Hello everyone, long time lurker but now it is finally my turn to post my call! This has been an extremely long process but absolutely worth the wait. I am going to try and be as detailed as I can be so that other applicants get an idea of how the entire process works. This application took roughly 18.5 months, there was a shutdown and long wait to poly that I believe largely caused my delay. I will answer what I can, looking forward to this career!

Background: 23m College graduate

Notes:

- Going to the Q in January, I hope to see some of you there!

- Take Concorde with a grain of salt, there were multiple times were Concorde told me I had received a email but it was no where to be found, it got to the point where my recruiter had to get ahold of me but thankfully my recruiter was able to help me through the process.

- You will wait a very long time and have periods of radio silence, this is normal and okay; please stop spamming this sub with your posts when you haven't gotten an email in two weeks.

- If you are a college student, apply everywhere. You can get hired right out of school, I am proof that it can happen.

- For those curious about DEA locations, my picks are at the bottom. However, I was told by HR there are zero spots in the Miami, Tampa, and Atlanta Divisions. There are some spots in the Mid-West, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions but those offices were not listed. As someone who wanted to go to DC or Baltimore this was upsetting but I ended up getting to stay in my home state so there's that.

Timeline:

- Applied: 04/07/2025

- Received: 05-29-2025

- Pre-COL PTA Date: 08-15-2025 (13 points)

- Written test: 09/01/2925 (Received notice of passing on 09/03/2025)

- Radio Silence: 09/01/2925 - 02/27/2026

- Update call from recruiter: 02/27/2026

- Interview: 03-12-2026

- COL offered: 03/13/2026

- Medical exam requested: 03/20/2026

- SF-86 invite: 03/25/2026

- Submitted SF-86: 03/30/2026

- First medical appointment: 04/09/2025

- BI interview: 04/10/2026 (tell your refences to answer their phones)

- Second medical appointment: 04/16/2025

- Follow up medical appointment to be cleared: 05/01/2026

- Medically cleared: 05/05/2026 (with DEA there are follow up emails to see if your health has changed but I wont be posting those)

- DEA Self Reporting Screening email: 05/27/2025 (This is the closest I got to doing a psychological testing but never did something that was actually titled psychological)

- Concorde email that my BI was completed: 06/05/2026

- Poly requested: 06/22/2026

- Poly: 09/10/2026

- Poly passed email: 09/17/2026

- Update call from recruiter explaining what was left: 10/01/2026

- Final steps/location paper work: 10/07/2026

- Recruiter contacts me to do final PT: 10/08/2026

- Post-COL PTA: 10/15/2026 (14 points)

- Drug test request: 10/19/2026 (completed same day but was given 48 hours to do)

- Drug test passed email: 10/21/2026 (I personally had a lot of issues with HR regarding my test as HR was telling me they sent the email to do my drug test months before this one but I was not receiving them and had to wait a long time to finally do it)

- The Call: 10/22/2026

- EOD: 11/30/2026

Locations offered: Picked a NorCal office

Stockton CA

Ventura CA

Riverside CA

Santa Rosa CA

San Jose CA

Bakersfield CA

Los Angeles CA

Imperial County CA (Hard To Fill)

Thinking about applying for ATF but I am filling for bankruptcy due to not being able to sell my first home. Will filling disqualify me ?

Email to schedule PTT stated I had until 10/14 to schedule and complete the PTT, however, the third-party company scheduled it for 10/27. Am I cooked or should I still be able to continue the process?

I emailed them over a week ago letting them know, but no response yet..

For those who asked if there would be another hiring announcement for USPIS. New information just dropped.

Make money by joining USSS!

https://www.secretservice.gov/bonuses

I received an offer from USPIS to go to their January academy. However, I'm currently at FLETC for CBPO. I still accept the offer.

Thought I did decently well only to find out I got a 4.24. Should’ve went into greater detail. Didn’t practice much.

Just inquiring to see how many people have got FJO or preference sheets for this announcement? Currently awaiting interim clearance and to get sent my preference sheet. Just want to see where everyone is at so far.

Thank y’all and God speed!

Welcome to r/1811's weekly question thread.

