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Marine Interdiction Agent

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Air and Marine Operations
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As our nation navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP is committed to delivering our mission to safeguard America's borders and enable legitimate trade and travel. Staffing mission critical positions remains a high priority. Be reassured that CBP is still hiring, despite potential hiring process step delays due to restrictions to in-person activities.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/01/2022 to 04/30/2022
Salary
$56,551 to - $72,970 per year
Pay scale & grade
GL 9
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Long Beach, CA
San Diego, CA
Key Largo, FL
Key West, FL
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses will be paid in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation limits and agency policy. Puerto Rico and St. Thomas locations ONLY.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
MIA 22-7
Control number
645396200

Duties

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Law enforcement positions are expected to report to their duty station on a daily basis. However, due to COVID-19, some positions in CBP are currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, and you are given an entrance on duty date you will be provided additional information on the reporting requirements of your position.

Applicants will be referred for selection consideration throughout the announcement open period. Further questions regarding the Marine Interdiction Agent position can be sent to the AMO Recruiters at CBP_AMO_Recruiting@cbp.dhs.gov

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations.

Serve as a Marine Interdiction Agent (MIA) performing Marine Law Enforcement operations for the detection, prevention, interdiction, and apprehension of terrorists, terrorist weapons, and other contraband and persons from illegally entering or attacking the United States. Your duties will include:

  • Monitoring behavior patterns and activities of suspect persons, vehicles, or vessels believed to be engaged in illegal activities.
  • Interpreting radar data to calculate appropriate intercept while tracking vessels and people to a successful interdiction.
  • Searching persons, vessels, baggage, and cargo for contraband or weapons incidental to detention or arrest.
  • Collecting, refining, and analyzing strategic and tactical intelligence.
This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GL-09, GS-11 & GS-12. You may be eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level automatically (without re-applying) once you complete 52-weeks at each grade level (with supervisor approval).The compensation acronyms used below are:
  • LEAP: Law Enforcement Availability Pay (25% Everyone)
  • RI: Recruitment Incentive (25% for Caribbean Locations)
  • GRI: Group Recruitment Incentive (10% for Long Beach)
  • Group Retention Incentive for MIAs currently stationed in Long Beach (10%)
Example annual compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations (Long Beach, CA) (Locality Salary Table + LEAP + GRI).
GL-09, 1st year annual pay - $89,408
GS-11, 2nd year annual pay - $104,685
GS-12, 3rd year annual pay - $125,474

Example annual compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations (San Diego, CA)(Locality Salary Table + LEAP)
GL-09, 1st year annual pay - $79,614
GS-11, 2nd year annual pay - $93,218
GS-12, 3rd year annual pay - $111,729

Example annual compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations (Fajardo, Mayaguez, and Ponce, PR and St. Thomas, VI)(RUS + LEAP + RI)
GL-09, 1st year annual pay - $84,827
GS-11, 2nd year annual pay - $99,322
GS-12, 3rd year annual pay - $119,045

Example annual compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations (Key Largo, Key West, and Marathon, and Miami, FL)(Locality Salary Table + LEAP)
GL-09, 1st year annual pay - $75,313
GS-11, 2nd year annual pay - $88,181
GS-12, 3rd year annual pay - $105,693


Group Recruitment Incentive (GRI):Upon Entrance on Duty (EOD) in Long Beach, CA, you may be eligible to receive a Recruitment Incentive, pending budgetary approval and per the terms outlined in agency policy. The Long Beach Recruitment Incentive is 10 percent of an employee's annual salary.

Recruitment Incentive (RI):Upon Entrance on Duty (EOD) in Caribbean Air and Marine locations, you may be eligible to receive a Recruitment Incentive, pending budgetary approval and per the terms outlined in agency policy. The Caribbean Incentive is 25 percent of an employee's annual salary.

Group Retention Incentive Long Beach: MIAs currently stationed in Long Beach may be eligible to receive a Retention Incentive, pending budgetary approval and per the terms outlined in agency policy. The Long Beach Retention Incentive is 10 percent of an employee's annual salary.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Qualifying Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) dated within the last 5 years, or a MMLD with an accepted application status
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement Safer Federal Workforce Task Force 2 pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Qualifications

This position has a selective factor, as a minimum qualification requirement all candidates must have the one of the following Merchant Mariner Credentials: OUPV, Mate of 200 gross tons or greater (Inland, Great Lakes, Near Coastal or Oceans), Chief Mate, Second Mate and Third Mate Unlimited Oceans or Master of 25 GRT or greater (Inland, Great Lakes, near Coastal or Oceans) will be considered at this time, or an MMLD with an accepted application status that has been submitted for one of the above MMC Credentials (must have Official MMC Credential in hand at the time of scheduling and at assessment appointment), see U.S. Coast Guard Issued Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) below for additional information.

