Keeping the United States safe is a full-time job for the over 400,000 civil service professionals and contractors of the Department of Homeland Security. Not simply a single agency, the department is actually an umbrella organization that connects multiple distinct agencies with specific requirements and scope of work.
However, all of the agencies in DHS are deeply involved in protecting the people of the United States from varied threats including criminal enterprises, espionage, and terrorism. If you have considered a future in homeland security but don't know where to start or what the requirements are, we have identified a few opportune roles within this fascinating field.
Agencies within the Department of Homeland Security that may have entry-level positions as homeland security agents include:
While the coast guard is considered a part of the Department of Defense (DOD) as well as the Department of Homeland Security, and therefore a military service, there are many entry-level civilian positions as part of the coast guard's workforce.
As a part of the Department of Homeland Security, the various agencies conduct investigations and operations into activities that are potentially dangerous with negative ramifications for the security of the nation. These operations can be both foreign and domestic in nature and may require extensive travel. The minimum qualifications include the following:
Although individual agencies have varying requirements in addition to these, they are firm requirements that can be depended on from agency to agency.
Homeland Security agents are problem solvers that have well-developed critical thinking skills. These positions require a high degree of teamwork and the ability to empathize and relate to people from drastically different lifestyles. An agent may need to investigate and arrest people (some of whom may be very dangerous) and some positions require carrying a firearm. The position may require long hours, significant amounts of travel, a vast amount of paperwork, and lonely hours spent analyzing complex information. It is understood that individuals who are able to thrive in a high-stress environment will naturally be more successful in the field of homeland security.
If you do not have prior military or civil service experience, it can be difficult to break in to a homeland security agency. Many only consider prior service candidates and even those that don't are subject to veteran’s preference. With that said, the growth of contract work and internships within DHS is opening doors to candidates to which the traditional civil service path was the one of most resistance.
The next ten years in the homeland security sector are going to be crucial. Physical security concerns are going to remain a high priority, but technology is advancing and cybercrime and cyber terrorist activity are on the rise.
Are you interested in being one of this new wave of Homeland Security Agents? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Homeland Security, consider ECPI University for your education. With accelerated classes and a year-round schedule, you could earn your degree in as little as 2.5 years. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions counselor today.
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