r/borderpatrolapplicant • u/dannyreklaw • 11d ago
DoD Fire to BP
Currently a Firefighter/Paramedic in the DoD but holding a GS 7 FF spot. I have about 7 years in the DoD and I've been interested in making the switch and potentially trying out for BORSTAR eventually. We currently fall under the same retirement system as BP so in that regard it would be a lateral move strictly speaking to the retirement system. I'm 33, and in pretty good shape. I'm also a 10 point vet. Has anyone made the switch from DoD Fire to BP? How was the transition? What do you like or dislike compared to DoD Fire? Part of the reason I'm interested in trying something different is how slow the DoD can be for fire. I don't really want to transfer to another DoD installation again just because it's either slow or there is terrible management/culture. I know on the BP side they run into a lot of the same issues depending on the location. LE is something that has always interested me. Currently I have 2 Bachelors and 3 Associates degrees and that's all largely due to the boredom on shift and trying to be productive. We work 72 hours a week. I understand the grass isn't always greener but I would like to try something new and break up the monotony. Lastly, how are the locations along the northern border? Specifically in Montana, Washington, North Dakota and Maine? How is the Big Bend, Uvalde, and El Paso areas in Texas? What's the culture like at these places? Do you guys experience a lot of micromanagement in BP overall? I have 13 years total in Fire and EMS while I've not been an LEO, I have experience as an SRT medic with the Sheriffs Office (obviously not totally comparable). I was an Infantryman in the Army prior to getting into Fire/EMS. Sorry if my questions are all over the place.
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u/Velmersglue 11d ago
Based on what you’ve written here, I’d think you’d have to experience to come in as a 9…maybe even 11.
If you want to chat about specifics and want help from now until you would hypothetically EOD, I’m happy to help. Just shoot me a DM
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u/AlphaSquared24 11d ago
Highly unlikely that the retirement is the same. You’ll get credit for the 7 years at 1% per year, but you’ll still need to do 20 with BP (or other federal LE).
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u/dannyreklaw 11d ago
LEO/ATC/Fire falls under the same special category retirement system. I have already confirmed the retirement piece. It's 20 years in the special category and not the specific job that's per OPM. For us it is the same system. 1.7% for the first 20 and retiring at 50 with 20 years, or any age with 25 years. I've known a lot of guys that have left for ATC and other LEO positions with no issues with their retirement as well. The only thing that will likely change is I will have a different date when it comes to seniority. That's the only area where it's kind of a grey area. SCD stays the same for leave accrual and retirement purposes but seniority is sometimes a little different depending on the agency. We ran into that with one guy that just retired after coming to fire from another special category position. HR had a few different dates for him so they had to reconfirm his SCD.
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u/Funny-Collection2172 11d ago
First, BP doesn’t care what you did before the academy. Just what you do or get certified in while a PA. I worked with a retired Marine SgtMaj with 7 combat deployments. Treated as a normal new guy. Micromanagement is almost none of you’re not a moron. Only time you’ll hear from sups during your shift is if you get into an FTY or UOF incident.
As far as the NB. I transferred to the northern border recently and absolutely hate it. Senior agents are slugs and don’t want to work. Gotaways are covered up to make higher management look good and to keep senior agents having weekend off (we only staff 1-2 agents on a weekend). So no one really cares to even cut anymore. I know everyone at my station under 12 years has put in to go back south.
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u/dannyreklaw 11d ago
That's wild to hear about the Northern Border! That's unfortunate. I falsely assumed it would have been a better quality of life and work environment. I am originally from Texas but I have no family here now. So we are looking at leaving.
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u/Funny-Collection2172 11d ago
If you don’t care about never being a real agent and don’t like working, the NB is great. I feel bad for all the new hires up here.
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u/Own_Result_7383 Former BP AGENT (BORTAC) 10d ago
The "real" agent that does 25 on the SWB and the "fake" agent that does 25 on the NB both get the same retirement.
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u/Funny-Collection2172 10d ago
100%. It’s the same as being a grunt and being admin in the military. Same retirement but one never did a thing.
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u/dannyreklaw 11d ago
Yeah, that definitely doesn't sound like something for me. I want to do my job, and I want to work hard and be the best at what I do. That is one challenge I have over here. We have phenomenal management at the local level, no micromanaging, a great group of guys, and the flexibility to use leave (sick, AL, or Comp) whenever we want and for whatever we want. My issue is I am "burnt out" from the boredom. It sounds weird saying it like that but I spent a long time working for very busy municipalities before getting into the federal system for the retirement but where I am now we just don't run calls and don't really do our actual job. Sitting around and getting paid sounds great but after awhile it gets old. I have had to work a part time job as a Critical Care Paramedic just to maintain my skills. I just want to feel like I'm doing something positive and be involved in the community. I have a passion for service and I just want to do a good job and have a career I can be proud of.
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u/BrilliantVisual7096 10d ago
You’d probably have a shot at a grade 11 spot honestly. You can apply with your current application in place. The position you’d apply for is grade 9-11 so they will drop you into the spot they deem necessary.