Clarification from the agency

Salary range listed does not include Locality Pay (Chantilly, VA. 30.48%; Chicago, IL. 28.59%; Denver, CO. 27.13%; Edina, MN. 24.66%; El Segundo, CA. 32.41%; Las Vegas, NV. 17.68%; Queens, NY. 33.98%; Renton, WA. 27.02%; Romulus, MI. 27.32%; South San Francisco, CA. 41.44%).

An entry level Federal Air Marshal serves as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (LE/FAMS). The Federal Air Marshals' primary function is to protect commercial passenger flights by deterring and countering the risk of terrorist activity, aircraft piracy, and other crimes to protect the nation's transportation infrastructure. Federal Air Marshals are equipped to operate independently in a highly stressful environment with little or no back-up available. Duties may include but are not limited to:  

• Participating in multi-agency task forces involving other federal, state, and local agencies in support of an integrated Federal law enforcement and intelligence approach to proactively fight terrorism.
• Coordinating and administering law enforcement, investigative, analytical, or advisory activities to ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations, and other mandatory guidelines.
• Making arrests without warrants for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if there is probable cause to believe that a felony is being or has been committed. Seeking and executing warrants for arrest or seizure of evidence upon probable cause that a violation has been committed; and identifying and interviewing witnesses and suspects.
• Presenting information regarding law enforcement activities to the appropriate U.S. Attorney, as necessary. Such law enforcement activities may involve matters of extreme sensitivity with difficult planning and coordination problems because of jurisdictional concerns involving other nations, and federal, state, county, and local governments
• This position is a primary Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) position and is covered under the Special LEO Retirement Provisions.  Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) is approved for this position to compensate for unscheduled duty in excess of a basic workweek.  Federal Air Marshals must work or be available to work an average of two extra hours per non excludable work day. LEAP is not authorized until all initial training requirements are successfully completed and upon issue of the Federal Air Marshal badge and credential.

Conditions of employment

• See "Key Requirements" in the "Qualifications" Section.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-5/7/9), you must meet one of the qualification requirements (A, B, OR C) outlined below. A. Experience: For those qualifying using experience, your application must clearly outline three years of progressively responsible general experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the SV-F Pay Band or GS-4 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Such experience will demonstrate the ability to: analyze problems, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing. OR B. Education: Bachelor's or higher-level degree in any field from an accredited college or university. OR C. Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements, and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the position; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the position; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.

Note: If you are attempting to qualify based on education, in whole or in part, you MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) from an accredited college or university (for each school attended) to establish qualifications based upon education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts may be required at a later date.

NOTE: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio (i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime).

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• CITIZENSHIP: Selectees must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
• AGE: Applicant must be at least 21 years old at the time of application. Prior to appointment, an applicant must not have reached his or her 37th birthday unless the applicant can provide proof of current or previous service in a Federal civilian law enforcement retirement-covered position (after subtracting the year/months of prior Federal service worked in a primary law enforcement position, the applicant must be less than 37 years of age). This is a rigorous/primary law enforcement position. Applicants who reach age 37 at any time during the process up to entry on duty and cannot provide proof of a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by Federal civilian law enforcement retirement provisions, will be disqualified. (NOTE: Preference eligible veterans are permitted a waiver allowing for entry on duty prior to their 40th birthday).
• POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION: Selectees must successfully complete and achieve favorable results on a law enforcement pre-employment polygraph examination.  If applicants have previously taken a Department of Homeland Security-administered polygraph within the last three years, favorable or unfavorable results from that polygraph examination may apply to this announcement.  Those who take the polygraph under this announcement will be required to travel at their own expense to the examination location.  Polygraph examinations are typically conducted in Atlantic City, NJ and in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  (NOTE:  This requirement also applies to any current TSA employee.  An unfavorable polygraph examination may result in negative administrative actions, up to and including separation from federal service).
• PHYSICAL ABILITY: Federal Air Marshals engage in moderate to arduous physical exertion. As such, Federal Air Marshal selectees must successfully pass the medical screening process and physical requirements for law enforcement officers. Federal Air Marshals are required to engage the use of defensive tactics and physical control techniques.
• MEDICAL CLEARANCE: Selectees will be required to pass a pre-employment medical examination and maintain medical standards. 
• DRUG AND ALCOHOL SCREENING:  Selectees must pass drug and alcohol screening and will be subject to random drug and alcohol tests.
• BACKGROUND and SECURITY CLEARANCE: This position is designated as “Critical Sensitive”. Completion of a full field investigation is required. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security clearance.
• FIREARMS: Federal Air Marshals are required to carry a firearm and maintain firearms proficiency as part of conducting law enforcement activities. Federal Air Marshals may be required to use deadly force, if necessary.
• LAUTENBERG NOTICE: Title 18 USC, Section 922 (g) automatically disqualifies anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from being appointed to this position. Selectees must complete the Qualifications Declaration and Inquiry for Positions Requiring the Possession of Firearms or Ammunition Form prior to appointment, and annually thereafter.
• FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL TRAINING PROGRAM: Selectees must attend and successfully complete a rigorous, in-resident law enforcement training program that lasts for 17 consecutive weeks.
• HOURS OF DUTY AND TRAVEL: Federal Air Marshals are required to constantly travel while on duty. Federal Air Marshals are subject to 24-hour on-call duty. Shifts are often longer than eight hours, requiring irregular schedules based on the needs of the LE/FAMS. Flexible schedules are not available and employees must agree to perform the duties and duty tours as assigned. Federal Air Marshals travel at various times which routinely requires overnight stays in domestic and international locations that may be dangerous or present health hazards.
• TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENTS: Federal Air Marshals must be available for permanent or long-term temporary (e.g., 30-day, 90-day, and 120-day) assignments in any U.S. or international location in which the LE/FAMS operates.
• DRIVER’S LICENSE: Selectees must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license prior to appointment.
• OTHER DOCUMENTS: Selectees must be able to obtain and maintain a valid U.S. passport book, and a government-issued travel card.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. In your resume, please list all of your employment activities, beginning with the present and working back no more than 10 years, and include the beginning and ending dates for each. You should list all full-time and part-time work, paid and unpaid, and the number of hours worked per week for each. You should also list all consulting/contracting work, all military service duty locations, temporary military duty locations over 90 days, self-employment, or other paid work, and all periods of unemployment. The entire period must be accounted for without breaks. EXCEPTION: Do not list employment that occurred prior to your 18th birthday.

Initially, applicants will be evaluated through an online application process. Applicants will be asked a series of occupational assessment questions linked to the competencies determined necessary for successful job performance. These responses will then be used to rate (pass/fail) applicants relative to the requirements for this position. The most qualified candidates will be referred for further consideration through the remainder of the assessment process.

NOTE:  The following steps in the hiring process may require the applicant to travel at his or her own expense.

Referred Applicants: Applicants will be required to pass the FAMS Assessment Battery (FAB), which includes writing, logic-based reasoning, and situational judgment components. Additional information on the FAB computer-based assessment can be obtained by clicking on the following link: FAMS Prep Guide.

Applicants who successfully pass the FAB will be required to complete a panel interview at a specified FAMS field office. Applicants who successfully pass the panel interview will then be required to complete a Physical Training Assessment (PTA), be interviewed by a field office executive, and have their fingerprints taken. Further information regarding the PTA can be found at the following link: PTA Training Guide.

The ability to adjust scheduling for the aforementioned steps is extremely limited.