DSS has been expanding its criminal role overseas and now has many overseas fraud investigator positions. Able to obtain/maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance and TS/SCI access. The PDAS designation signifies the DSS director's preeminence over the other DASs within DSS, while at the same time signifying his/her position under the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security.[13]. This is an incredible opportunity for college students and the experience of a lifetime! Special Agent Hiring Process. We have about 2100 agents and every time the positions is posted there are 10-15,000 applicants. As part of its duty to provide a safe and secure environment for U.S. diplomacy, DSS also protects foreign dignitaries, advises U.S. ambassadors on security matters, and manages security programs for international events, often in cooperation with domestic and foreign counterparts. This is a 45-50 minute process conducted by a member of the Foreign Service Board of Examiners and a DS Special Agent. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is located within The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) and with approximately 2,400+ special agents, is the security and law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State. As the day progressed, the protesters threw combustible material over the wall landing at the bottom of the watch towers which smoked U.S. personnel out of the towers. [59], The method in which the RSO title is implemented also has the potential to create confusion when interacting with outside organizations. a very public facing agency and its interaction with Hollywood is limited at best. As members of the Foreign Service, agents are expected to spend most of their career living and working overseas, often in hazardous environments or less developed countries throughout the world. The incident became a political firestorm & changed DSS forever. ARSOs generally focus on managing the guard force, bodyguards, and Marine Security Detachment. MSD is highly capable & self sufficient in hostile environments. [3] As employees of the U.S. State Department DSS special agents are unique in U.S. federal law enforcement for also being members of the Foreign Service. However, please note that Department of State requires that candidates provide credit/debit card information to Pearson VUE (the test administrator) in order to complete the registration process. Please refer to the Vacancy Announcement for complete information on eligibility requirements and qualifications. A secondary coordinated attack on the CIA Annex resulted in the death & injury of additional US personnel. Iraq). Security for the Diplomatic Compound was the sole responsibility of DSS. Marshals Service, Guatemalan National Police, and INTERPOL to locate alleged murder suspect 24-year-old Ariel Beau Patrick, who was taken into custody in Guatemala. D057923. Read More. 30 users here now. personnel; including then U.S. If you would like to schedule an appointment further than eight weeks out, you will need to log back into this system closer to the date you wish to schedule the test to make a request. cities. It is possible at larger overseas missions with multiple diplomatic facilities located in the same country to have multiple agents with the Regional Security Officer title. However, older eligible veterans can still apply as long as they are able to pass the physical test and maintained the applicable security clearances. > Careers > Special Agents > SA Hiring Process vacancy announcement on their website. After a new agent candidate is hired, he or she begins a nearly nine-month training program that includes the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) (pronounced flet-see) in Glynco, Georgia; a Basic Special Agent Course (BSAC) at the Diplomatic Security Training Center, and courses at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in Arlington, Virginia. I know a few current diplomatic security agents, but they have been in long enough that the hiring process may have changed some. Security technical specialists must have a high school diploma or equivalent plus two years of experience. Even some more seasoned agents have taken to referring to themselves as Special Agent-in-Charge/Regional Security Officer on their official biographies. According to U.S. law, the title "security officer" is legally defined as someone who is employed by a private entity and is not a law enforcement officer. Congress formed a commission headed by Admiral Bobby Ray Inman to look into the bombings of U.S. diplomatic facilities in Beirut. The Application Process Take the next step and get started on your career path today! An Interpol Red Notice, as well as investigations by the U.S. If there is a nexus to passport and/or visa fraud, use of State Department documents, diplomatic activities, the U.S. Foreign Service, or terrorism, DSS is typically involved. Our Vision is to be an agile and proactive intelligence-led security and law enforcement organization to further diplomacy around the world. They also have field offices in 33 U.S. cities. Able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination. The DSSAT is offered for free. Personal Assessment Interview with Board of Examiners & DSS SA (, This DSS Special Agent position is a 2501 Foreign Service position, The Foreign Service has a robust internship program with various placements, to include those with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. To be considered for the position of special agent, applicants must meet the following requirements: Be a U.S. Citizen. This is my first time posting on reddit so sorry if my post is too long or anything. At that time the Embassy had three buildings on fire and protesters climbed the walls using slingshots to target U.S. personnel with marbles and rocks complicating any response. The agency employs over 2,000 special agents, sometimes referred to as "DSS agents" or "DS agents". The DSS hierarchy has no input on the agent's evaluation, though it does provide instructions to the agent. DS Special Agents are sworn federal law enforcement officers and specially trained Foreign Service security professionals. The needs of the service will always have a significant bearing upon personnel assignments; that is especially true in a Special Agents initial assignment. . Thanks in advance for any help. soil. On April 20, 2013, in coordination with Nicaraguan authorities, the FBI's Panama City Legal Attach Office and the Diplomatic Security's Regional Security Office of the U.S. Embassy in Managua located Eric Justin Toth in Esteli, Nicaragua, where he was placed into custody. With limited exceptions, the application process is incredibly lengthy (average 2 Years) and often exhausting.