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Blaine Miller
Ms. Mortinsen
8
th
Grade ELA
16 December 2013


Imagine walking into a crime scene and searching for evidence as to who committed the
crime, but thats only part of the job! Every day as a Special Agent for a group such as the FBI is
different. As a Special Agent, the persons job is to investigate for a law enforcement agency and
specialize in criminal justice. There are three important things that should be known about being
a Special Agent. First, a Special Agent for the FBI can perform many different jobs such as
investigating crime scenes and testifying in federal court. (floridatechonline) Second, there can
be danger involved in the job. But it does have its rewards that come with challenges. (fbijobs)
Lastly, a Special Agents role is big when it comes to protecting their country. Every single day
the agents are serving their country by making arrests, searching for evidence at crime scenes as
well as gathering information from computers and other technologies and testifying in federal
court (fbijobs). Another great thing about the job is that the education required is a four- year
degree from an accredited college or university and have 2-3 years of experience in the field.
Also the person must be at least 23 years of age and no older than 36, must qualify in at least one
of these entry areas: accounting; computer science/information technology; language; law; or
diversified. I believe that a Special Agent would be my ideal career choice because the job
includes making a difference in my country. It also has good pay and benefits.
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To begin, the FBIs website said, new Special Agents typically earn about $120,000 per
year, depending on where they are assigned and the Agents experience which is graded on a GS
level scale (starting at GS level 10, very little experience and little pay. GS level 13 being the
highest one can achieve with many years of experience on the job. GS level 14 to 15 being a
secretary). Agents can earn raises as they gain experience and promotions; those amounts are
determined by the U.S. government pay scale. Special Agents are also eligible for a full slate of
benefits, including health and life insurance, vacation, sick pay and retirement.
(newenglandcollegeonline)

