Just a quick update for those currently still in the pre-employment process.

I recently finished up the check out flight/in person interview in OKC. They have said that January and February classes are full at this time and they did not give me a specific EOD date yet. Hope this info helps for those still working through the application process.

Good information. Thanks! I was wondering if anyone had received a final offer as of late. Did you pick your duty location?

I did yes. Fixed wing only guys are getting sent to either Sierra Vista or San Angelo as far as I know.

MrAirplane -

Could you share you aviation experience up to date?

OK yeah I remember that email coming out about asking applicants whether they would except those locations. I didn’t know those were the only two options at this time


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Fixed wing Part 91/135 Turboprop flying w/1,500+ hours

Yup that's what they told last week. Last I heard for the people that were duel-rated were being offered El Paso and another Texas border town. But that information could be out dated. I was told that over a month ago.

When one becomes employed, prior military time is applied for leave purposes without having to do anything, except provide the DD214s. Because of your eight years, you would receive 20 days of vacation per year vice 13 days. Seven years later you would start receiving 26 days per year (at 15 years total government service).

For military buyback the agency will assist you, through a standard form, to request your total pay assessment from your branch. Once CBP has the figure (3% of total), you may pay that by lump sum, or by having any amount automatically deducted from your CBP paycheck. The balance will not earn interest the first two years. Interest begins accumulating your third year and every year thereafter. In an unbelievably good deal, the interest is simple interest applied to your remaining balance at the end of each year. So you would not accrue interest the first three years on you balance.

If you are married and die during service, your spouse will have the option to pay off the balance and receive your retirement benefits for time spent in CBP plus the eight years military. By the way death benefits are awesome.

Assuming you do not meet your demise while employed, sill hit the 20 year law enforcement gate to receive a law enforcement retirement, the eight years will only be good for 8%. If you leave government service prior to 20 years, you may receive a refund for retirement payments or may elect to receive a partial non law enforcement retirement beginning at (I think) age 60.

Its a no brainer.

Skylike -

Unless CBP is different from other gov’t avenues, it isn’t just years of military service, to get leave credit there are only certain periods of service that qualify. Is it not the same in CBP - maybe because you are LEOs?

Also - at least with everyone I serve with - buying back your time isn’t worth it if you are retired officer or senior enlisted I think I hear E-7 might be the breaking point? For those that don’t know, if you are retired and buy back your time then you forfeit your military retirement pay.

I was considering Apejackson's eight years enlisted. I should have been more general for others on the forum and included this caveat.

If you have already RETIRED from active duty, you start federal civilian service for leave purposes as someone with no prior time would. You are already being compensated for your military time.

If you are retired, you may still buy back your military time but I cannot fathom any scenario that would make it financially feasible. You give up your current military pension for future civil credit.

I was speaking for anyone who has regular active duty military (or Coast Guard) time and DID NOT retire. If you were enlisted four four years and left or an officer passed over for O5 and canned at 14 years, you may buy back that time and it counts for additional percentage of pay at retirement.

For leave accumulation, all regular active duty time counts (unless you retired). I am not speaking of National Guard time or reserves taking active orders, just regular ol' I joined the military and left under honorable conditions after x number of years. In times of drawdown or for veteran's preference points,one can have active military service but not be considered a veteran, but I don't think that has occured in the last 30 years.

These are the rules under FERS for law enforcement officers. I thought the FERS rules were the same for military service LEO or not, but cannot speak to that. There may be some on this forum still on the CSRS retirement system, but they won't be around, or alive, much longer. Anyone interested in a CBP job or any other agency will be under FERS, LEO or not.

USMCFLYR - are you still FAA flight check?