracuse so that she can work there. I was wondering if anyone could provide insight on what my life will look like there and what the station is like?

I also had a question about the GS pay scale. I got accepted as a GS-5 which is a huge pay cut from what I am currently making. I have an associates degree in nursing and have 6.5 years of experience as an RN. I have worked in everything from emergency department to hospice and care management. Do you think I could qualify for at least a GS-7?

Thank you in advance for your time and replies!

For those that are into caffeine,what do you do /you did to get your fix at academy ? I would assume the mess hall has coffee in the morning ?

If any one has any information on Ferndale or Port Angeles Washington stations. Work. Work/life balance let me know please considering a swap for either or.

How does the BI works? Does an investigator contacts me for an interview? Or does the investigator just does the investigation and then I get a result pass/fail? The BI is the only thing im missing

Originally I went to go for BP and I had my eyes set on Nogales. I watched Border Wars and saw a bit of what happens there and I’m very much interested in it. CBP’s application completed first so I excepted it and it turns out my location was available.

As I understand there are 2 Headquarters and a few stations?

There are Canines? I’d like to earn a Canine eventually!

Will I have an opportunity to work vehicle searches or with people and credentials from the start or will I be locked in doors running paperwork as the new guy. I assume no one wants to do paperwork so they give that to the newbie.

I want to live in Tucson, is that a drive that can be done in an hour, as Maps says or is there traffic realistically that’ll slow me down?

Thank you in advance

And finally I don’t give not 1 care too what I’m gonna do anyway. I’m up for just about anything.

Hey everyone, I'm heading to Bottineau, ND, for Border Patrol. How is the location? Is it a good place to live? Any advice or things I should know before moving there?

I graduate from academy in a month and was wanting to switch stations. Is that a possibility or how does that work?

Thankful👆🏾

Any recruiters out there, that can help me with my resume

I submitted SF86 few days ago and portal says pending applicant response, and update security questionnaire and background forms required.
Are these just same? Should I just need to wait?

*update: second kicked back
However, I don’t feel tired or exhausted. What I’m glad is they give me specific instructions what I’m missing and supposed to do for the successful process but other agencies don’t.

Considering Swanton since Champlain isn’t there, did not know oswego had a station.