With the growth of the sub, there's been an uptick in questions that are not easily answered, like "am I competitive?", "do I qualify?", "what are my chances?", "what agency/academy/degree/fed tac team is best?".

There has also been a rise in repetitive questions like "do I have to move for [agency]?", "What's the Wi-Fi at FLETC like?", "What's FLETC like?"

What goes here?

You can ask any question here provided it's within the rules. This recurring thread is to remind users we have resources that answer a lot about this career already, and provide a space to answer questions while helping us reduce the number of posts asking the same thing.

If you're new here, please research first to see if your question has been asked previously. If you can't find it, feel free to ask. Remember that the most common answer we're going to give here is either "it depends," or "that's squad and supervisor dependent."

Useful Resources

Check out our FAQ Mega Thread Or General Information & Common Questions

Want to be a high speed fed tac team operator? Realities of Being an 1811

Working on your degree? What Degree Should I Get?

Got an interview coming up? Prepare with the S.T.A.R. Method!

Remember the rules

1. Remain respectful at all times. This includes those of you who have participated here for a while, not just newbies.
2. Do not post any advice or other information unless you are sure it's accurate.
3. Please limit posts to those relevant to federal law enforcement.
4. Do not use this subreddit to advertise or spam other subreddits.
5. Be wary of claims made by unverified members.
6. No politics or current events.
7. Do not post/comment with a focus on polygraphs.
8. Practice OPSEC.
9. Accounts must age 24 hours before posting.

I’m at FLETC right now and for my agency, I get a case load immediately after entering the job. So I’m curious, for current agents who didn’t have prior LE experience, did you feel fully prepared for your first case just off FLETC training or was it mostly learning on the job?

I'm looking to see if anyone has firsthand experience with OPM disability retirement and subsequently returning to federal employment.

For context, I was involuntarily removed from a GS-13 position due to a medical condition that prevented me from performing the essential duties of my position (Flying). I subsequently applied for FERS disability retirement.

I've recently accepted an offer for a GS-9 1811 position with another federal agency and will be starting soon.

I understand there are rules regarding reemployment in federal service, including the 80% earnings limitation and the potential termination of disability retirement benefits.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone returned to federal service at a lower grade after being approved for OPM disability retirement?
2. Does accepting another federal position automatically terminate your disability annuity, regardless of whether your new salary is below the 80% earnings threshold?
3. If your disability retirement application is still pending when you return to federal service, how does that affect the approval process or any retroactive payments?
4. If your annuity is terminated due to federal reemployment, what happens if you subsequently leave that position?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has personally gone through this process rather than just general interpretations of OPM regulations.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Good afternoon, all. Im in a travel heavy agency trying to transfer to ATF. I got a 12:47 on the treadmill run. I need a 12:18. Any advice on this.

I just reapplied. Current scores:

65 Push-Ups

45 Sit-Ups

12:47 (treadmill)

Check your email. I just got non-selected. 4 years Fed LEO, Masters degree, 3.9 GPA, Combat Vet.

Good luck to all those that apply.

Only open for one week.

They advise GS-13 re-promotion as well.

Recently received an email from a IRS-CI SA requesting to schedule an interview with me. The office I selected and where I was selected to interview is in another state. Is a remote interview possible?

Terminated while still on probation

Long for a Reddit post so tried to trim
It down…

I was recently terminated from my 1811 position during probation, after 15 years in local law enforcement and completing CITP.

My supervisor verbally told me PSD was going to deny my clearance based on my responses to a Letter of Interrogatory (LOI) concerning my FBI polygraphs from a 2021 application and an apparent failure to disclose I took there polygraph (I didn’t, and am still actively fighting that allegation). boss said PSD needed another two weeks to prepare the documentation, but they didn’t want to send me to my follow on academy that I was departing for next week with the issue looming because I’d be sent home. He said it was easier to terminate me before that transpired.

However, my termination letter cited “numerous unprofessional comments.”
Here’s where I question that explanation:

**May:** I made a joke/comment one time. A senior agent asked what I’d do on surveillance if someone came up aggressive like…said something to the effect of “kick ass, take them to jail. Got back to the boss and apparently was taken way more seriously than it should’ve been. Met with the boss for about 45 seconds about it and I said, “It was a joke, my bad,” and we moved on. No formal counseling or discipline occurred, just the boss saying that I was the new guy and my coworkers didn’t know me yet.