You qualify for the GL-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

  • Enforcing laws, effecting arrests and conducting interviews and interrogations with witnesses and suspects
  • Performing surveillance, writing reports detailing activities and observations
  • Collecting and securing evidence and providing expert testimony in court
OR

Education: A master's or equivalent graduate degree, or two full years of graduate education in a qualifying progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a J.D. or LL.B., in a qualifying field (e.g., criminal justice, intelligence, homeland security, justice studies, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, forensic technology, and corrections and rehabilitation);

OR

Combining Experience and Education: A combination of successfully completed post-bachelors education(above) and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. If education is used for your qualification, official transcript will be required upon selection.

AND

U.S. Coast Guard Issued Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC): You must submit a valid, legible copy of your Merchant Mariner Credential at time of application. Your copies must include the expiration and capacity pages of your MMC. (Must be current within the last 5 years).
Qualifying Capacities are:
OUPV,
Mate of 200 gross tons or greater (Inland, Great Lakes, Near Coastal or Oceans),
Chief Mate, Second Mate, and Third Mate Unlimited Oceans, or
Master of 25 GRT or greater (Inland, Great Lakes, Near Coastal or Oceans)

-or-

An Accepted MMLD Application: You must submit proof an accepted MMLD application, for a MMC with a qualifying capacity, and a credential status that is in a positive standing. *It cannot be pending additional information for MMLD application process.*You must have your Official MMC Credential in hand at the time of scheduling and at assessment appointment.

Don't have an MMC? See what it takes to get one by viewing Application Acceptance Checklist at this link.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 04/30/2022.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For more information visit this link.

Polygraph Examination: The Marine Interdiction Agent position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination.

Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package.

Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Age Requirement: Provisions of Public Laws 93-350 and 100-238 allow the imposition of a maximum age for initial appointment to a primary Law Enforcement Officer position within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In accordance with DHS Management Directive 251-03, the "day before an individual's 37th birthday" is the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a primary law enforcement officer within DHS.The age requirement is also necessary to ensure that you are able to complete the 20 years of applicable service for retirement. NOTE: The Commissioner of CBP has approved a temporary increase in the maximum allowable age to 40 for original placement into a Marine Interdiction Agent position.

Unless the below criteria applies, you must meet this age requirement by 04/30/2022 AND enter-on-duty no later than the day prior to your 40th birthday in order to achieve the required 20 years of service for retirement.

Creditable law enforcement officer service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d), or creditable service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8401(36) (as a Customs and Border Protection Officer) on or after July 6, 2008, may be applied toward the maximum age requirement. This age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving in a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d).

Veterans' Preference Eligibility - To ensure compliance with statutes pertaining to the appointment of preference eligible veterans as determined by the Merit Systems Protection Board in its decision Isabella v. Dept of State, the maximum age for original appointment articulated above shall not apply to the hiring of individuals entitled to veterans' preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. § 3312. You must submit proof of Veteran's Preference (DD-214 Member 4 Copy) at the time of application.

Additional information

Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

Fitness: You must be able to meet job-related fitness standards.

Security Clearance: You may be required to obtain a Secret or higher level clearance for this position.

Firearm Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.

Driver's License: You must possess a valid driver's license.

*Scheduling for any required training may be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic*

Mandatory Completion of Basic Training:
You will be detailed to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC) in Glynco, GA, for 16 weeks of Air and Marine Basic Training (AMBT). The training is comprised of formalized courses of basic technical instruction necessary to perform the duties of the position, including a swim/water survival course. Learn more here.

Marine Interdiction Agents: After successfully completing AMBTP, and the Marine Law Enforcement Training Program (MLETP) at FLETC, MIAs will complete additional training at the National Marine Training Center (NMTC) in St. Augustine, FL and at their new duty station, and may also be enrolled into the Rosetta Stone Spanish Training Program.

Travel: Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis.

Mobility: You are required to sign a mobility agreement and be willing to relocate as necessary.

Uniforms: This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.

Shift Work: This position requires regular and recurring shift work. You must be willing and available to work rotating shifts. You may also be rotated between assignments and duty locations.

Overtime: Employees must be fully trained to be eligible for overtime.

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

*Your opportunity for final selection is increased based on your flexibility to Enter on Duty at priority duty location*

Southwest Region: Long Beach and San Diego, CA
Southeast Region: Key Largo, Key West, Marathon, and Miami, FL, and the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB):Fajardo, Mayaguez, and Ponce, PR and Saint Thomas, VI. You must be willing to work at any duty location that falls within that region.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use an assessment questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education, and training.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

  1. Best Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
  2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF's and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
  3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11436771

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10 point preference eligibles and veterans with 5 point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

Once you meet the minimum qualifications and pass the polygraph examination, you will be evaluated through the use of three (3) qualification assessments: written examination, vessel practical and structured interview. Assessments are pass/fail and applicants must pass all three assessments to receive consideration. Scores on passed assessments are valid for 12 months, except in cases when the applicant declines a position with AMO. See https://www.cbp.gov/careers/mia-app-proc for additional information. You will be responsible for all expenses associated with transport to and from a location to later be determined, as well as lodging and all other personal expenses incurred.

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