Marine Interdiction Agent

Summary

This position is covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP). LEAP is an additional compensation of 25% of the base salary and locality pay. See additional pay information in the Duties section. Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations.

Duties

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is hiring for law enforcement jobs that have an exciting opportunity!
• Once onboarded, you'll first be assigned for up to one year to support the D.C.
• Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
• The law enforcement component of the D.C.
• Task Force is a partnership of over 20 federal and local agencies working together to make D.C. the safest city in America.
• Once the assignment ends, you'll transition back to support the CBP.
• Visit the D.C.
• Task Force page for more information.
• Applicants will be referred for selection consideration throughout the announcement open period.
• Further questions regarding the Marine Interdiction Agent position can be sent to the AMO Recruiters at CBP_AMO_Recruiting@cbp.dhs.gov
• Serve as a Marine Interdiction Agent (MIA) performing Marine Law Enforcement operations for the detection, prevention, interdiction, and apprehension of terrorists, terrorist weapons, and other contraband and persons from illegally entering or attacking the United States.
• Your duties will include:
• Monitoring behavior patterns and activities of suspect persons, vehicles, or vessels believed to be engaged in illegal activities.
• Interpreting radar data to calculate appropriate intercept while tracking vessels and people to a successful interdiction.
• Searching persons, vessels, baggage, and cargo for contraband or weapons incidental to detention or arrest.
• Collecting, refining, and analyzing strategic and tactical intelligence.
• This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of
• GS-11, GS-12 & GS-13. You may be eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level automatically (without re-applying) once you complete 52-weeks at each grade level, received supervisory approval, and possess the required licensing and certifications for that grade level. It is expected that all career
• Journeymen obtain the full performance level of
• GS-13. Licensing and certifications requirements for promotion to the next higher grade level are possession of a
• USCG MMC with one of the following capacities: GS-11 (OUPV, Mate, Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third
• Mate, Master). GS-12 (Master or Offshore Vessel
• Commander); successful completion of the Tactical Boarding
• Officer (TBO) course at the National Marine Training
• Center (NMTC). GS-13 Master or
• Higher (Mate, Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third
• Mate) license of any tonnage or higher, 1 year of qualifying law enforcement experience AND the CBP Interceptor Vessel
• Commander (VC) certification with designation at the CBP National Marine Training
• Center (NMTC). The compensation acronyms used below are: LEAP: Law Enforcement Availability
• Pay (25% Everyone) RI: Retention
• Incentive (25% for Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB) Locations, Key
• Largo, FL, Key
• West, FL, Marathon, FL and Long
• Beach, CA) *Retention
• Incentive is contingent on eligibility. Eligibility will be determined by Human Resources Recruitment
• Incentive: New hires that are eligible may receive a one-time Recruitment
• Incentive payout of $10,000 after completing Federal Law Enforcement Training
• Academy (FLETC) (1 year service agreement will need to be completed) (Recruitment
• Incentive is only available to new
• Federal employees. Eligibility will be determined by Human Resources.)
• Example annual compensation for the first three years at our
• CAMB and subordinates new-hire locations (Special Salary
• Table (L046)+ LEAP + 25% Retention
• Incentive after one year of service). GS-11 1st year annual pay
• $95,931 GS-12 2nd or 3rd year annual pay
• $137,977 GS-13 3rd year of annual pay
• $164,075 Example annual compensation for the first three years at our Key West, Key Largo and Marathon, FL new-hire locations (Special Salary Table (L034) + LEAP) GS-11 1st year annual pay
• $102,168 GS-12 2nd or 3rd year annual pay
• $146,946 GS-13 3rd year of annual pay
• $174,739 Example annual compensation for the first three years at our Long Beach, CA new-hire locations (Special Salary Table (L033) + LEAP + 25% Retention Incentive after one year of service) GS-11 1st year annual pay
• $111,840 GS-12 2nd or 3rd year annual pay
• $160,859 GS-13 3rd year of annual pay

Requirements

• Qualifying Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC), or a Merchant Mariner Licensing Division (MMLD) issued license You must be a U.S.
• Citizen to apply for this position Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with
• Selective Service Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
• You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace
• Plan for drug testing procedures As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards.
• Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes.
• Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties.
• Please review further details via the following link.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

