Pubdate: Mon, 01 Apr 2002 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2002 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://www.bostonherald.com/news.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Author: J.M. Lawrence Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) FBI ON A MISSION TO HIRE HUNDREDS OF NEW AGENTS A new "wanted" poster around the FBI these days seeks 966 new agents and 1,400 clerical staffers to join the bureau's ranks in the biggest hiring drive since the Vietnam War. Flush with extra millions from Congress and a new mission to squash terrorism with highly skilled agents, FBI headquarters has already received more applicants in two months than the bureau usually gets in a year. "People recognize the FBI is in the forefront of combating terrorism and they want to be part of it," said Charles S. Prouty, special agent in charge of the FBI in Boston. The government is counting on that war effort mentality to convince high tech experts, engineers and language experts to forego bigger private sector salaries for a job where the pay starts at $53,743-$58,335. "We have a new focus," said Prouty, who was a Navy SEAL when he joined the bureau in the 1970s. "Our No. 1 critical skill right now is computer science and information technology specialists." Patriotic fervor since the Sept. 11 terror attacks has overshadowed the headline-grabbing FBI blunders at Waco, Ruby Ridge and the prosecution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh to put a new shine on the bureau. Cover letters from some of the 19,000 applicants since February reveal people driven to help their country, according to Boston FBI recruiter Pam Swanson. "They're saying, 'I work in private industry but I have to do something. I have to help our country to remain the democracy that it is,' " Swanson said. A doctor, a dentist and a college professor are among those who recently switched career paths to join the bureau, she said. Applicants also are needed who are proficient in Arabic, Farsi, Pashtu, Urdu, Chinese dialects, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Basic requirements are that applicants must be citizens ages 26-36 with three years of work experience and a four-year college degree. But few will make the cut. Historically less than 5 percent will get a job offer. A written test measuring analytical abilities, personality and math skills knocks out 30 percent, according to the bureau. The interview process eliminates half of the remaining applicants. Then an extensive background check and polygraph test whittles down the pool further. So the bureau is pushing hard to bring in enough potential agents to find new hires by the end of September. Field offices are competing with each other to bring in the most candidates. The Boston office has openings for two agents and several clerical personnel, but new agents can't choose their post. Swanson visits college campuses around New England and also makes stops at high schools. During the school visits, teens learn that early experimentation with drugs could make them unable to pass an FBI hiring polygraph. Applicants who have used marijuana more than 15 times in their life and heroin or cocaine more than five times will be rejected under bureau policies. Then there's the grueling 16-week FBI training program at the academy in Quantico, Va., where recruits try to solve crimes in a fake town with stores and props straight out of a Hollywood back lot. They take weapons and combat training, of course, as well as classes in ethics, federal statutes and liability. Recruits earn an annual $43,705 during training. New graduates spend two years on probation working out of a city assigned by the bureau. The first stop in a career usually lasts four years, according to the bureau. Once hired, few agents leave to pursue other careers, according to FBI statistics. Pay usually tops out around $113,000 a year. Managers can earn more. Mandatory retirement comes at age 67. The bureau pitches the diversity of FBI assignments available in addition to anti-terrorism work over a long career: fighting organized crime, bank robbery, health care fraud. Got what it takes? Facts about becoming an FBI special agent: Must be a U.S. citizen between ages of 23-36 Have a four-year college degree plus three years of work experience (work rule waived for computer science experts) No felony record Must pass an extensive background check, fitness test and polygraph test Must not have used marijuana more than 15 times and must have no marijuana use in past three years No other drug use, including anabolic steroids, within the last 10 years or more than five times ever Starting salary $53,743-$58,335 - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager