Pilot CBP Air Interdiction
Agent
Air and
Marine Operations (AMO), a component of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), offers skilled Pilots interested in law
enforcement an opportunity to work with an elite team of highly
trained professionals whose camaraderie, pride, and purpose are
hallmarks of their daily mission to protect
America.
If you are looking for an exciting and
rewarding career with excellent pay, exceptional federal benefits
and job stability, now is the time to make your move : become an
Air Interdiction Agent . AMO is
actively recruiting for these full-time security-based
opportunities with a streamlined application process. Notably,
seasoned pilots and those with military training are in
demand APPLY
TODAY!
Duty
Locations
Locations are offered
based on operational requirements, mission requirements, and
critical agency hiring needs as determined by AMO. You must be
willing to work at any duty location within the region you select
to include but not limited to the
following : Southeast
Region : Homestead, FL and CAMB : Aguadilla,
PR
Southwest Region :
Tucson and Yuma, AZ; San Diego, CA; El Paso, Laredo, and McAllen,
TX
NASOC UAS
locations : Sierra Vista, AZ; San Angelo,
TX
Duties
and Responsibilities
As an Air
Interdiction Agent (AIA) you will perform aviation-based law
enforcement operations for the detection, prevention, interdiction,
and apprehension of terrorists, terrorist weapons, and other
contraband and persons from illegally entering or attacking the
United States. Typical duties
include : Conducting air
patrol, surveillance, and pursuit activities related to the
interdiction of smuggled contraband via land vehicles, aircraft, or
vessels.
Monitoring behavior
patterns and activities of suspect persons, vehicles, or vessels
believed to be engaged in illegal
activities.
Collecting,
refining, and analyzing strategic and tactical
intelligence.
Supporting
search and rescue and humanitarian
efforts.
Salary
and Benefits
Begin your career as
an Air Interdiction Agent (AIA) and make up to $106,000 -$127,000
per year based on your qualifications for the GS-11 grade level and
possible extra compensation based on your duty location (see below)
and overtime pay, up to 25% of your salary.
Your
starting salary will include Special Salary Rate (SSR); Law
Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP); Recruitment Incentive; and
Retention Incentive.
This career ladder position
has a grade level progression of GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13. You may
be eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level
automatically (without re-applying) once you complete 52 weeks at
each grade level (with supervisor
approval).
Example of annual compensation for the
first three years at our new-hire locations which are currently
authorized to receive LEAP (amounts below include the SSR +
LEAP).
GS-11, 1st year annual
pay - $106,588
GS-12, 2nd
year annual pay -
$127,754
GS-13, 3rd year
annual pay -
$151,817
Example of annual
compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations
which are currently authorized to receive a 10% Retention Incentive
(amounts below include the SSR + LEAP + 10% Retention Incentive UAS
Sites : Sierra Vista, AZ; Grand Forks, ND; San Angelo,
TX).
GS-11, 1st year annual
pay - $115,115
GS-12, 2nd
year annual pay -
$137,974
GS-13, 3rd year
annual pay -
$164,071
Example of annual
compensation for the first three years at our new-hire locations
which are currently authorized to receive a 25% Recruitment
Incentive (amounts below include the SSR + LEAP + 25% Recruitment
Incentive CAMB location only; Aguadilla,
PR).
GS-11, 1st year annual
pay - $127,906
GS-12, 2nd
year annual pay -
$153,305
GS-13, 3rd year
annual pay - $182,302
Air
Interdiction Agents are eligible to select from an array of federal
employment benefits that include health, dental and other insurance
plans, a generous annual and sick leave program, and participation
in the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement plan akin to a traditional
and ROTH 401(k)
offering.
Qualifications
Experience : You
qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one (1) year of
specialized professional aviation experience performing duties such
as : Flying as a
Pilot-in-Command or sole manipulator in an airplane and helicopter
in all environments of flight, including night, poor weather,
unfavorable terrain, low altitudes, or
speed.
Evaluating
information rapidly and making judicious decisions promptly during
in-flight
operations.
Developing
strategies and coordinating aircraft and ground
assets.
Using information
systems and databases to conduct information surveys, queries,
update files and disseminate
information.
