By Ron VandenBoom
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) today announced they will be awarding recruitment bonuses to newly-hired border patrol agents of $2,000.
The reason, said Ted Denning, deputy chief of the Havre sector, is to attract new border patrol recruits during a time of tight labor markets.
Denning said the new hires must begin duty between Jan. 10, and Sept. 30, 2000 and they will receive the bonus shortly after they begin work with the border patrol.
Reasons for recent shortfalls in recruitment at the INS are attributed to a strong economy that has given possible applicants "multiple job opportunities," said INS Commissioner Doris Meissner.
Agent recruiters will also be attending college, military, and local job fairs in an effort to bring in new recruits.
Meissner also stated that similar shortfalls also existed in the military and in local law enforcement during 1999.
The INS expects to hire 600 new agents to make up last year's shortfall and hire "as many agents as possible" to fill recruitment goals provided by Congress for 2000.
Resumes are actively being downloaded from the Internet and people interested in law enforcement are being contacted.
Denning said the use of the Internet has expanded on-line testing and on-line applications.
The testing is new and called "compressed testing." It allows applicants to take the test and get the results immediately after completing the test.
Applicants must:
Hold a valid driver's license;
Be under 37 years of age;
Have a year of experience demonstrating decisiveness under stress, analytical ability and good interpersonal skills or a bachelor's degree;
Pass a written test and an oral interview.
Applicant who are accepted must also pass a background investigation, a drug test and medical exam and complete five months of rigorous training (including Spanish language classes) at the Border Patrol Academy.
Anyone interested in becoming an agent can check out the web site at www.usborderpatrol.gov. or call 1-800-238-1945.
To apply on-line visit www.usajobs.opm.gov. or call 912-7757-3001 ext. 9980.
