The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the investigative branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. The main tasks of this agency are to protect the United States from any and all terrorist threats, to enforce the criminal laws of the country and also to assist state and municipal law enforcement.
The crimes investigated by the FBI include, but are not limited to:
- Bank robbery
- Mail fraud
- Espionage
- Organized crime
- Kidnapping
- Drug Trafficking
FBI agents enforce more than 260 federal statutes and the activities listed above come under close scrutiny. The duties of active field agents include surveillance, collecting evidence on suspected criminals and transcription.
Basic Requirements to Join the Bureau
A bachelor's or master's degree is required for all prospective agents in addition to at least three years of related work experience. Candidates must be citizens of the United States with no previous criminal record and be between the ages of twenty-three and thirty-six at the time of application. An applicant's professional and personal background will be put under a microscope and be thoroughly examined.
The FBI looks for candidates who are qualified in the following disciplines:
- Fluency in a Foreign Language (including Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Russian and Spanish).
- Engineering
- Law
- Physical Sciences
- Military/Special Forces/Tactical Operations
- Computer Science/Information Technology
Phase I and II Testing
Phase I consists of three multiple choice tests which will ask for more biographical information, as well as a cognitive ability test and a situational judgment test. In other words, based on the results the bureau will able to see how well an applicant can analyze/interpret data and how quickly he/she can make decisions. Phase II is an oral interview and another written exam which further tests the applicant's critical skills. At the discretion of the bureau, a polygraph test may be administered.
Physical Examinations
All candidates have to be in excellent shape. In order to be admitted to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia applicants will have to pass a standardized physical fitness test which includes the maximum number of sit-ups you can do in one minute, a timed 300 metre sprint, the maximum number of push-ups you can do and finally a timed 1.5 mile run. After entering the academy the tests are re-administered during the first, seventh and fourteenth week of training. Trainees will also need to pass a defensive tactics test which focuses primarily on grappling, handcuffing and safely disarming somebody.
At the Academy
This is where the real work begins. The duration of training is seventeen weeks. In addition to the difficult physical regimen cadets will learn to handle a variety of weapons including handguns, shotguns and sub-machine guns. A shooting score of 80% or better is required to pass these tests. Hogan's Alley is a mock city built close by and it's used to re-create actual situations which agents will face while on active duty. Instructors and supervisors will assume the roles of innocent bystanders and criminals and the cadets will learn how to process evidence and conduct interviews.
There are more exams to complete which cover behavioral/forensic science, interrogation and investigative techniques.
Due to the strict entry requirements only a small percentage of applicants are accepted into the FBI each year. Not only does the bureau want people who are physically fit, they also need agents who are driven, motivated and able to ensure their own safety as well as the well being of others in dangerous situations.
