"The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I would examine your life, words, works and power ... then, if ... though you were sinless... I saw you die on a cross for my sins ... I would consider it."
Have Gun Will Travel?
Like many posters, I have suffered from bouts of career malaise. I have held a variety of jobs in the past, including a few careers. My non-inclusive list of jobs include police officer, corporate lawyer, management consultant, pizza delivery guy, banker, bartender, server, porn theater manager (dating myself...I know), bicycle courier, gas station attendant, bouncer, small business owner, english language teacher and musician. I have been lucky and was never fired or laid off. Nevertheless, a good pay check never seemed to be enough to keep me fulfilled. I've made everything from 200,000/year to 2,000/year. In fact, until I landed my current job, the longest I ever stayed at one job...or even in one career field was 2 1/2 years. Fortunately, I was able to find a job that perfectly fit my need for constant change while at the same time offering me a testosterone-boosting dose of adventure, danger and excitement...but with medical insurance, a pension and a +100,000/year take home salary. Intrigued? Almost 10-years ago, I joined the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) as a Special Agent (SA). The DSS is part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) which is part of the US Department of State. DSS SA's are unique within the federal law enforcement field in that they are Special Agents (equivalent job series as Special Agents in the FBI, DEA, ATF, NCIS, etc.) but are also part of the Foreign Service. However, unlike most diplomats (yes...we have diplomatic titles when when we serve overseas) who mostly serve only overseas and in DC, DSS SAs serve in domestic assignments spread all over the country. Overseas, DSS SA's serve in one, two or three year assignments as Regional Security Officers (RSOs) or Assistant Regional Security Officers (ARSOs) in embassies and consulates everywhere from Australia to Zimbabwe. RSO's are the principal security and law enforcement advisors to the Ambassador and are responsible for managing every aspect of a US Missions security portfolio. Domestically, DSS SAs serve in two or three year assignments in Wash DC in various branches such as the Secretary of State's protection detail, Mobile Security Division (MSD - DSS's SWAT), CounterIntelligence, Anti-Terrorism Assistance, Computer Forensics, etc. or in one of DSS's field offices (NY, DC, Miami, Houston, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Boston) or a smaller resident office (San Diego, Denver, Philadelphia, Seattle, Honolulu, Phoenix, etc.). DS has about 2,000 agent is total roughly spread 50-50 overseas and domestic. The 50 percent overseas portion is probably a little high in terms of actual overseas assignments but if you factor in domestic-based agents serving on temporary assignments (TDY) overseas it probably works out to approximately 50-50. Landing a DS job is very competitive. However, contrary to what some have posted, you do not need to be an former SEAL to land a DS SA slot, although it certainly doesn't hurt and we have our fair share of former-special operations types. Out of my Basic Special Agent Class (BSAC - like our basic academy class) of 24, approximately 60 percent were former military or former law enforcement but approximately 40 percent came from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Although DSS has a reputation of being the "knuckle draggers" within the diplomatic corp, unlike the regular foreign service, DSS SA applicants must have a college degree. Over half my class had advanced degrees. A few words of caution. The job is not for the faint of heart . It can be tough on families and relationships. I have a couple of divorces to prove it. You essentally change jobs and will move ever couple of years. I've moved 7 times in 10 years. 5 of the 7 moves were overseas. That is a lot of moves. Plus, if you want to end up in Paris, plan on spending some time in Peshawar first. But if adventure is what you are looking for....DSS has it...by the boat loads...just pop some anti-malaria medicine and jump on board. Plus, any job that pays you to learn to shoot and drive fast can't be all bad.... http://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/dssa Godspeed......
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Victor E. Franklin on -
Love it.
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Permalink Reply by Native Son on -
Before folks get spun up about "Man O Mission's" career, pay attention to the detail in his post.
DSS, like virtually all Federal Agencies that employ Special Agents has a few absolutley non-negociable requirements: Personal Integrity, Physical Fitness, a Bachelor's degree, and oh, yeah, some actual "real world" work experience.
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Permalink Reply by xaxe on
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I don't know. I am DS too and that's a pretty accurate description of the job. It definitely isn't for everyone, but for those of us that it is for: Best LE job in the Federal Government.
Propaganda this is NOT.
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Permalink Reply by xaxe on
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Propaganda by definition is trying to use half-truths, outright lies or other forms of influence in order to change your mind or persuade you to come to the other side of the argument.
This is just a dude happy about his job, and trying to explain a business and lifestyle that very few people have any idea about. Chill.
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Permalink Reply by Josh on -
No, propaganda, by definition, is information that is meant to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.. If it's to promote an agenda, it's propaganda. Being true or false has nothing to do with it.
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Permalink Reply by Native Son on
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Nah, but I know of at least one Federal LE Agency that gets a lot of wannabees...thing is, a lot of it is more George Smiley, not James Bond.
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Permalink Reply by xaxe on
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Ha! 90% of all Fed Agency Work, be it LE or Intel, is mostly George Smiley. If someone tells you otherwise, they haven't ever done real Investigations or Collections (Intel) work.
There is certainly excitement to be had, but it takes a very long period of prep and paperwork before making any kind of arrest, let alone a door busting entry like you see on TV.
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Permalink Reply by JonEdanger on -
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