Be Part of an Elite Law Enforcement Team – Uphold a Tradition of Honor

Career Path

Secret Service Uniformed Division Officers provide protection for the White House complex, the Vice President's residence, the main Treasury Building and Annex, and foreign diplomatic missions and embassies in the Washington, D.C., area. Additionally, Uniformed Division officers travel in support of presidential, vice presidential and foreign head of state government missions. Officers may, as their careers progress, be selected to participate in one of several specialized units, including the:

• Canine Unit – performing security sweeps and responding to bomb threats and suspicious packages
• Emergency Response Team – providing a coordinated tactical response for the White House and other protected facilities
• Countersniper Team – utilizing observation, sighting equipment and high-performance weapons to provide a secure environment for protectees
• Motorcade Support Unit – providing motorcycle tactical support for official movements of motorcades
• Crime Scene Search Unit – photographing, collecting and processing physical and latent evidence
• Office of Human Resources and Training – serving as firearms and classroom instructors or recruiters
• Special Operations Section – handling special duties and functions at the White House complex, including conducting the daily congressional and public tours of the White House

Qualifications

To be considered for Uniformed Division Officer positions you must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be at least 21 years of age at time of application and younger than 37 at the time of receipt of a conditional offer of employment to continue in the application process. Applicants with veterans’ preference must be at least 21 years of age at time of application and younger than 40 at the time of receipt of a conditional offer of employment to continue in the application process.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Have uncorrected vision no worse than 20/60 binocular; correctable to 20/20 in each eye (NOTE: Lasik, ALK, RK and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eyes surgeries for applicants provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are the waiting periods before visual tests are conducted after the surgery: Lasik surgery–three months; PRK–six months; and ALK and RK–one year.)
• Be in excellent health and physical condition
• Complete an Applicant Physical Abilities Test
• Complete interviews and pass a written test (the Police Officer’s Selection Test)
• Qualify for a Top Secret clearance and undergo a complete background investigation, to include driving record check, drug screening, medical and polygraph examinations
• Certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so, if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959
• The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone). If you have visible body markings, you will be required to medically remove such visible body markings at your own expense prior to entering on duty with the Secret Service.

Benefits

In addition to federal employee benefits, Uniformed Division Officer benefits also include:

• Competitive starting salary.
  
• Click here to see the Salary Schedule for UD officers and other ranks.
• Overtime compensation at the rate of time and one-half, or through compensatory time off
• Uniforms and equipment furnished at no cost
• Low-cost life insurance
  
• Individual or family membership in low-cost federal health benefit plans
  
• Annual leave earned at the rate of 13 to 26 days per year, based on length of employment (prior federal civilian or military service is credited, as authorized)
  
• Sick leave accumulated at the rate of 13 days per year without limit
  
• Paid holidays
  
• Reasonable moving expenses paid for out-of-area hires
  
• Comprehensive retirement benefits (retirement credit is granted for prior federal military or government service, as authorized)
  
• Eligibility for participation in Flexible Spending Account Program (a tax-favored program offered to employees to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars)

Conditions

Certain demands are required of all Uniformed Division Officers. These include, but are not limited to:  

• Working long hours in undesirable conditions on short notice
• Traveling away from home for periods up to 30 days and sometimes longer
• Carrying a firearm while performing duties and maintaining firearms proficiency

Maximum Age Entry Restriction

On August 26, 2009, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a memorandum for all Heads of Departments and Executive Agencies related to hiring of preference eligible veterans applying for federal positions with maximum entry-age restrictions.

In accordance with guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management, the Secret Service conducted an analysis to determine if a maximum entry age is essential to the performance of the (Special Agent, Uniformed Division Officer position). This analysis has now been completed. The results of this analysis supported that a maximum entry age of 40 is essential to the performance of the (Special Agent, Uniformed Division Officer position). Accordingly, applicants for the (Special Agent, Uniformed Division Officer position) with veteran’s preference must receive a conditional offer of employment prior to reaching age 40 to continue in the application process. All other applicants must receive a conditional offer of employment prior to reaching age 37 to continue in the application process.