Celebrating Women Special Agents, part 5

A Diversity of Backgrounds and Experiences

In the 40 years since the FBI began training women to be special agents, many have said it was a dream they had held since childhood. They played cops and robbers as kids, kept their noses clean, and maybe joined the military or the local police, consciously burnishing their credentials on the road to becoming G-women.

“I’m not quite sure where the seed got planted,” said Katrina G., an agent who now runs the Bureau’s Forensic Audio Video and Image Analysis Unit. “But I thought the FBI—fidelity, bravery, integrity—you can’t go wrong. I always wanted to be someone to do the right thing, to be fair and honest, and to stick up for the little guys.”

Others followed a less scripted route. Shelia T., an agent at the FBI’s Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, set out in college to be a research professor and was well on her way when she drove a friend to an FBI recruitment event on campus. “We went in and sat through the session,” she recalled. “My friend is listening because she’s interested and I’m in the back waiting for her to finish so we can go study.” An agent suggested Shelia apply, too. She found herself at the FBI Academy for new-agent training on August 16, 1998. A few years later she was in Ken Lay’s office at Enron, collecting evidence at the center of the Bureau’s largest-ever white-collar crime scene.

Their stories, revealed in more than a dozen interviews with female agents past and present, show there’s no well-defined template for women agents, apart from a desire to serve. Like the first two women agents—a nun and a Marine—they arrived at the FBI with varied backgrounds and proceeded to have similarly varied careers. In video interviews, they talk about what brought them to the Bureau, the challenges they faced, their unique work experiences, and their reflections on careers that broke more than a few glass ceilings.

A common thread is that none aspired to be great women agents, just great agents that happened to be women.

Here’s a preview:

■A 24-year agent who early in her career competed for a spot on the Hostage Rescue Team: “I was driven by the challenge. It didn’t even occur to me that I was a female and that I was being questioned because I was a female.”

■A retired agent who rose through a series of leadership firsts to the Bureau’s third-highest position: “At the time women became the first at anything somebody always took notice. And often it was the women who took notice because we were trying to find our way and make sure that we had the opportunities that men who were agents had. And we did.”

■Special agent in charge of the Anchorage Division: “I think women coming through today, they benefit from the experiences of all the women that have gone before, and the fact that it’s not considered so unusual now.”

The growing ranks of women agents echo the Anchorage agent’s comments—more than 2,600 today, including 11 in charge of field offices. “As a whole, the Bureau is better for having women agents,” she said. “I think we make the Bureau more complete.”

Apply for an FBI Internship!

A Summer at FBI Jacksonville

Getting a job as an FBI intern is not an easy thing to do. But as four students from across North Florida will tell you, it’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else.

“It gave me a real perspective on the FBI,” said Josh, a criminal justice student from the University of North Florida. “There’s a lot more to it than what you see on TV.”

The Jacksonville Field Office hosted the students as part of the Bureau’s highly selective Volunteer Internship Program. Every fall, thousands of students from around the country apply for a limited number of openings. And the application is only the beginning. Students who meet the rigorous academic requirements must also do well in a panel interview, then undergo a full background investigation that includes a polygraph exam. By the time they start work, they have qualified for a Top Secret security clearance. Out of 5,000 applicants this year, only 263 were selected.

Jacksonville’s interns were exposed to a wide range of life in the Bureau this summer—from the ordinary to the exhilarating. For one case, they worked alongside some of the FBI’s forensic canines. After the serious business of observing the dogs and their handlers work a potential crime scene, the interns got the treat of rewarding the dogs with a run. During a training session with the Evidence Response Team, interns learned the ins and outs of using a variety of specialized search and evidence recovery tools, including an alternative light source device that reveals previously hidden trace evidence. And in the courtroom, they witnessed the culmination of months of casework in an afternoon motion hearing.

For Natasha, a University of North Florida undergrad, working daily alongside many of the special agents at the Jacksonville Field Office solidified her desire to work toward becoming an agent herself one day. Seeing just a portion of the tireless work being done behind the scenes piqued her interest in investigating potential threats and working toward justice for those who are victimized.

“It’s a very long road to become an agent,” she said, “but it’s something that seems attainable now.”

