Last year ATF Agents removed nearly 1,000 guns from the streets of Arkansas, 104 of which were recovered in association with dangerous drug busts, 23 of which were used to commit robberies, and 39 of which were used as murder weapons.
The dedicated men and women entrusted with ATF jobs in Arkansas are the ones who take armed and dangerous criminals into custody while gathering strong evidence to secure convictions. Based out of the ATF’s field office in Little Rock, agents come from an educated and highly trained background that prepares them for the rigors of a career in federal law enforcement.
How to Join the ATF as a Special Agent
Preparing for a career – Qualifying as an ATF agent above the entry-level rank and pay can be accomplished by having a good academic record from a bachelor’s degree program in:
- Criminal Justice
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Forensic Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Political Science
The minimum requirements for ATF Special Agent jobs mandate:
- Being a US citizen with a valid driver’s license
- Being between the ages of 21-36, with exceptions for federal police and veterans
- The ability to obtain top secret clearance
- A bachelor degree in any subject, or a substitution with either:
- Three years of increasingly responsible experience in the field of criminal investigations and law enforcement
- A combination of education and experience
Applying for a Job – Registering with the ATF to be notified of job openings is a good first step in the application process. Applications for ATF careers are submitted through the USA Jobs federal website, which also requires candidates to complete:
- ATF Special Agent Application Questionnaire
- ATF Special Agent Applicant Assessment Test
- ATF Special Agent Exam
- ATF Pre-Employment Physical Task Test
ATF Special Agent Training – Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any of the higher qualifying subjects will find they have a head start when it comes to training for ATF jobs. Criminal investigations and the justice system are some of the focal points for the two phases of training new agents will complete: a Criminal Investigators Training Program and Special Agent Basic Training.
These programs span the course of 27 weeks and upon completion agents will be ready to report for duty, having been instructed on:
- Undercover and sting operations
- Conducting surveillance operations
- Physical conditioning for ATF careers
- Federal justice system and courtroom procedures
- Report writing
- Close quarter countermeasures
ATF Tackles Arson and Professional Criminals in Arkansas
ATF Agents based in Little Rock encounter a wide range of situations in their line of work. They are often called to step in when local law enforcement needs additional resources to handle more sophisticated criminal operations. This recently happened in a case involving four individuals who managed to successfully evade law enforcement over the course of ten robberies in Little Rock, Cabot, and Sherwood which targeted fast food chains and banks. ATF Agents were able to help crack the case and gather enough evidence to secure convictions against the robbery crew.
The ATF also has an elite National Response Team comprised of experienced agents from different backgrounds, who were recently called into action to investigate a case of suspected church arson in Little Rock. Experts on the ATF squad include:
- Forensic chemists
- Accelerant detection canine units
- Intelligence units
- Explosives enforcement officers
- Fire protection engineers