Border Patrol Jobs – Job Profile and Required Skill Set

Job Profile

Preventing the illegal entry of aliens, terrorists and drug barons is the chief task achieved by a border patrol agent. Major job activities of a border patrol agent involve line of watch, city patrol, traffic check, farm and ranch check, aircraft sightings, trailing the unusual tracks and marks, intelligence activities, administrative activities and anti-smuggling activities.

Besides these activities, the border patrol agents are also responsible for apprehending and combating the terrorists, aliens, smugglers or drug tycoons that infiltrate through the national boundaries. It is a tough and demanding job profile that requires persons with exceptional physical stamina and courage to face even death.

Qualification and Skills

Relevant work experience in a border patrol agency of a different origin helps the border patrol agent to a large degree. Otherwise, a bachelor degree in criminal justice or homeland security is sufficient to become eligible for a GS-5 pay scale. The ideal combination is always a bachelors or masters degree coupled with the relevant work experience in a border patrol agency.

The candidate should be under 40 years of age and a national citizen with a valid driving license. In addition to these prerequisites, he should not have any of the Class A/Class B misdemeanor or felony registered against him in the past 10 years. Apart from these qualifications, the candidate has to clear a rigorous physical test and undergo a meticulous background investigation process. A dedicated and disciplined approach with a strong patriotic feeling is essentially required in an individual interested in border patrol jobs