To qualify for the FBI’s Volunteer Internship Program, students must be:

■Attending a college or university that is accredited by one of the regional or national institutional associations recognized by the United States Secretary of Education;

■Classified as a sophomore, junior, or senior (not graduating before December) attending a college or university; or a graduate student enrolled in a college or university at least part-time;

■Willing to participate for a term of at least 10 weeks, 40 hours per week (subject to change). Interns may be able to continue in year round program, working 16 hours a month at Headquarters or at the field office closest to their school;

■In possession of a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale and be in good standing with his or her academic institution (subject to change);

■A U.S. citizen; and

■Able to meet all FBI employment requirements and able to pass an FBI background investigation and receive a Top Secret security clearance.

If you or a student you know would like more information about the FBI’s Volunteer Internship Program, including a full list of qualifications and details on the selection process, visit www.FBIjobs.gov and click on Internship Programs.

FBI Top Stories: Looking for Linguists

FBI Linguist Job Fair in Salt Lake City a Huge Success

More than 900 people turned out for the FBI’s linguist job fair held this week in Salt Lake City, Utah. Anyone proficient in a second language other than English was invited to attend the event which was organized by the FBI Salt Lake City Division’s language program. Candidates came from across Utah and drove in from other states to learn what it takes to become a linguist at the FBI. Those who could not attend e-mailed their resumes to the FBI Salt Lake City Division.

In all, more than 30 languages were represented. The possibility of working for the FBI, earning a wage of $29 to $41 an hour, and the ability to work a flexible schedule were just a few of the reasons for the widespread interest in the event. Attendees spent approximately one hour speaking to FBI supervisors and linguists about the position openings and the application process. FBI language program supervisors expect to contact qualified candidates by mid-September 2012 to continue the application process.

The FBI Salt Lake City Division attributes the success of the linguist job fair to the willingness of its community partners to help spread the word about the contract linguist position openings at the FBI. Law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and media all played a significant role in assisting the FBI to publicize and promote the event.

Top Stories: Become an FBI Agent

The Life of an FBI Agent

Media Coordinator Beth Anne Steele recently sat down with Special Agent John Jeffries, the applicant coordinator for FBI Portland. In this interview, he discusses his experiences as an FBI agent and offers advice to those looking to pursue the same path.

Beth Anne: Let’s talk about your life, John. What did you do before joining the FBI?

John: I came from the world of corporate finance. My days included analyzing profit-loss statements and working with customers on solutions for off-balance sheet acquisitions. One day, I was talking with the chief financial officer of my company. He said something about the moral characteristics of FBI employees, and it piqued my interest. The interest became more than just a passing thought, and I began to pursue a career.

Beth Anne: How long have you been an agent, and what do you enjoy most about your career?

John: While it may sound old-fashioned, it has been a privilege to serve the citizens of our country as an agent for more than 16 years. I have had so many incredible experiences as an agent. However, the stories of those times are really wrapped in the people who experienced those moments with me. The most enjoyable part my career is and has always been the people who I work with every day.

Beth Anne: When you think of these co-workers, what is it that makes them so special to you?

John: The culture of the FBI is we are a family. A family takes care of each other and is there when help is needed. Within the tactical setting, we must rely upon each other and that can be a strong bond, but the day-to-day, more common examples are what define the FBI culture. For instance, if a co-worker who is pregnant develops complications resulting in physician-prescribed bed rest, she may not have enough sick or vacation time to cover the extended absence. Co-workers can donate their vacation time so she never misses a paycheck. It is just one of the many ways we take care of each other.

Beth Anne: What advice would you give to prospective agents?

John: Be honest. In the private sector, taking credit for anything you barely touched is sadly the norm. When you apply to the Bureau, be absolutely honest. We will conduct lengthy interviews, polygraph exams, and a background investigation prior to allowing you to become an agent. We lose large numbers of people because they omit pertinent information or “stretch the truth.” For that, you will be discontinued and never be given a second chance.

Beth Anne: What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about a career as an FBI special agent?