Experience may
include Operation of an aircraft as Captain, Pilot in Command,
Aircraft Commander, First Officer, Certified Flight Instructor,
Second in Command, or
Co-pilot.
Hiring
Minimums : Certification
& Ratings : A current FAA Commercial or ATP Pilot
Certification with one of the following
ratings :
Dual Rated : Airplane
(Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument rating
AND Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument
rating.
Airplane Rated :
Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with
instrument.
Helicopter
Rated : Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument
rating.
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).
Flight
Hours : Pilot Enter on Duty minimums are 1500 flight
hours; (up to 500 hours can be waived, reducing the pilot enter on
duty minimums to 1000 hours.
250 Pilot-in-Command
hours; 75 Instrument hours; 75 Night hours (Flight Hour Waiver
available, see Required Documents); and 100 Flight hours in the
last 12 months This qualification requirement is currently being
waived by OPM through August 5,
2025.
FAA Class 2 medical required for
assessment dated within the last 12 calendar months; FAA Class 1,
FAA Class 2 or Military medical flight clearance dated within the
last 12 months qualifies to start the pre-employment process for
the AIA position.
Apply at
750 hours total
time : 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 their
own expense before being able to attend the 3-part flight
assessment. Applicants must still meet 250 Pilot-in-Command, 75
instrument, and 75-night hours (100 flight hours in the last 12
months. This qualification requirement is currently being waived by
OPM through August 5, 2025)
UAS
Flight Hours : Applicants may include UAS
Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) flight hours and Predator A
(MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) or predator-based 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 flight hours as a Pilot in Command, 75 flight hours
Instrument, and 75 flight hours Night. Flight hour logbooks will be
required at the time of your Flight Assessment for
verification.
Other
Requirements
Citizenship :
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this
position.
Residency :
You must have had primary U.S. residency (includes protectorates as
declared under international law) for at least three of the last
five years.
Age Requirement :
Provisions of Public Laws 93-350 and 100-238 allow
the imposition of a maximum age for initial appointment to a
primary Law Enforcement Officer position within the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS). In accordance with DHS Management
Directive 251-03, the ‘day before an individual‘s 37th birthday‘ is
the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a primary
law enforcement officer within DHS. The age requirement is also
necessary to ensure that you are able to complete the 20 years of
applicable service for
retirement.
NOTE : The Commissioner
of CBP has approved a temporary increase in
the maximum allowable age to 40 for original placement into an Air
Interdiction Agent
position.
Age Waiver :
Creditable law enforcement officer service
U.S.C. 8412(d), or creditable service covered by Title 5 U.S.C.
8401(36) (as a Customs and Border Protection Officer) on or after
July 6, 2008, may be applied toward the maximum age requirement.
This age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving in
a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered
by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C.
8412(d).
Veterans‘ Preference
Eligibility : To ensure compliance with statutes
pertaining to the appointment of preference eligible veterans as
determined by the Merit Systems Protection Board in its
decision Isabella v. Dept
of State, the maximum age for original appointment
articulated above shall not apply to the hiring of individuals
entitled to veterans‘ preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. 3312.
You must submit proof of Veteran‘s Preference (DD-214 Member 4
Copy) at the time of
application.
Training : This
position has a training requirement. You may be required to
successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of
employment. Failure to successfully complete the required course(s)
of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will
result in placement into either a former or different position,
demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate
procedures.
Travel Required :
You may be expected to travel for this position
based on operational
needs.
How
to Apply
There Are
Three Ways to Apply to Become an Air Interdiction
Agent : Fill
out the Air Interdiction Agent applicant checklist and
email it to a recruiter
at cbp_amo_recruiting@cbp.dhs.gov along with a copy of
OR
Apply
on USAJOBS ; OR
Apply
on Airline
Apps.
Stay
Updated Opt into CBP’s talent repository
(highly recommended) by selecting the
Contact a Recruiter button. For
Position of Interest select Air and Marine
Operations, Air Interdiction Agent, then complete the pre-screening
questions. You’ll receive monthly emails with information about
webinars, career expos, and future opportunities with AMO and
CBP.
Air Interdiction Agent • Oceanside, CA, US