Education

Duty Locations: A duty location will be offered after successful completion of the pre-employment process. The duty location listed in the final offer letter may include any geographic location within the Northern Border Region, Southwest Region, Southeast Region or Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. Current possible duty locations include: Southeast Region: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Marathon, FL and the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB): Fajardo, Mayaguez, Ponce, and San Juan, PR, and Saint Thomas, VI. Northern Border Region: Bellingham WA *Your opportunity for final selection is increased based on your flexibility to Enter on Duty at priority duty location* Limited Duty Locations – Applying to this JOA does not guarantee any of the locations listed below will still be available once you’ve completed the pre-employment process. Locations are offer based on the current needs of the service at that time. Southeast Region: Houma, LA. Southwest Region: San Diego, CA. Northern Region: Port Huron, MI. Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this time; however, official copies will be required prior to entrance on duty) or a list of coursework with hours completed provided from the institution. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials. For a listing of some accrediting agencies see NACES | Credentials Evaluations Provided by NACES Members. See https://www.accreditation.info/education-quality/usa-recognition.html for more information. Rigorous Law Enforcement Officer Special Retirement Coverage: This is a rigorous position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers under CSRS and FERS (5 CFR 842.803 and 5 CFR 831.903, Conditions for Coverage; 5 USC 8425(b) and 5 USC 8335(b), Mandatory Separation; and 5 USC 8412(d) and 5 USC 8336(c), Immediate Retirement). For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. For further information on when an employee continues or discontinues coverage under the special retirement system for law enforcement officers, please see the CSRS and FERS handbook, Chapter 46 (CSRS pages 12-14, and FERS pages 41-43). If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180. Age Requirement: Provisions of Public Laws 93-350 and 100-238 allow the imposition of a maximum age for initial appointment to a primary Law Enforcement Officer position within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In accordance with DHS Management Directive 251-03, the “day before an individual’s 37th birthday” is the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a primary law enforcement officer within DHS. The age requirement is also necessary to ensure that you are able to complete the 20 years of applicable service for retirement. NOTE: The Commissioner of CBP has approved a temporary increase in the maximum allowable age to 40 for original placement into a Marine Interdiction Agent position. Unless the below criteria applies, you must meet this age requirement by 07/31/2026 AND enter-on-duty no later than the day prior to your 40th birthday in order to achieve the required 20 years of service for retirement. Creditable law enforcement officer service – Covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d), or creditable service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8401(36) (as a Customs and Border Protection Officer) on or after July 6, 2008, may be applied toward the maximum age requirement. This age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving in a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). Veterans’ Preference Eligibility – To ensure compliance with statutes pertaining to the appointment of preference eligible veterans as determined by the Merit Systems Protection Board in its decision Isabella v. Dept of State, the maximum age for original appointment articulated above shall not apply to the hiring of individuals entitled to veterans’ preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. 3312. You must submit proof of Veteran’s Preference (DD-214 Member 4 Copy) at the time of application. The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. To preview the questionnaire please click the link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12993379. Travel: Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis.

Required Documents

• Your resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training, if any, would be required when placed.
• A resume in English is required.
• It must contain your full legal name, phone number, complete work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable).
• For additional required items, see the link.
• It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality.
• Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, including Office 365 passwords.
• Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Credentials: You must submit a legible and current copy of your
• Credentials: OUPV, Mate of 200 gross tons or greater (Inland, Great
• Master of 25 GRT or greater (Inland, Great
• Oceans), or an MMLD with an issued status and unexpired credential.
• Your responses to the job questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12993379 Age Requirement Documents: If over the age of 40 you must submit proof of eligibility for this position.
• If requesting an age waiver based on Federal law enforcement service; you must submit copies of your SF-50s reflecting the start and end dates of creditable Federal (not military) service.
• Block 30 of your SF-50 should show Retirement Code M, MF, MR, O, OF or OR.
• Your responses to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment Age Waiver Documents: Applicants entitled to veteran's preference must submit proof of claim.
• See below for required documentation.
• Active Duty Applicants: Statement of Service (Certification letter): If currently on active duty, you must submit certification from the Armed Services.
• This certification should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; (2) campaign badges and expeditionary medals earned; and (3) the character of service.
• If you apply with a written statement at this stage, your preference will be verified by a Member -4 of your DD214 upon separation from the military.
• Are you a veteran?
• To apply veterans' preference you must submit proof of eligibility as appropriate for your preference type: Five Point Preference: DD214 listing the character of service and either qualifying medal(s) or service period.
• Ten Point Preference: DD214 showing character of service and supporting documentation listed on the Standard Form 15 (application for 10 Point Veterans' Preference).
• Submitting an SF-15 with your application is encouraged.
• Veterans with a service-connected disability must also submit a VA Disability Award letter dated 1991 or later, OR supporting documentation as listed in the SF-15.
• If you are currently serving on active duty, you must submit a written statement from the armed forces certifying your dates of service, rank, expected character of service, and anticipated date of separation.
• If you apply with a written statement at this stage, your preference will be verified by a DD 214 upon separation from the military.
• View more veterans' information.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP), Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), or the Reemployment Priority List (RPL)?
• You must submit a separation notice; your most recent SF-50 (noting your current position, grade level and duty location); a copy of your recent performance rating; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has
• Been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a
• Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456; or RPL registration documentation.
• Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible.
• View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
• To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position, as described above.
• In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this job announcement.