Customs and Border Protection Internship Opportunities

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offers various internship programs designed to provide valuable experience to students, recent graduates, and veterans while contributing to the agency's crucial mission. These internships, offered through the CBP Pathways Programs and SkillBridge, provide opportunities to gain hands-on experience under the guidance of CBP professionals, assisting CBP in safeguarding our homeland, protecting the American people, and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Overview of CBP Internship Programs

CBP offers paid internship opportunities through the CBP Pathways Programs for veterans, high school and college students, and recent graduates. These programs are designed to provide valuable experience while working under the guidance of CBP professionals. By participating in these programs, individuals can assist CBP in safeguarding our homeland, protecting the American people, and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

CBP's Mission and Values

CBP has a demanding mission and operates in an environment of ever-increasing complexity. To continue to accomplish our mission and sustain organizational excellence, CBP relies on our most valuable resource our employees. It is our diverse and professional workforce that develops solutions to new problems, facilitates legitimate international travel and trade, and protects our Nation’s borders.

When it comes to principles, veterans personify CBP’s core values: vigilance, integrity, and service to country. VIGILANCE is how we ensure the safety of all Americans. SERVICE to country is embodied in the work we do. INTEGRITY is our cornerstone.

Benefits of a CBP Career

Every career at CBP is a rewarding one. In addition to serving your country with the certainty that your work makes a difference, we also offer a safe place to be you. CBP offers a comprehensive package which include life benefits such as annual leave, sick leave, paid holidays and family care programs.

SkillBridge Program

The SkillBridge program provides CBP hiring managers access to one of the world’s most highly trained and motivated workforces-America’s military. CBP intern and apprenticeship opportunities include communications specialist, management analyst, fire range safety specialist, auto mechanic, mission support specialist (HR, logistics, etc.), intelligence research specialist, and more. The internships take place during the participants’ last 180 days of military service and are strictly considered “volunteers” while they intern.

Eligibility and Requirements for Internships

Several requirements must be met to be eligible for a CBP internship. These requirements ensure that the interns are well-prepared and can contribute effectively to the agency's mission.

Time Away From Separation

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are able to intern for 180, 120, and 90 days and MUST be at least 11 MONTHS away from (outside of) separation. Why 11 months? We are able to host SkillBridge interns for their final 180, 120, and/or 90 days on active-duty depending on the individual service-member’s situation. We use the time prior to their finite internship dates to complete our required HR actions to include getting them in front of hiring managers, having interviews conducted, selection decisions being made, “Qualifications Reviews” successfully completed on their resumes clearly demonstrating that they have the required experience, etc. for the positions for which they are being considered, along with a 3 to 5 month (on average) full CBP Background Investigation (BI) that MUST be completed prior to internship start dates.

Application and Testing

To join our team as an Agent, you must submit an application, participate in an interview, and pass a series of tests, including an entrance exam, fitness test, and drug test. To apply for these positions, you must meet position-specific requirements, submit an application, participate in an interview, and pass a series of tests, including a fitness test, polygraph exam, and drug test. To apply for a position as an Air Interdiction Agent or Aviation Enforcement Agent, in addition to meeting position-specific requirements, you must submit an application, participate in an interview, and pass a series of tests, including a fitness test, polygraph exam, and drug test.

Internship Roles and Responsibilities

CBP internships offer a variety of roles and responsibilities, providing interns with opportunities to develop valuable skills and contribute to the agency's mission. One specific role is that of a SkillBridge intern, who supports CBP and other federal agencies enforcement units during land, air, and marine pursuits and interceptions.

Major Duties of a SkillBridge Intern

In this role the SkillBridge intern will support CBP and other federal agencies enforcement units during land, air, and marine pursuits and interceptions. Facilitate communications with control centers capable of plotting the positions of enforcement personnel and potential targets on navigation, air, and other charts. When direct communications between field elements and the appropriate control center is not possible, the incumbent functions as an intermediary and transmits data on geographical positions in a manner that can be understood by personnel from the participating federal, state, local and tribal enforcement agencies. The SkillBridge intern will be responsible for providing emergency assistance to law enforcement personnel by radio or telephone notifying other CBP personnel, other Federal law enforcement officers, or the nearest state or local police as required.

In addition, they provide real-time tactical and operational information in support of ground, sea, and air operations that are not limited to agency or national boundaries. Utilizing such information processing technologies as national databases, brief USBP Sector Operations Units, Watch Officers, and Duty Officers on the common operational picture. When operational problems are encountered, the incumbent performs initial analysis and initiates appropriate corrective action(s). Contacts responsible service personnel if routine corrective action(s) provided is ineffective. As directed, analyzes, and evaluates identified or potential problem areas, provides the supervisor with objective and quantitative findings and recommendations concerning areas in which the communication center's operations can be improved and develops associated product deliverables as assigned.

