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.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Flying as a Pilot-in-Command or sole manipulator in an airplane and helicopter in all environments of flight, including night, poor weather, unfavorable terrain, low altitudes, or speed Evaluating information rapidly and make judicious decisions promptly during in-flight operations Developing strategies and coordinate aircraft and ground assets Using information systems and databases to conduct information surveys, queries, update files and disseminate information Utilizing air intercept/sea search radars, night-vision goggles, or other aircraft sensor systems in furtherance of law enforcement operations Coordinating and conducting airborne law enforcement operations Experience may include: Operation of an aircraft as Captain Pilot in Command Aircraft Commander First Officer Certified Flight Instructor Second in Command Co-pilot Airborne Mission Commander Military Weapons Systems Officer/Flight Officer/Crew Chief Air to Air, Air to Ground, or Air to Surface aviation law enforcement mission coordinator Hiring Minimums: Pilot Enter on Duty minimums are 1500 flight hours; (up to 500 hours can be waived, reducing the pilot enter on duty minimums to 1000 hours; see Required Documents regarding the Flight Hour Waiver). 250 Pilot-in-Command hours 75 Instrument hours 75 Night hours (Flight Hour Waiver available for in service placements, see Required Documents) 100 Flight hours in the last 12 months (This qualification requirement is currently being waived by OPM through August 5, 2025) *No Military Flight Hour Conversion Allowed. A current FAA Commercial or ATP Pilot Certification with the following ratings: Dual Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument rating AND Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; or Airplane Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument; or Helicopter Rated: Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; or Equivalent military rating of the above at the time of application (eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot) FAA Class 2 medical required at time of 3-part assessment dated within last 12 calendar months. FAA Class 1, FAA Class 2 or Military medical flight clearance dated within the last 12 months qualifies to start the pre-employment process for the AIA position. Apply at 750 hours total time Applicants applying at 750 flight hours are required to obtain at least 1,000 flight hours (depending on the number of hours approved for a waiver) at own expense before being able to attend the 3-part assessment. Applicant must still meet 250 Pilot-in-Command, 75 instrument, 75 night hours and 100 flight hours in the last 12 months (This qualification requirement is currently being waived by OPM through August 5, 2025). UAS Flight Hours: Applicants may include UAS Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) flight hours or predator based variant flight hours. These hours may be credited towards satisfying the "Total flight time" 1,500 flight hour requirement only. UAS hours do not count towards the 250 flight hours as a Pilot in Command, 75 flight hours Instrument and 75 flight hours Night. Flight hour logbooks will be required at time of your Flight Assessment for verification. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 02/28/2025 The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process. Polygraph Examination: The Air Interdiction Agent position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package. Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant, or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Category rating, Veterans' Preference and traditional rating and ranking do not apply to this Public Notice. Due to authorization constraints under DHA, applicants may be brought onboard under another non-competitive appointing authority if they are eligible for one. Applicants will be referred for selection consideration throughout the announcement open period. Further questions regarding the Air Interdiction Agent position can be sent to the AMO Recruiters at CBP_AMO_Recruiting@cbp.dhs.gov Serve as an Air Interdiction Agent (AIA) performing Aviation 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: Conducting air patrol, surveillance and pursuit activities related to the interdiction of smuggled contraband via land vehicles, aircraft, or vessels. Monitoring behavior patterns and activities of suspect persons, vehicles, or vessels believed to be engaged in illegal activities. Collecting, refining, and analyzing strategic and tactical intelligence. Searching persons, vessels, baggage, and cargo for contraband or weapons incidental to detention or arrest. This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GS-11, GS-12, and 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 (with supervisor approval). Air Interdiction Agents (AIA) special salary rates are posted on OPM's site. To see the special salary rates please visit this link. The compensation acronyms used below are: SSR: Special Salary Rate as posted by OPM (Effective 1/1/2022) LEAP: Law Enforcement Availability Pay (25% Everyone) RI: Retention Incentive (10% for UAS Sites) RI: Recruitment Incentive (25% for Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB), Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Site only) Example annual compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations which are currently authorized to receive LEAP (amounts below include the SSR + LEAP). GS-11, 1st year annual pay - $106,588 GS-12, 2nd year annual pay - $127,754 GS-13, 3rd year annual pay - $151,918 Example annual compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations which are currently authorized to receive a 10% retention incentive (amounts below include the SSR + LEAP + 10% Retention Incentive ((RI) UAS Sites: Sierra Vista, AZ; Grand Forks, ND; San Angelo, TX) GS-11, 1st year annual pay - $115,115 GS-12, 2nd year annual pay - $137,974 GS-13, 3rd year annual pay - $164,071 Example annual compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations which are currently authorized to receive LEAP (amounts below include the SSR + LEAP + 25% Recruitment Incentive ((RI) CAMB location only). GS-11, 1st year annual pay - $127,906 GS-12, 2nd year annual pay - $153,305 GS-13, 3rd year annual pay - $182,302 Locations are offered based on operational requirements, mission requirements, and critical agency hiring needs for entry level Air Interdiction Agents as determined by Air and Marine Operations. A duty location will be offered after successfully completing a three-part assessment. The duty location listed in the final offer letter may include any geographic location within the Southwest Border Region, Southeast Border Region, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB), and National Air Security Operation Centers (NASOC) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Location. You must be willing to work at any duty location that falls within that region. Southeast Region: (to include but not limited to the following locations) Homestead, FL and the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB): Aguadilla, PR Southwest Region: (to include but not limited to the following locations) Tucson and Yuma, AZ; San Diego, CA; El Paso, Laredo, and McAllen, TX National Air Security Operation Center (NASOC) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Locations: (to include but not limited to the following locations) Sierra Vista, AZ; San Angelo, TX