Becoming a Homeland Security Agent

"Homeland Security" is shorthand for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or for the tasks performed by this department of the federal government. The primary functions of this recently-formed cabinet department are officially defined in its charter document, "National Strategy for Homeland Security," as "a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur."

Following the terrorist attack on U.S. soil on September 11, 2001, the DHS was created as a new cabinet department that combines many of the responsibilities of the executive branch which were previously handled by several departments, in order to achieve greater cooperation and efficiency among them. Homeland Security became an "umbrella agency," consolidating some or all of the functions of previous federal agencies including the National Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Coast Guard, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the Customs Service, the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and some elements and functions of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which remain separate entities.

Education, Training & Degrees for Homeland Security Agents

The numerous careers and occupations available within the Department of Homeland Security can encompass a wide range of degrees. Virtually any degree in a discipline related to criminal justice can be applied to one or more positions within Homeland Security. A four-year degree is required for many of these positions, and possessing a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree is always an advantage to employment and promotion.

For all Department of Homeland Security positions, certain key requirements must be met, including minimum age and U.S. citizenship. Depending on the postion, other requirements will also apply, for instance, passing a detailed criminal background check.

Job Responsibilities and Desired Skills for DHS

The Department of Homeland Security is an umbrella agency which encompasses numerous other agencies, each of which is devoted to investigation and enforcement of a specific field, such as border security, immigration, or transportation.

The range of the Department of Homeland Security's responsibilities is extremely wide. It includes emergency preparedness and response; protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks and natural disasters; domestic intelligence activities (mostly conducted by the FBI); transportation and border security for land, sea and air; administering the country's immigration policies; and numerous additional functions which support these central missions.

Some of the most popular careers in the DHS are in immigration and border security. These positions fall under several the dominion of three immigration-related bureaus: the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The primary mission of these bureaus is the protection of America's borders and interior enforcement of immigration laws.

Other career choices available through Department of Homeland Security bureaus include:

Secret Service Special Agent: Provides protection for the President, Vice President, and their immediate families, as well as for Presidential candidates, former Presidents and foreign dignitaries visiting the U.S. Secret Service agents also investigate counterfeiting, forgery of federal documents, and credit cards fraud. Applicants for the Secret Service must possess a bachelor's degree, or have a minimum of three years' work experience in a related field, or a combination of education and experience.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent: Enforces laws and regulations concerning illegal drugs, domestically and internationally. Agents conduct criminal investigations, perform surveillance, and occasionally go undercover to infiltrate criminal organizations trafficking in drugs. Applicants for positions in the DEA must have a college degree or specialized skills or work experience, for instance, fluency in a foreign language, technical skills, or law enforcement experience.

U.S. Marshal: Protects federal courts and ensures the effective operation of the federal judicial system. They also pursue and arrest federal fugitives, transport federal prisoners and protect federal witnesses. U.S. Marshals have the most wide-ranging jurisdiction of any federal law enforcement agency and are involved to some degree in virtually all federal law enforcement efforts.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Agent: Investigates violations of federal laws and regulations regarding firearms, explosives, alcohol, and tobacco. Applicants for ATF agent positions must possess a bachelor's degree, a minimum of three years' related work experience, or a combination of education and experience.

U.S. Coast Guard: A civilian bureau that works in conjunction with the U.S. military to save lives, enforce laws, safely operate ports and waterways, and protect the environment. Certain minimum requirements for consideration apply, including age and health requirements, among others.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) : TSA employees work to secure the U.S. transportation infrastructure from terrorist acts by gathering and analyzing intelligence, enforcing existing laws and regulations, and inspecting infrastructure and individuals. The TSA employs 43,000 security officers, inspectors, directors, air marshals and managers who perform airport screening, inspect rail cars, and patrol subways. Among the positions offered by the TSA include Federal Air Marshal, an armed agent who provides air security by guarding against terrorist attacks that target U.S. airports, airlines, and airline passengers and crews. Federal Air Marshals board U.S. air carriers disguised as civilian passengers and fly undercover to locations both nationwide and worldwide.

Department of Homeland Security Salary Range and Employment Outlook

As a department of the U.S. Government, the DHS operates on the same General Salary (GS) pay grade scale as most federal positions. Salary grades vary from position to position and from bureau to bureau, and also with seniority and experience.

In 2004, the Department of Homeland Security employed approximately 149,000 civilian workers. In 2005, the average salary for all full-time federal employees on the GS pay grade scale was $61,735.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, job opportunities in the Department of Homeland Security will continue to grow during the next decade, particularly for trained workers in key areas such as border and transportation security and emergency preparedness.