FBI Special Agent Jobs

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) was first organized in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte during the Roosevelt administration. The organization was a product of a newly created Progressive philosophy of government. Today, the FBI is made up of several branches that serve critical areas of government. Special agents fill a number of job roles within these branches.

Identification

The FBI's primary responsibility is to protect the United States from national security threats. Threats can originate on foreign soil or from within the United States. Terrorism, organized crime, public corruption, air piracy and drug-trafficking are just a few of the threats it contends with. FBI agents are responsible for enforcing 300 federal statutes pertaining to national security issues.This involves conducting special investigative procedures within the areas of law enforcement and intelligence matters. Job tasks include executing search warrants, gathering evidence, meeting with informants, making arrests and testifying in court.

Features

The application process for an FBI special agent job involves a thorough background investigation prior to enrollment in the New Special Agents Class. The class is a 21-week training program held in Quantico, Virginia. Applicants are then appointed as federal agents after successfully completing the training program. Once appointed, an agent is assigned to one of 56 field offices located around the world. These are specialty assignments determined according to a person's skill set, work background, educational background and preferred location. Intelligence, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, criminal crime and cybercrime are the five specialty divisions within the organization.

Potential

The intelligence and counterintelligence specialty divisions handle national and international security issues. Special agents within the intelligence program focus on national security threats. Investigative work is carried out on countries that are known threats to the United States. Information is collected and analyzed on an ongoing basis, then forwarded to the intelligence division, the homeland security agency and law enforcement offices throughout the country on an as needed basis. The counterintelligence division focuses on coordinating counterintelligence measures carried out on foreign soil. Countries acquiring large quantities of weapons or nuclear materials are closely monitored by this division. Special agent job responsibilities work to protect the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Critical National Assets and all U.S. government agencies and contractors from infiltration attempts perpetrated by foreign interests.

Function

Protecting the United States from terrorist attacks has become one of the FBI's top priorities since the 9/11 attacks of 2001. Special agents within the counterterrorism division are responsible for identifying and preventing all terrorist acts, whether they be perpetrated by another country, an individual or a group. Investigations are directed toward suspected terrorist support networks, as well as their financial dealings. Part of an agent's job is to communicate threat-related information to local, federal and state agencies. This division works in conjunction with the U.S. Intelligence Community and senior officials within the federal government.

Prevention/Solution

FBI special agents assigned within the Criminal Investigation and Cyber Divisions work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement offices. The criminal division handles investigations surrounding organized crime, drug related crimes, financial crimes and individual civil rights violations. In addition, this division coordinates investigative efforts among the 56 field office locations throughout the world. The cyber division monitors and investigates significant incidents of Internet fraud. This includes identity-theft operations, computer virus propagation, intellectual property rights violations and online predators involved in sex-related exploitation endeavors.

Resources

• Federal Bureau of Investigations Homepage
• FBI Special Agent Selection Process