Air Interdiction Agent
Application Process
Are you ready to become an Air Interdiction Agent? Take your first steps toward securing your career and joining our team.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME AN AGENT
Being an Air Interdiction Agent can be mentally and physically challenging. To ensure that every agent is mission-ready, our comprehensive hiring process helps identify the talented individuals who have what it takes. Explore the application requirements and steps for becoming an Air Interdiction Agent below.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- Have a valid driver's license
- Have resided in the U.S. for at least three of the last five years (Residency Requirement Exceptions)
- Be eligible to carry a firearm
- Be referred for selection prior to your 40th birthday (or receive an exception for veteran's preference eligibility or previous service in a civilian law enforcement position)
- Be willing to travel
- Pass the application process (see details below)
You may be disqualified if your background includes:
- Use of illegal drugs and/or the sale distribution of illegal drugs
- Convictions, including misdemeanor domestic violence charges
- International harboring or concealment of undocumented noncitizens
- A documented flight log reflecting a minimum of 1500 flight hours (up to 500 hours can be waived, reducing the pilot entry on duty minimums to 1000 hours); apply at 750 flight hours*
- 250 Pilot-in-Command hours
- 75 Instrument hours
- 75 Night hours (Flight Hour Waiver available)
- 100 Flight hours in the last 12 months (currently waived by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through August 1, 2024)
- No military flight hour conversion allowed
- A current FAA Commercial or ATP Pilot Certification with the following ratings:
- Dual Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument rating AND Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; OR
- Airplane Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument; OR
- Helicopter Rated: Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; OR
- Equivalent military rating of the above at the time of application (eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot).
- FAA Class II Medical Certificate required for assessment dated within the last 12 calendar months. FAA Class I, FAA Class 2 or Military Certificate dated within the last 12 months qualifies to start the pre-employment process.
*Applicants applying at 750 flight hours are required to obtain at least 1,000 flight hours (depending on the number of hours approved for a waiver) at own expense before being able to attend the 3-part flight assessment. Applicants must still meet the required 250 PIC hours, 75 Instrument hours, 75 Night hours and 100 Flight hours in the last 12 months. (Note: The 100 flight hours in the last 12 months is currently being waived by OPM through August 1, 2024.)
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Flight Hours:
Applicants may include UAS Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) flight hours or predator based variant flight hours. These hours may be credited towards satisfying the "Total flight time" 1,500 flight hour requirement only. UAS hours do not count towards the 250 PIC hours, 75 Instrument hours and 75 Night hours. Flight hour logbooks will be required at time of your Flight Assessment for verification. Note: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.
Your Application Journey
To begin your application process, submit your application on USAJOBS. After you submit your application, go back to the application section of your USAJOBS account and make sure we have received your application. Your application status would say you applied with the date you submitted your application if it went through. If you are not ready to apply at this time, but would like to learn more about the Air Interdiction Agent position, please contact an AMO recruiter.
The CBP Hiring Center will review your application to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications and determine what grade you qualify for. If your resume and documents do not clearly document how you are qualified, you may be rated ineligible. We highly recommend you review the What Should I Include in My Federal Resume? page on USAJOBS when preparing your resume.
If you are found to be a qualified applicant, then you will go through a series of steps in the application process.
Visit our Apply Now page to start your application today!
You must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of employment with CBP. The Standard Form 86 - Questionnaire for National Security or Standard Form 85 - Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions must be completed to initiate the background investigation. The background investigation consists of the preliminary vetting checks, the investigation and the final adjudication.
You may or may not be required to take a standardized polygraph exam as part of the application process. Results of your polygraph examination, along with information gathered as part of the background investigation process, will be used to assess your overall suitability/eligibility to hold a law enforcement position with CBP.
You must undergo a pre-employment medical examination and be found medically qualified to perform the position's full range of duties safely and efficiently.
Any disease or condition that may potentially interfere with the performance of the job's duties or training may result in medical disqualification, but no disease or condition is automatically disqualifying.
Each determination is made on a case-by-case basis. The medical determination may involve recommendations for additional information and/or testing. If medical information is recommended beyond that provided by the initial medical examination, it is provided at your expense.
For more information, visit the Medical Review page.
You must pass the Air Interdiction Agent Physical Fitness Test. To help you prepare, CBP has created a 6-week standardized training program.
You can find more information, along with the Physical Fitness Test Guide, on the Air and Marine Operations Physical Fitness Test page.
| Activity | Repetitions | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-ups | 20 | 1 minute |
| Push-ups | 12 | 1 minute |
| 12" Step | 120 steps per minute | 5 minutes |
You may or may not be required to take a standardized polygraph exam as part of your Air Interdiction Agent application. The polygraph exam, if you are required to take it, is a 4-6 hour interview that requires you to respond to a series of questions typically relating to national security issues and answers you provide on your background investigations forms.
The polygraph measures your physiological response when answering questions and results are subject to a quality control review for accuracy.
You will be required to submit to a random drug test during the application process.
If you test positive, then you will be disqualified.
You will be required to pass a three-part assessment conducted in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma over the course of one full day. Once scheduled for the assessment, detailed traveled information will be provided. You will be responsible for all expenses associated with their travel, as well any lodging and/or personal expenses incurred.
Part 1: Oral Exam
The oral evaluation will test your pilot knowledge based on published part 91 regulations. Questions are derived from the Federal Aviation Regulation, parts 61 and 91. Airman’s information manual and flight information publications to include U.S. Terminal Procedures and IFR EnRoute/Sectional Aeronautical Charts.
Part 2: Flight Evaluation
You will be required to demonstrate your flight proficiency in an AMO aircraft with a flight instructor. You will be evaluated based on Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot standards.
Part 3: Structured Interview
You must be able to answer scenario-based interview questions to demonstrate your possession of core competencies, which include judgment/decision making, teamwork/interpersonal skills, flexibility, integrity and oral communication.
For more information, view the AIA 3 Part Flight Assessment page.
You will be required to complete a 15-week Air and Marine Basic Training Program (AMBTP) at the Air and Marine Operations Academy (AMOA), located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia.
Requirements include: 1.5-mile run/walk within 16 minutes and 30 seconds or less, 24 push-ups within one minute or less, 220-yard sprint in 60 seconds or less and a five-minute tread/float.
You must successfully exit a simulated downed aircraft in the water while wearing blacked out goggles, followed by self-rescue into a life raft. Firearms proficiency must be achieved for the duty-issued handgun, M-4 rifle, and 12-gauge shotgun.
During AMBTP, you will be provided training in arrest techniques, investigative skills, survival skills, defensive tactics, criminal law, customs law, immigration law, law enforcement driving, and tactics specific to aviation and maritime law enforcement.
For Air and Marine Basic Spanish Training Program (AMBTSP), you will be given a Spanish language proficiency test. If you do not receive a passing score, then you will receive a Rosetta Stone training course.
After successfully completing AMBTP, you will:
- Receive initial vendor training from the National Air Training Center (NATC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or a NATC-approved vendor for the aircraft they will operate at their respective location
- Successfully complete specific local area Tactical Team Member training at their respective location
Failure to successfully complete all the above training and achieve required certifications may be grounds for mandatory removal from the position.
