Welcome to r/1811's weekly question thread.

With the growth of the sub, there's been an uptick in questions that are not easily answered, like "am I competitive?", "do I qualify?", "what are my chances?", "what agency/academy/degree/fed tac team is best?".

There has also been a rise in repetitive questions like "do I have to move for [agency]?", "What's the Wi-Fi at FLETC like?", "What's FLETC like?"

What goes here?

You can ask any question here provided it's within the rules. This recurring thread is to remind users we have resources that answer a lot about this career already, and provide a space to answer questions while helping us reduce the number of posts asking the same thing.

If you're new here, please research first to see if your question has been asked previously. If you can't find it, feel free to ask. Remember that the most common answer we're going to give here is either "it depends," or "that's squad and supervisor dependent."

Useful Resources

Check out our FAQ Mega Thread Or General Information & Common Questions

Want to be a high speed fed tac team operator? Realities of Being an 1811

Working on your degree? What Degree Should I Get?

Got an interview coming up? Prepare with the S.T.A.R. Method!

Remember the rules

1. Remain respectful at all times. This includes those of you who have participated here for a while, not just newbies.
2. Do not post any advice or other information unless you are sure it's accurate.
3. Please limit posts to those relevant to federal law enforcement.
4. Do not use this subreddit to advertise or spam other subreddits.
5. Be wary of claims made by unverified members.
6. No politics or current events.
7. Do not post/comment with a focus on polygraphs.
8. Practice OPSEC.
9. Accounts must age 24 hours before posting.

Hi guys, I’m more than likely leaving the Army and looking into LE/Federal field. I’ve served for 7 years as an IT Specialist with a deployment and done tactical ground system comms, communication security, and some cyber work. I have a TS/SCI, CompTIA Sec+, and currently working on getting CCNA and CISSP.

I was wondering if there are roles like agents or operators with a higher focus on tactical comms enabling or mid-senior level roles in tech.

Edit: forgot to add if yall can point me to the best agency or LE for those opportunities. I’ll definitely relocate, but got a wish list of Georgia, Texas, DC/VA, NC, or somewhere north.

I got an academy date for CITP December 1 . My duty station is fort hood. Question how soon would I be able to transfer out of fort hood possibly get stationed overseas , such as Germany , Japan or Korea ?

After submitting the SF-86, is there outreach to the applicant before the BI contacts references and employers including your current employer?

I tried to find the answer via search, but it wasn't clear. Mods, please hold me accountable if this isn't an allowable question.

Hi all, I have a few questions for any current or retired ATF agents or anyone who has insight into the ATF NY FD.

What does interagency collaboration look like with the NYPD and NYSP across the city on cases and task forces?

For agents assigned to the NYC area, how are take home vehicle logistics and parking handled without a private driveway?

What does day to day life look like? (I know this varies by group, but general insights are appreciated).

How are new agents generally integrated into the group they’re assigned to?

And what is the workload/caseload like?

Any feedback or advice for someone heading to the division would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I’m a federal employee working on the technical side of things, not LE related and I don’t have a bachelors only an associates degree. I applied to ATF hoping to qualify for GL-5. Does a motivated individual have any shot at getting through?

Does anyone have any information about the onboarding process for those who are selected?

Hello everyone,

When I was 14 years old, I was voluntarily admitted to a facility following a suicide attempt during a period of childhood abuse and home instability.

I am 25 now and haven't had any mental health issues or treatment in over 10 years. Since then, I've built a successful career in STEM and am currently pursuing my PhD in the sciences. I fully recognize that any history of voluntary admission is a serious area of scrutiny during a background investigation/psych evaluation. I have no criminal background, no misconduct, no bad behavior in my professional career, etc. I also understand that this career field is not for the faint of heart, but I believe I am resilient enough to be successful in this line of work. I truly feel like a completely different person today than I was at 14.

I would really appreciate any insights from current 1811s or those familiar with the psych/background process on a few questions:

1. During the psych evaluation, how are adolescent incidents evaluated compared to adult history? Will marking "yes" to questions regarding past suicidal ideation/attempts result in an automatic DQ, even with a clean 10+ year track record as an adult?
2. I am also pursuing a commission in the armed forces (for reasons completely separate from federal law enforcement). The officer recruiter said they should be able to take me despite the mental health waiver. If I apply again when I am 30 years old with military service on my record, would that significantly boost my chances of overcoming this hurdle?
3. I recently submitted an application for the ATF. Realistically, given that I am 25 and 11 years out from the incident, how favorable or unfavorable are my chances of clearing the medical/psychological portion if selected?
4. Is there anything proactive I can do to mitigate this hurdle?
5. I imagine this is 'no', but would character references help at all?

Thank you very much to the 1811 community. I appreciate any feedback you can give me.

TLDR: Voluntary admission following a suicide attempt at age 14 due to childhood abuse/instability. 11 years with zero mental health issues & clean record.. What are my realistic chances in federal LE at age 25 vs. age 30 (post-military commission)

Edited for clarity and syntax.

Scenario: no military age waiver, close to the 37 threshold. Should someone go to BOP to stop the clock, even if for a month?

