Summary Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations. 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. Responsibilities 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 CBPAMORecruiting@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. CAMB RI is only available to new Federal employees as described in 5 CFR 575.102. Eligibility will be determined by Human Resources. 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 Requirements Conditions of Employment FAA Commercial or ATP Airplane or Helicopter rated with Instruments FAA Class 2 Medical required at time of Flight Assessment. FAA Class 1, FAA Class 2 or Military qualifies to start the pre-employment process for the AIA position. All must be dated within the last 12 months. 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 the last 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 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. Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit. 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. Qualifications 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 4, 2026) *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 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 July 24, 2026). 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 11/30/2025 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 on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers 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. Education Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. 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 an Air Interdiction Agent position. Unless the below criteria applies, you must meet this age requirement by 11/30/2025 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. Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB): Aguadilla, PR *Tax Law Impact: On December 22, 2017, Public Law 115-97- the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective January 1, 2018, for tax years 2018 through 2025. The law made certain reimbursements and other payments taxable, including, airfare and lodging expenses, en-route travel to the new duty station, and temporary storage of household goods and shipment of household goods. Mobility Agreement: You are required to sign a mobility agreement and be willing to relocate as necessary. Uniforms: This position requires you to wear an officially approved uniform while in a duty status. Travel: Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis. Additional Information AMO Hiring Process Video: To learn more about the hiring process, review the following link. Medical Requirements Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website. Security Clearance: You may be required to obtain a Secret or higher level clearance for this position. Firearm Proficiency: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child. Driver's License: You must possess a valid driver's license. Training: This position has a training requirement. You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment. Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures. Mandatory Completion of Basic Training: You will be detailed to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC) in Glynco, GA, for 15 weeks of Air and Marine Basic Training (AMBT). The training is comprised of formalized courses of basic technical instruction necessary to perform the duties of the position, including a swim/water survival course. Additionally, you will complete the following training programs: (1) Spanish Language training course; (2) Initial Survival Training course; (3) Aircraft-specific Flight Training course; and (4) Standardized Tactical Aviation Training (STAT) course. Learn more here. Drug Testing Requirements: Employees are subject to drug testing in compliance with the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Program. You must complete a drug test as a condition of employment. For more information, visit our Drug Testing FAQs and the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Drug Test Shift Work: This position requires regular and recurring shift work. You must be willing and available to work rotating shifts. You may also be rotated between assignments and duty locations. Overtime: Employees must be fully trained to be eligible for overtime. Positions may be filled at any AMO duty station within the regions listed below.
