Author: Acting Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan
I can’t think of a more meaningful and fulfilling career than keeping our nation safe and secure for our friends, families, and future generations. Our mission touches everyone who lives in America and you can be a part of that mission.
That’s why I want you to seriously consider applying to work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Why should you consider a career with CBP? Not only are we the largest law enforcement agency in the Nation, we also have a far-reaching and complex mission. Our “typical” day is anything but typical. We screen travelers and cargo and intercept harmful narcotics, illicit currency, dangerous weapons, and counterfeit products. We secure our borders and protect our country from terrorism, human smuggling, illegal migration, and even agricultural pests. We enforce hundreds of laws and regulations for dozens of other agencies, and we collect more than $30 billion in entry duties and taxes – collections that provide the second-largest revenue source for the U.S. Government.
In January, the President signed an Executive Order calling on the Department of Homeland Security and CBP to hire 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents. The Secretary of Homeland Security issued further guidance to hire an additional 500 Air and Marine agents. That means we must also hire the necessary mission support personnel, backfill attrition losses, and close existing staffing gaps across all three frontline uniformed components – Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, and Air and Marine Operations – as well as the Office of Trade.
If you are a veteran, your skills are especially valuable. Monster and Military.com rated CBP the second best place to work for veterans and military veterans comprise close to 30 percent of our frontline workforce. CBP offers an unparalleled opportunity for veterans to continue serving and protecting the United States in a work environment that uses and further refines their hard-earned knowledge, skills, and abilities gained in the military.
We’re also taking a close look at our overall hiring process to ensure it complements our efforts to hire the best of the best. For example, we’ve taken a close look at how we can streamline our polygraph procedures to allow us to process more applicants in less time. While CBP will never lower its high standards, we have expedited hiring procedures that consolidate several months of processing into just a few days.
We also recently launched a mobile app, “CBP Jobs” that makes it easy for you to track the status of your application. The app sends alerts and appointment reminders and is a convenient way to stay in touch with CBP. It is now available for download on iPhone and Android services.
I urge those of you who are looking for an exciting, meaningful, and rewarding career – one that touches the lives of every American – to consider U.S. Customs and Border Protection.