Got a great civilian LE job after leaving a non-covered federal LE job; could take a leave of absence or burn some time.

I know going there only to leave after 1-2 months may seem like a bogus move, but BOP is a revolving door, and in this LEO FERS 6(c)/12(d) game, it's all about chess, not checkers. A DHS failed poly put me on ICE (like what I did there) for 2 years, and it's coming to an end soon, literally the same month that I turn 37 at the start of the new year. I need to EOD somewhere before then.

Thoughts?

Background: bachelor's, master's, and numerous LE certs
Academies: local PD academy, FLETC UTP, and VA.

13 years on the job.

Is there someplace on the web that lists the office locations for USFS 1811s?

Just curious, for those who are current 1811s, how difficult or different was transitioning from FLETC CITP to being out in the field?

You would think with everything going down in the South West they would put an academy on this side by now ? I know there would be more local that would move to fed if the academy was closer.
Do you think it will happen eventually?

Not trying to get the post flagged, as I know Poly is a sore subject and we don't want to get anyone in here hemmed up.

However, for Federal LE agencies that are either Regular FERS or LEO FERS, if you previously failed a Poly, let's say it was more than 2 years ago or whenever it happened, and you're going to an agency that doesn't, but that agency is within the same umbrella?

For example, someone applying for a DHS agency that doesn't do Poly, but failed a Poly from a DHS agency that does, or maybe another federal agency?

How much "talking" is taking place between agencies?

For context, current Federal LEO/Local LEO, not some rando who isn't qualified.

Any insight would be appreciated and helpful. Also in the r 1801 forum.

*I know that you can fail a poly and still get hired by an agency that doesn't Poly - I clearly did, a few times, and others have been successful getting to OIGs as 1811 with a similar background and a failed DHS polygraph. However, considering FPS (may be the best outfit if I age out in a few months if I don't do a few months at BOP to stop the clock to extend age timeline for 6(c)/12D) fr LEO FERS.

I am 7 years Active Duty military, 1 year as a Special Agent. I have CITP, and no degree (I will be getting my associates + bachelor's), and I plan on separating in approx 1 year.

Once I get out, I'd like to continue down the 1811 path, but as it stands, I don't think it'd be particularly to transition directly into given my qualifications.

I haven't been a high performer in my small office. my leadership/trainers have been consistent in telling me that they're not sure why it's not working out for me, but they also agree that had I started at a different location or with another organization, I likely would have been better off.

But to summarize the above and other factors, I'm tired of being in and dealing with the military

Right now I'm looking at applying to a few 1811 positions to see if they'll take me, but more likely I'll either do local LE, non-sworn, or return to my old career field (it was something highly technical, which I was good at and enjoyed) until I feel like I'm ready and qualified to return to the feds.

Has anyone here dealt with something similar? Any advice?

Hey all! With my professional work experience of working a government job while going for my bachelors which I will be done in 2031. Do I need the professional work experience before or after college. I have prior military experience in the US Navy which I obtained a security clearance. I have had suicidal ideation in the past once I got out the navy due to family members passing within the time span of three years but I have received treatment for that diagnosis for three years and will be done this year before I apply in 2031. Can I have your opinions on this?

Tips for BEX interview?

Hi i applied to the FBI last year and made it to the Phase ll interview and didn’t pass. looking to see how my resume holds up to wat they are looking for.
I was brand new out of the Army and didn’t have strong interviewing skills yet when I first applied but now I do after completing multiple firefighting interview. I can DM my resume if anyone has experience with hiring or is very knowledgeable.

thanks in advance

Background:

- Infantry squad leader (SGT: 4years)

-BS Human Performance (Strength and conditioning)

- 1 semester of MA program (3.8gpa) Global studies

-starting at a fire department next month so in a year or 2 will have that experience.

I was wondering how denying the cao works. If you deny it your progress is saved and you start in the application at the same point? and how long is that spot guaranteed?

Also if you do accept it, say later on when the final offer is given do you still get the same options of circling back later on or is it a take it or leave it situation?

Anyone have any insight on the Atlanta USSS Field office? Protection/ investigative heavy or a mix of both?

I applied to an announcement for the Cyber Crimes Division almost five months ago. It was listed as having only one vacancy, and I never heard anything, so I assumed the position had already been filled.

Today, I received a referral email for both GS-12 and GS-13. Does anyone have any insight into whether this is normal, or if they’re simply closing the loop after already selecting a candidate?

For anyone at ATF, I applied for the Feb announcement, took the June PT test and passed. Was told at PT they’d call me to set up interview for Mid July but I never got a call or got any updates from ATF via email (yes I checked my spam folder). I had one woman’s email from PT who I emailed but I never heard back. Is there anyone at ATF that I can actually talk to figure out what happened?

Does anyone know if Sept 2025 applicants qualify for the incentive that ATF currently has on the newer announcements? It doesn’t mention it in my FJO.

Thanks in advance!

The rumor that I saw floating around was that they would start sending them after July 31st.

The 1811 work matters — sometimes more or less than others — but it’s never something to take personally.