To begin, there are many different jobs one can specialize in as an FBI Special Agent.
The agent can work with Intelligence Analysis, which is the Information Technology, Applied
Science, Engineering & Technology, Linguistics, Business Management, FBI Police, or
Investigative Support & Surveillance. All these different jobs are probably clear as to what they
are by their names. Overall, the job includes dealing with gathering evidence either at a scene or
over the computer, translation, money, or police force. Anyways, there are several can do several
different things that a person could do as an FBI Special Agent.
Secondly, a big part of the job that many dont know is that it can be tough and
challenging. There are many difficulties of being a Special Agent that can make the job tough,
but according to fbijobs, Becoming an FBI Special Agent is like no other career choice you
have ever explored. It is challenging. It is exciting. It is rewarding. And every day you have a
chance to serve your country. Well, first of all, becoming a Special Agent for the FBI requires
that they pass some tests before they can become part of the organization. Applicants must first
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pass a standardized Physical Fitness Test. They will be tested on the following: maximum
number of sit-ups in one minute, a timed 300-meter sprint, maximum number of push-ups, and
finally, a timed 1.5 mile run. All applicants must pass in at least three attempts or they will not be
able to take the test again. They must also pass a vision test, must meet hearing requirements,
and undergo a medical review to be accepted into the New Agents' Training at the FBI Academy.
(fbijobs). After all the tests are done, the soon- to- be Agent enters the FBI Academy in
Quantico, Virginia for 16 weeks of intense training to officially become a part of the FBI. (FBI
Special Agent Selection Process Booklet.) Even though the job has many challenges, it has many
rewards and benefits that make the job more exciting and fun. These include paid vacations
ranging from 14 to 26 days a year, up to 13 days of sick leave per year, 15 days of military leave
and 10 holidays, and a Flexible Spending Account program allows employees to set aside up to
$5,000 a year tax-free for medical spending. (work.chron)
But most importantly, the greatest part of the job has to be getting the chance to serve
their country every single day. The agent will play an extremely important part in protecting the
country they work for by enforcing the law, and protecting those who live there. The FBI
protects United States citizens from terrorist attacks, cyber crime, violent crimes and major thefts
(robberies, gangs, etc.), public corruption (government and election fraud), and crimes against
civil rights. (fbi) The FBI focuses on national crimes that threaten the security and safety of
citizens.
To find out more on the field, I interviewed my dad, Tom Miller, who is a Special Agent
for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations. I sat down
with him and asked a few questions. This is how it went:
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Blaine: Thank you for allowing me to ask you a few questions about your job. Heres
my first question; what is one of the most important parts of your job?
Tom: A very important part of what I do would probably be being as accurate as I
possibly can as far as how I deliver facts. What I say has to be precise. If information I provide
goes to court or to a defense attorney, I need it to be as accurate as possible.
Blaine: Can you describe a typical day or week for you?
Tom: A typical day for me would include writing reports concerning ongoing criminal
investigations, answering emails and voicemail messages also concerning ongoing criminal
investigations, and completing administrative paperwork. On occasion, I attend and testify in
court, conduct search warrants, and interview witnesses and suspects.
Blaine: How would you describe the work environment?
Tom: Typically calm, I spend most of my time in my office or driving but can
occasionally be hectic and chaotic, but mostly working at your own pace.
Blaine: What do you like most about your job? What do you dislike the most about your
job?
Tom: What I like most about my job is probably convicting criminals responsible for
breaking the law. Time spent away from home and my family is the thing I like least. Spending
time in court and away from home is time consuming most of all.
Blaine: What are your main responsibilities as a Special Agent?
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Tom: One of my biggest responsibilities as a Special Agent is conducting criminal
investigations regarding violations of federal laws that the HSI [Homeland Security
Investigations] is tasked with enforcing.
Blaine: How does your job affect your lifestyle?
Tom: It can be stressful. Attending trials, conducting search warrants and other aspects
of my job can cause stress. But it also has its benefits. It provides good income to maintain a
comfortable lifestyle for me and my family.
Blaine: How did you become interested in becoming a Special Agent?
Tom: While getting my Criminal Justice degree from Michigan State University, I
obtained an internship with the former U.S. Customs Service in Washington D.C. and after
graduating, I was offered a position as a Special Agent.
Blaine: What skills or abilities do employers look for when hiring?
Tom: First of all you cant have a criminal record, you should have the ability to think on
your own, and also be able work with groups of people but also work independently
Blaine: What is something wish you had known about your job before you entered it?
Tom: In 2003, after 9/11 the former U.S. Customs Service and Immigration and
Naturalization Service combined to form the Department of Homeland Security, and as a result
my job became conducting investigations involving immigration
Blaine: I have one more question for you; what advice would you give to someone
considering becoming a Special Agent?
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Tom: I would say to stay out of trouble. You are competing against so many people; you
have to stand out from the rest by never committing any crimes. Make sure you have an interest
in doing the things that Special Agents do and have that kind of personality because the job is
different than what it seems to be.
My dad, Tom told me a lot about the job. I was already interested in becoming a Special
Agent, and after the interview I gained a lot more knowledge that helped me become even more
interested. Though, the FBI has its differences from the Department of Homeland Security, they
are both very similar as to your job; serving your country. Doing research online and conducting
my interview made my interest grow. Over this time, I learned about the challenges you face,
even before you get the job, are difficult to overcome, but are worth it in the end. The role of a
Special Agent is much more important than I originally thought. I also found lots of information
to prove that a Special Agent for the FBI has many different jobs they can have, all are important
to the protection of our country. There can be lots of danger involved in the job, but it is
rewarding and has many benefits. And finally, you play an important role in making sure that
your country stays safe. I said at the beginning that a Special Agent would be my ideal career
choice because the job includes making a difference in my country, it has good pay and benefits,
and every day is different from the last. I definitely still believe that a Special Agent would be
my perfect choice for a career. Im extremely glad I know so much more about it than I did
before.



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Works Cited
Do You Have What it Takes To Be an FBI Special Agent?. fbi.gov. Web.
FBI Agent Jobs and Job Outlook. cjed.com. 2013. Web.
FBI Career and Salary Profile. floridatechonline.com. Bisk Education, Inc. 2013.Web.
FBI Salaries. glassdoor.com. Web.
FBI Special Agent Career Outlook and Salary newenglandcollegeonline.com. Bisk Education,
Inc. 2013. Web.
FBI Special Agent Critical Skills. fbijobs.gov. Web.
FBI Special Agent Physical Requirements. fbijobs.gov. Web.
FBI Special Agent Selection Process September, 1997. Print.
What We Investigate. fbi.gov. Web.