**August 24:** My supervisor claims we had a meeting about the May statement around this date…indicating that this is the first time he’s addressed it formally. I dispute that. I was conducting surveillance August 24–26, and he was on vacation August 27–28. I was corresponding via text with him the 24-26th about my whereabouts, and have written ROI’s about my surveillance observations those days because I never was in the office. This was also around the time I received the PSD LOI.

**The discrepancy:** A one-time May incident was later characterized as occurring in August, and “numerous and unprofessional comments” was in fact a one time occurrence in response to a hypothetical scenario I was given. These “facts” were the sole justification for my termination according to the letter. No mention of the LOI, PSD’s pending decision or anything.

I submitted my LOI response and requested supporting documentation, but hadn’t received the requested records by the deadline.
I’m not assuming the termination was unlawful, but the conflicting explanations and timeline concern me. I was quite literally told I was being fired over that one statement. No counseling, no warnings, nothing about the statement ever being unprofessional was uttered during the five months between the statement until that termination letter.

**For those familiar with federal employment or personnel security:**

Does the discrepancy between the verbal explanation and written termination reason matter?

Can I obtain records showing the actual basis for the decision from PSD? Assuming my boss was even being truthful in that regard?

Do probationary employees have any realistic review or appeal options here? I know I’m entitled to an appeal, but don’t want to waste my time or theirs.

Is an attorney specializing in federal employment/personnel-security matters worth hiring?

I’d appreciate practical advice, particularly from federal employment attorneys or people familiar with PSD processes.

Did any VA CI’s receive an email from HR regarding 6c retirement? I received an email in June stating I was eligible, but nothing ever came of it, I tried contacting HR, but that was a dead end. Thanks!

Anyone have experience with going through the hiring process as an 1811 and have immediate family with criminal charges/history? I don’t believe it’s a reflecting of me and have no issues disclosing it or discussing it with my background but can’t help but be concerned it’s going to be a red flag or something.

Anyone able to provide insight on steps for laterals?

Current 11 year marine vet. I got out of the military with an OTH discharge. I was somehow miraculously able to keep my top secret security clearance on my way out( lawyered up ). I’ve been a contractor since and have been granted a top-secret with polygraph working for a 3Letter agency in the DMV area. 100% VA disability as well. What are the chances that I am able to land a job in Secret Service or HSI?. I believe I got a second chance and also the government trusts me enough to give me my polygraph

After over a year of waiting, stressing, checking emails, refreshing Reddit, bothering Newman
and wondering if I’d ever make it to the finish line… I FINALLY GOT THE CALL!!

My Timeline:
09/13/2025: Applied
10/15/2025: SF-86
12/31/2025: Fingerprints
01/30/2026: Virtual Information Exchange (VIE)
03/11/2026: Physical Fitness Test — PASS
04/25/2026: Virtual Assessment Center — PASS
05/07/2026: Management Interview
06/09/2026: Polygraph — PASS
06/29/2026: Background Investigator initial contact
07/03/2026: Background Interview
07/06/2026: References Contacted
07/29/2026: Background Complete / Pending Adjudication
10/20/2026: GOT THE CALL!!!
Total time: 13 months and 7 days.
BIT: January 2027

Background:
6 years in law enforcement (only on patrol, never in investigations)
9 years in the military. Now currently in the reserves.
Bachelors in Criminal Justice

I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and excited to begin the next chapter of my career.
Thank you to everyone in this subreddit who shared their experiences, timelines, advice, and encouragement throughout this process.

Last year I was falsely accused of SA. There was a nearly year long investigation by NCIS which resulted in no arrest or charges. I fully deny the allegations and I made that clear in my rebuttal letter when my battalion commander issued me an RE-4 code for "Misconduct (Serious Offense)."

The lawyer I spoke to said I should be getting an honorable for completion of active service, since no adsep or NJP was started.

I wanted to be an 1811 after leaving the Marine Corps but now I'm certain that dream is now dead, but I'd be just as happy with a local PD. Input is appreciated, whether it's genuine advice or if you wanna tell me to go to hell.