John: First, my life is not what you might see from Hollywood…not even close. I don’t think I have ever seen “Jack Bauer” type anything documenting his actions. Our careers as FBI agents require detailed attention to everything we do—details that are often tedious and anything but exciting. Think of a jigsaw puzzle that has thousands of pieces that must be carefully examined and put together. It is the detail that allows the FBI to put together large cases that end with placing handcuffs on the subject. Yes, there are times when we are in the forest on the trail of someone who just shot or abducted someone, but do not make the mistake of thinking you will be doing that every day.

Secondly, most people wrongly assume we are only looking for employees who were formerly in law enforcement. One of the strengths of the Bureau is that we have varied backgrounds. If the Bureau were comprised of nothing but finance people like me, we would be a weaker organization. In general, we like people who have jobs that require attention to detail. That includes all kinds of professionals from software engineers to lawyers to foreign language specialists.

For details on becoming an FBI special agent, please go to www.fbijobs.gov. The special agent application period is currently open until August 15, 2012.

TOP STORY: ICE proudly selects veterans for employment and internships

In June 2009, doctors told U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Sandra Ambotaite that she may never walk again. Less than three years later, she proved them wrong, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent.

After a terrible motorcycle accident, Ambotaite was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. In 2010, she connected with an organization in Colorado that provides services to military personnel and veterans with traumatic brain injuries. She began to rehabilitate, both physically and mentally. It was an arduous process, but she persevered to make a significant recovery.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proudly selects service members like Ambotaite through the Department of Defense's Operation Warfighter internship program to work in ICE offices nationwide as they recover from their injuries. ICE also recruits and hires veterans through a variety of outreach and recruitment programs that take place at career fairs, transition workshops, medical centers and military installations. ICE makes every effort to place individuals in a location of his/her choice, often close to family and support systems.

"It is important to recruit veterans at ICE because they bring unique skills and experience to the workforce and the ICE mission," said Joseph Arata, ICE's chief of strategic recruitment. In fiscal year 2012 ICE brought on 190 veterans that are new to the federal government."

Currently, approximately 30 percent of the ICE workforce is comprised of veterans.

Ambotaite has worked at ICE since April 2012. As an intern in Mission Support, she logs inventory, issues special agent raid gear, conducts audit reports, processes packets and creates spreadsheets.

When asked what advice she has for other veterans with disabilities, she optimistically replies, "Life is too short to sit around think about the negatives. Use the energy that's left to learn something new, to meet someone new or to see and experience different things…the only disability in this life is a negative attitude."

FBI Offers Job Opportunities for Foreign Language Speakers

FBI Foreign Language Job Fair to be Held Saturday, June 16, 2012

The FBI is seeking to hire foreign language speakers and will host its first foreign language job fair in the DFW Metroplex in Grapevine, Texas on Saturday, June 16, 2012. The job fair will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Grapevine Convention Center located at 1209 South Main Street in Grapevine, Texas, 76051.

“FBI linguists play an extremely important role in supporting the FBI’s mission by performing interpretation and translation assignments, as well as providing nuances of cultural awareness to FBI agents, intelligence analysts, and other FBI employees,” said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin F. Kolbye. “It’s a job opportunity that celebrates a high retention rate, promotes a great sense of job satisfaction, and promises to be both challenging and rewarding.”

The FBI has nearly 1,500 linguists nationwide supporting over 100 different foreign language requirements. Over 95 percent of the FBI’s linguists are native speakers in the foreign language for which they are hired. All linguists begin as contract employees, but the position may lead to full-time employment. Contract linguists are able to work part-time hours and are paid between $29 and $41 per hour, depending upon the language and level of proficiency. Candidates offered a contract can expect to provide services from their local FBI field office.

Qualified candidates must have the following:

1) Strong oral and written communication skills in English and a foreign language needed by the FBI;

2) Basic computer applications skills;

3) United States citizenship; and

4) Physical residence in the United States for three of the last five years. Currently, the foreign languages most needed by the FBI are Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dari, Hebrew, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Urdu. Individuals with proficiency in other languages are also encouraged to attend.

FBI language managers and linguists will be at the job fair to discuss the position and will pre- screen potential candidates. Additional information about FBI job opportunities may be found at www.fbijobs.gov.