Technical and Analytical Responsibilities

Contributes to the development of policies governing the operation of Over the Air Rekey (OTAR) network equipment located within the NLECC and at fixed site locations scattered nationally and internationally. Performs first echelon Land Mobile Radion (LMR) OTAR responsibilities, which entails basic subscriber configuration in the Key Management Facility (KMF) database, rekeying, and other basic functions required in support of the OTAR program. Based upon information developed through the continued monitoring of KMF, Computerized Communications Consoles, and other network monitoring devices of incoming reports of communications malfunctions, identifies/or addresses a wide range of problems and both determines and initiates appropriate corrective actions.

Information Gathering and Dissemination

Individuals calling can leave potential tips and information regarding suspicious activity at the nation's border. This requires the incumbent to be skillful in interviewing techniques to obtain as much information as possible, validate the information, analyze it, and then disseminate it to the proper authorities. Therefore, the incumbent must have knowledge of law enforcement missions and the roles and responsibilities of multiple federal agencies.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of various enforcement data analysis and knowledge of data available via national/international computerized operational information systems. Knowledge of all CBP and other federal, state, local and tribal enforcement functions, and the ability to apply this knowledge when developing new methods, approaches, and procedures for meeting enforcement information requirements. Knowledge of the objectives, overall design, and operating principles of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement information systems to recognize probable data Interactions. Knowledge of jurisdiction and missions of concerned federal, state, local and tribal agencies to coordinate needed assistance and dispense enforcement data.

Knowledge of CBP and other federal agencies policies, organization, functions, and operations sufficient to answer questions addressed by the public or other law enforcement agencies.Writing skills sufficient to prepare criminal history packages, administrative correspondence, standard operating procedures, and internal correspondence.Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to prepare proposals/recommendations, standard operating procedures, internal correspondence, and briefings to the appropriate CBP Commissioner's Office, other headquarters' managers, as well as local management and/other federal, state, local or tribal agency personnel.

Opportunities for Veterans

CBP recognizes the valuable skills and experience that veterans bring to the agency. Roughly a third of CBP’s workforce has served in the military. If you are a veteran joining CBP, you will find many others that share your military background and principles.

Veterans Employment Program

CBP Veterans Employment Program (VEP) Manager Jeff Jack recommends contacting CBP as early as 18 months prior to separation to learn more about CBP opportunities, discuss career goals, and identify potential internships. CBP SkillBridge internships afford participants the opportunity to clearly demonstrate their proficiency for the positions for which they intern to hiring managers inside the federal space for possible non-competitive hire outside the typical USAJOBS.gov competitive process, ensuring a seamless transition to the CBP career that best fits them.

Legal Internships at CBP

The Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC) is vital to CBP’s accomplishment of that mission. OCC attorneys advise and train CBP’s operational clients on issues relating to immigration, constitutional, customs and international trade, tort, disclosure, ethics, and labor and employment law. OCC attorneys represent CBP’s operational clients in administrative proceedings before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and at arbitration.

Role of a General Attorney Intern

A General Attorney intern will be provided the opportunity to engage in a legal practice spanning CBP’s diverse legal portfolio, acquiring a nuanced understanding of CBP’s operations and legal authorities and an experience beneficial to employment within OCC. Department of Justice attorneys on affirmative and defensive federal litigation involving CBP, at times in cases with national implications. Department of Justice attorneys, strategize CBP’s litigation position.

Diverse Career Paths within CBP

CBP offers various career paths, including Border Patrol Agents, Marine Interdiction Agents, and Air Interdiction Agents, each with specific requirements, roles, and responsibilities.

Border Patrol Agents

For those who prefer terrain less traveled, a new career starts here. Border Patrol Agents serve on the frontline, protecting our land borders and coastal waters from unlawful activity while also providing aid to those in need. Newly appointed Border Patrol Agents (as defined in 5 CFR 575.102) who enter on duty after January 8, 2024, will be offered a $20,000 recruitment incentive upon successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy and three years of service.

Marine Interdiction Agents

Marine Interdiction Agents are an elite team of mariners and watermen who conduct maritime patrols and high-speed vessel pursuits to prevent terrorist attacks, thwart cross-border smuggling, and provide life-saving humanitarian support. Our team is made up of experienced mariners serving as Marine Interdiction Agents and Marine Enforcement Officers.

Air Interdiction Agents

Serving and protecting America from the skies, Air Interdiction Agents are an elite team of pilots who operate a fleet of planes, helicopters, specialized aircraft, and unmanned aerial surveillance platforms. Starting salaries for Air Interdiction Agents run as high as $100,101 to $120,121. A career with CBP provides opportunities for pilots and transitioning veterans to serve close to home with comprehensive insurance coverage and retirement.

tags: #customs #and #border #protection #internship #requirements