Margarito J. Garcia, III, Ph.D.

Aicragjm1205@aol.com
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Overview
Duties
Qualifications & Evaluations
Benefits & Other Info
How to Apply

Job Title:Customs and Border Protection Officer

Department:Department Of Homeland Security
Agency:Customs and Border Protection
Job Announcement Number:CBPO 15-4

SALARY RANGE:
OPEN PERIOD:
SERIES & GRADE:
POSITION INFORMATION:

$31,944.00 to $39,570.00 / Per Year

Sunday, June 28, 2015 to Sunday, July 19, 2015
GS-1895-05/07
Full Time - Permanent

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
12

DUTY LOCATIONS:

Many vacancies in the following location(s):

Douglas, AZ View Map
Lukeville, AZ View Map
Nogales, AZ View Map
San Luis, AZ View Map
Calexico, CA View Map
More Locations (7)

WHO MAY APPLY:

SECURITY CLEARANCE:
SUPERVISORY STATUS:

United States Citizens

Public Trust - Background Investigation
No

JOB SUMMARY:
About the Agency

Do you desire to protect American interests and secure our Nation while building a meaningful and
rewarding career? If so, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling. DHS components work
collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard
cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters. The vitality and magnitude of this mission is achieved by a
diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole
organization responsible for securing the nation's borders. CBP employees protect our Nation's borders
from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, illegal migration, and agricultural pests while simultaneously
facilitating the flow of legitimate travel and trade. The CBP Officer position starts at a salary of $31,944
(GS-5 grade level), with promotion potential to $70,192 (GS-12 grade level). Apply to this exciting
opportunity to strengthen the Department's and our partners' ability to perform their homeland security
functions by doing the following:
Detect and prevent terrorist and terrorist weapons from entering the United States
Enforce customs, immigration and agricultural laws and regulations at U.S. ports of entry
Prevent the illegal trafficking of people, narcotics and contraband into the United States
Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Twitter @CustomsBorder
The video: Securing Americas Ports of Entry emphasizes the importance of CBP Field
Operations' frontline role in helping CBP accomplish its mission. For more information on CBPs
mission, activities, and careers, please visit our website at www.cbp.gov.

This announcement is open to VRA-eligible applicants. Please see the following link for more
information: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/
CBP encourages women, minorities, and veterans to apply for an exciting career
with
Customs and Border Protection.

Female CBP Officers are in high demand for the processing female travelers that are detained,
interrogated and/or deported. Therefore, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management has granted CBP an
exception to Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 332, Section 332.407 which authorizes the
targeted recruitment of female officers in locations experiencing a critical need.
View common definitionsof terms found in this announcement
TRAVEL REQUIRED

Not Required

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

No

KEY REQUIREMENTS

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position

Referred for selection prior to your 37th birthday (waiver for veterans)

You must have resided in the U.S. for the last 3 years

You must successfully pass a polygraph examination

You must successfully pass a background investigation

Convictions of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are disqualifying

You will be required to carry a firearm and have a valid driver's license

You will be required to work regular and recurring shift work

You must meet job-related medical, fitness and drug-testing standards

DUTIES:
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Being a Customs and Border Protection Officer makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law
Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession. Typical assignments include:

Enforcing customs, immigration, and agriculture law and regulations;

Facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel;

Conducting inspections of individuals and conveyances;

Determining the admissibility of individuals for entry into the United States; and

Preventing the illegal entry of individuals and prohibited good and the smuggling of illegal drugs
and other contraband.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
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You qualify for the GS-5 grade level (starting salary $31,944) if you possess one of the following:
a. Three years of general work experience that demonstrates the ability to meet and deal with
people and the ability to learn and apply a body of facts; OR
b.

A bachelors degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; OR

c.

A combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. This

will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

You qualify for the GS-7 grade level (starting salary $39,570) if you possess one of the following:
a.

One year of specialized work experience that entails performance of substantive duties in
inspections work at borders, seaports, airports or other ports of entry and/or work involving
preliminary screening of persons for entry and immigration status, or compliance/regulatory
work; OR

b.

A bachelors degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class
standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. Go
to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp Superior Academic
Achievement to see if you qualify under this provision; OR

c.

One full year of graduate level education in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g.,
criminal justice, homeland security, justice studies, law enforcement, courts and judicial
systems, forensic technology, corrections and rehabilitation) at an accredited or preaccredited college or university; OR

d.

A combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. This

will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience) Experience refers to paid and unpaid
experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps,
AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community,
student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide
valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all
qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Qualifications: The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the close date of this
announcement.
Firearm Proficiency: Firearm proficiency is required for all CBP Officers and is part of the training
provided at the academy.
Current Federal Employees: Current federal employees who apply to this announcement will be
required to serve a probationary period in accordance with 5 CFR 315 and may be required to accept a
change to lower grade, which may reduce their salary based on Federal pay regulations. Note: If you
are a current GS-12 step 1, your salary will be reduced to a GS-7 step 10, which equates to an
approximate $18,000 salary reduction (based on locality). Re-promotion is not guaranteed.
Timeframes and grade level re-promotion is at the discretion of the agency and will be subject to a
probationary period.
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one-year
probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine
fitness for continued employment.
Formal Training: New CBP Officers will complete a paid pre-academy orientation for approximately
30 days at their home port prior to attending the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for
approximately 17-19 weeks at Brunswick, GA. Candidates selected for duty locations where they are
required to be proficient in reading, writing and speaking Spanish will be required to either pass a
Spanish language proficiency examination or attend a 6-week long Spanish immersion class at FLETC.
For more information on training at FLETC please visit the website at: https://www.fletc.gov/

Uniforms: This position requires wearing an officially approved uniform while in a duty status. CBP
Officers received a uniform allowance to offset the cost of purchasing the required CBP Officer
uniform.
Shift Work: This position requires regular and recurring shift work. You must be will and available to
work rotating shifts. You may also be rotated between assignments and duty locations.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated based on your resume, supporting documents, and response to the job
questionnaire. If you meet the qualifications, you must take and pass the CBP Officer Entrance Exam
(external assessment). You will receive an email invitation to schedule a date/time/place to complete
the exam. The exam contains the following (3) assessments: Reasoning Skills, Writing Skills, and the
CBP Experience Record. To be eligible, applicants must pass the exam with a score of at least 70.
Proper test preparation is essential. We encourage you to review the study
guide: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/which-career/apply/study-guides
After reading the study guide, you should take the CBP Officer Pre-test (sample entrance exam). The
pre-test will give you a preview of the types of items/questions you can expect to see on the actual
entrance exam, and will help you determine if you are interested in applying for the CBP Officer
position. The pre-test can be found at: https://usahire.opm.gov/assess/pretest/landing. Pass or fail
there is a one year test restriction from the date of your last entrance exam. Test scores prior to
June 2014 are no longer valid.
Reasonable Accommodations (RA) for taking the entrance examination are only provided on a caseby-case basis to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, both as amended. If you believe you have a physical or
mental disability that would interfere with completing the entrance exam, you must (1) indicate your
request for a RA in the online questionnaire associated with this announcement, and (2) complete the
necessary request form before the last day of the job opening. You are required to submit proper
documentation supporting your RA request. For information and to access the request
forms: https://www.usajobs.gov/content/pdfs/CBPAssessReasonableAccommodation.pdf. If approved, you
will be allowed to test with an accommodation. If not approved, you will be allowed to take
the standard exam.
If you pass the entrance exam, you will be placed in one of the following categories for referral and
consideration:

 Best Qualified: Possessing the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the
minimum qualifications.
Very Highly Qualified: Possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds, to a very
considerable extent, the minimum qualifications.
Highly Qualified: Possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds, to a considerable
extent, the minimum qualifications.
Well Qualified: Possessing the type and quality of experience that marginally exceeds the minimum
qualifications of the position and who demonstrate average proficiency in most of the critical
competencies.
Qualified: Possessing the type and quality of experience that meets the minimum qualifications.
Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed at the top of
the highest quality category depending on grade levels. Veterans with 5-point preference or 10-point
non-compensable preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above
non-preference eligible within the category in which they qualify.

BENEFITS:
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You can review our benefits at: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/overview-benefits

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision,
life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible
Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.
Other benefits may include: tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance;
health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and
offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go
to the DHS Careerswebsite and select Employee Benefits."

OTHER INFORMATION:
Polygraph Examination: The CBP Officer position is a polygraph-required position. You must take a
polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process.
Please see: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/which-career/apply/background-investigation
Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every
employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must
undergo and successfully pass a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) as a condition of
placement into this position. This may include but is not limited to a Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) name and fingerprint check, review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and
illegal use or possession of drugs. Please see: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/which-

career/apply/background-investigation

Age Requirement: You must be referred for consideration before reaching your 37th birthday in
accordance with Public Law 110-161. The age restriction does not apply if you are a veterans'
preference eligible. If you are serving or have served in a federal civilian law enforcement position
covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) you may have sufficient service to meet
the requirement. There are no other exceptions to Public Law 110-161.
Residency Requirement: If you are not a current CBP employee you must meet one or more of the
following primary residency criteria for the last three years prior to applying to this announcement up
through entering on duty:
1. Resided in the United States or its protectorate or territories (excluding short trips abroad, such as
vacations); or
2. