The United States Secret Service maintains a strong presence throughout the United States, and even throughout the world, which means that, even in Idaho, in the country’s heartland, Secret Service agents are hard at work, ensuring that threats to our country’s financial systems are thwarted and the responsible parties are brought to justice.
The investigate mission of the United States Secret Service includes the prevention of attacks on our country’s financial systems and infrastructure and the obstruction of circulating counterfeit currency. The protective mission of this federal agency involves ensuring that our President, Vice President, former presidents, the families of presidents and vice presidents, and visiting world leaders and foreign dignitaries are safeguarded from harm.
Secret Service agents in Idaho work out of the Boise field office (208-334-1403).
Secret Service Agent Job Requirements
General Requirements – The US Secret Service has clearly defined parameters for individuals who want to become special agents. Specifically, they state that, because all Secret Service positions require a top-secret security clearance and because all applicants must undergo an in-depth security clearance, which includes urinalysis screening, a background investigation, and a polygraph examination, only those individuals who are confident they can pass such as comprehensive check should apply for a position with this federal law enforcement agency.
Beyond the Secret Service’s minimum requirements for employment, which include being a United States citizen and being between the ages of 21 and 36 at the time of appointment, individuals applying for special agent jobs should be prepared to meet the requirements of the GL-7 level, at a minimum.
Education Requirements – To meet the GL-7 requirements, individuals with no prior experience must possess, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Although the Secret Service does not specify specific bachelor degree programs, they do indicate that applicants must be able to show superior academic achievement, which means at least a 3.0 in all classes and at least a 3.5 in classes related to the major.
Just a few of the bachelor degree programs commonly sought out by individuals working toward Secret Service agent jobs include:
- Emergency management
- Homeland security
- Police science
- Criminal justice administration
- Forensic psychology
- Public safety administration
- Legal studies
- Criminology
A degree in criminology, for example, is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary course of study in the development of law and the operation of justice systems within society. Common courses in this type of program often include:
- Research methods in criminology
- Criminology theory
- Law and society
- Law and legal process
- Media and crime
- Contemporary issues in criminal justice
- Introduction to law enforcement
- Legal environment of business
Candidates may also qualify for Idaho Secret Service jobs by completing at least one full year of graduate-level courses beyond a bachelor’s degree or possessing at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-5 level. Experience requirements include completing investigations, undercover operations, surveillance operations, or organizing evidnece for prosecutors.
Training Requirements – Training is a major component of Secret Service agent jobs, both initially and throughout the course of the career. Upon being hired as an agent, individuals must attend a two-part training program, which includes basic training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLECT) in Glynco, Georgia, followed by training at the Secret Service training center just outside Washington D.C.
After the successful completion of Secret Serving training, new agents may be appointed to any one of the Secret Service field offices across the country. Secret Service special agents are expected to work long hours, travel extensively, and relocate to any location across the globe.
Secret Service Operations in Idaho
Recent headlines out of Idaho show the importance of the Secret Service in Idaho:
- December 2013: A Denver man was caught in Idaho with $7,500 in $100 counterfeit bills. The investigation was conducted by the Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.
- August 2013: A Boise man was sentenced for passing counterfeit $50 bills throughout Idaho. The case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service.