Georgia is a particularly important state for the US Marshal Service. There are three main district offices in Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah with 13 additional satellite offices providing coverage throughout the state. Georgia is also home to the US Marshal Service Basic Training Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, the place where all federal marshals in the country receive their basic training.
Georgia provides US Marshals with plenty of action, with recent cases involving the arrest of dangerous fugitives who were wanted on charges related to drugs, gang membership, and murder.
Taking the Steps to Become a US Marshal
Qualifying – US Marshals jobs start at the GL-07 level, a federal classification which to the informed candidate delineates a certain level of education that can be met in two basic ways:
- Having a bachelor degree in any subject with an academic distinction
OR
- Having one year of master-level study in fields related to:
- Sociology
- Law Enforcement
- Criminal Justice
- Crime Scene Investigation
If applicants have at least a year of specialized law enforcement experience this may be considered in lieu of, or combined with, education.
Applying – US Marshal career opportunities in Georgia and throughout the country are all posted on the federal USA Jobs website. During the application process candidates will need to be able to:
- Demonstrate possession of a valid driver’s license and US citizenship
- Non-federal officers must be between the ages of 21-36
- Complete an extensive background investigation
- Be in peak physical condition
- Pass a medical exam which includes tests for normal hearing and vision (corrected vision is acceptable within limits)
- Perform well during an interview
US Marshal Service Basic Training Academy
Located midway between Jacksonville and Savannah, Glynco is the home of the US Marshal Service Basic Training Academy. This is 17.5 weeks of intensive classroom and field training combined with rigorous physical conditioning. Training will cover all the necessary bases so that new recruits will be capable of performing the key aspects of the US Marshal job description in the areas of:
- Prisoner transportation
- Fugitive and tactical operations
- Witness protection
- Judicial security
- Asset forfeiture
US Marshal training requirements are stringent, with physical fitness exams conducted before, throughout, and at the end of the training academy. By the final test all trainees must meet the basic fitness standards, which differ for men and women.
The training facility at Glynco has its own zip code, encompassing 1,600 acres capable of accommodating thousands of federal employees and visitors from various agencies across the country and around world. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center includes a number of notable amenities such as:
- A model neighborhood complete with 34 buildings where units train for real-life urban combat situations
- 18 firearms ranges
- Several driver training ranges for tactical, defensive, and evasive driving
- Gymnasium
- Simulated fully functional port of entry
- Explosives range