Given the highly sensitive and crucial missions is which Secret Service agents often engage, including the protection of the President and Vice President and the investigation of serious crimes, including cyber-attacks and the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, Secret Service training is comprehensive, extensive and, often times, both physically and mentally demanding.
New Secret Service agents must complete a mandatory course of training that includes an initial 11 weeks at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, followed an additional 17 weeks of specialized training at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Washington D.C., the Secret Service’s training center.
Secret Service Training: Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) is an interagency law enforcement training center for nearly 90 federal agencies, as well as a multitude of regional, state, tribal, and international law enforcement agencies. The FLETC has a number of training centers, including its headquarters in Glynco, Georgia, as well as in Maryland, South Carolina, and New Mexico.
Both Secret Service agents and Uniformed Division officers receive their initial training through the FLETC. The FLETC-Glynco is a 1,600-acre facility that has 18 firearms ranges; an indoor firing range with 146 firing points; 8 semi-enclosed ranges with an additional 200 firing points; driver training ranges; a 34-building mock neighborhood practical exercise area; a physical techniques facility; an explosives range; a mock port of entry; and a number of classrooms, dormitories, and administrative and logistical support buildings.
The classroom buildings of the FLETC-Glynco include a library, mock court rooms, laboratories for fingerprinting and identifying narcotics, and computer forensic laboratories. Its physical fitness complex includes classrooms, weight rooms, and a gymnasium.
Criminal Investigator Training Program
One of the components of training for Secret Service agents is the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), which is designed to teach new hires the basic training associated with conducting criminal investigations. Students receive their CITP training through lectures, practical exercises, tests, and laboratory assignments. Students also participate in task force teams that allow them to work through a mock case investigation. As such, they may interview witnesses, conduct undercover or surveillance operations, write a criminal complaint, and obtain an indictment, among others. Training topics within the CITP include:
- Criminal case management
- Legal training
- Physical evidence
- Firearms
- Physical techniques and conditioning
- Interviewing
- Surveillance
Financial Fraud Investigations
The Financial Fraud Institute within the Investigative Operations Division involves basic and advanced training in financial investigations, including:
- Money laundering
- Asset forfeiture
- Fraud investigations
- Cybercrime and internet investigations
- Law enforcement intelligence
- Investigative software applications
There are a number of training programs within the Financial Fraud Institute, including:
- Economic Crimes Investigation and Analysis
- Grant Fraud Investigation Training Program
- International Banking and Money Laundering Training Program
- Internet Investigations Training Program
- Intelligence Analyst Training Program
- Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Training Program
- Product Substitution Investigations Training Program
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
The Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP) is one of the programs designed for the Uniformed Division officers of the Secret Service. The UPTP provides trainees with knowledge in law enforcement and the abilities required to perform on the job. Topics within the UPTP include:
- Officer Safety and Survival
- Communications an Interviewing
- Constitutional and Federal Criminal Law
- Firearms
- Terrorism
- Drugs of Abuse
- VIP Protection
Secret Service Training: James J. Rowley Training Center (JJRT)
The James J. Rowley Training Center (JJRT) is a 500-acre facility located just outside Washington D.C. The core curriculum of the JJRT is designed for special agents, special officers, physical security specialists, and Uniformed Division officers. Every year, hundreds of trainees engage in extensive training in a number of areas, including:
- Firearms marksmanship
- Physical/site/event protection
- Emergency medical techniques
- Use of force/control tactics
- Financial crimes detection
The JJRC also provides a comprehensive curriculum of specialized and technology-based training for administrative and technical personnel and law enforcement agents. It also offers a number of distance learning opportunities, through computer-driven methodologies, for its agents posted at the Secret Service’s domestic and international offices.
The Importance of Physical Conditioning
All Secret Service agents and Uniformed Division officers are expected to arrive at JJRTC in excellent, physical condition, and minimum performance fitness levels must be met. Fitness evaluations are designed to measure the strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity through the completion of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5-mile run.
Individuals should study the Secret Service’s physical fitness evaluation flyer and modify their training to meet the agency’s requirements.