Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted January 31, 2011 My brother starts the acadamy in a month and a half. It is a long ordeal to get through to the point he is at so be ready for that. Do not quit your job and wait on them, you will starve. And you better be in tip top shape when you go in. That is the absolute truth! I started the process for BP Agent in March of 2009. I completed the process in August of 2009 in which on August 24, 2009 I revieved a letter stating that my file was in TSU (Training Scheduling Unit) and that I would be contacted and would be leaving for the academy in 30-60 days. Well, here it is almost a year and a half after I recieved that letter and guess what, STILL WAITING! You will be told one thing one day, and then something totally different the next. The best advice I can give is exactly the same as what COUESAZ said and that is to not wait on them, you will drive yourself mad. Unfortunately the system is broken and VERY LONG but if your like me and see it as a dream job you'll grin and bear it and keep jumping through those hoops untill your day comes. Firstcoueswas80 and Scottyboy were a huge help when I was in need of advice when I was still in the testing process. Like mentioned in an earlier post Honorfirst.com has an endless amount of valueable information and is where I go to see where I stand in the "waiting game" compared to other applicants. Good luck! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted January 31, 2011 Shooterpar, Its been many years since I entered the agency and many things have changed. I would reccomend you visit the website honorfirst.com . There is a whole bunch of guys that are in the same boat as you and will be able to answer your questions. Good luck. PM me if you still have questions. Naturebob, You seem to be an expert on this subject. I am impressed. I am not sure where you get your information from but I can assure you that the agents are not lazy nor scared. I work with many agents that will track a group of illegal aliens or dope smugglers for 10 to 14 or more hours ON FOOT (are you willing or able to do this every day?). It is quite often many of these groups walk around 80 to 100 miles to meet their ride. It can take several shifts and dozens of agents to apprehend the aliens. Amazingly enough these agents are following the tracks over the mountains and hillsides (shocking isn't it?). Quite often through snow that is a couple of feet deep and then down into the desert floor. Temps can be in the teens to over 115 in the summer. You are correct that they also travel in washes and I can assure you that many are apprehended in those washes since the agents also track them through the washes. I am glad that you have all of the answers. Maybe you can work as a consultant. As far as those agents driving around. If they are driving slowly and looking out the window, then they are signcutting and looking for evedence that someone has crossed a road. Since the inception of the agency in 1924, many thousands of agents have discovered this to be a much more effective way of working than just wandering around the area blindly. As far as looking through the binoculars, I would imagine that you use the same tactic to look for deer on the side of a mountain. This is also a tactic of detecting people instead of wandering around. Amazingly, working as a Border Patrol Agent is very similar to hunting deer. Which do you think is more effective, walking around a hillside or canyon and looking under each bush, or standing on top of a ridge and using binoculars? I can assure you also, that quite often you have been see without even knowing it. It always amazes me that the people that spend a few days of even a few weeks a year in an area have all the answers. While I will be the first to admit that there is alway improvement to be made and politics will get in the way, the people that know how to do this are the guys that are there 24 hours a day every day of the year. These are the same guys that have to balance the complaints of the public that there is criminal activity then complain that the agents are intrusive and have no right or authority to be on their property (they are wrong) I often hear that people only see the agents driving around. Thats because most people have no desire to walk back into the canyons at 3:00 in the morning to actually see what an agent does. The same people complain that the checkpoint has delayed them for 10 minutes but in turn the next guy complains that there are too many aliens around on each side and north of the checkpoint. Some people complain that the Border Patrol should be ON THE BORDER, but other complain there are aliens in the foothills. One polititician complains about something and another complains about something else. The guy caught inthe middle is the agent you see leaning against his truck looking for a group of aliens through his binoculars. Sorry for the rant, and although I should not, I personally take offense to your statements. Next time you call a agent lazy, consider the guy that tracks 20 miles or so all night by himself and after apprehending the group of 10 to 40 people (again by himself, which would scare most people), carries a six or seven year old kid another four or five miles to the nearest road. Very rarely does this stuff get noticed by the public. +100 Well said! IMO there is no need for an apology and I think a lot of us completely understand the offense you have taken to such statements. -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmwellslv Report post Posted January 31, 2011 i took the written test in 0ct 2010 (got a 95) and am scheduled for the oral board feb 8, 2011. I imagined it would be a lengthy process but should be well worth it. good luck to you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
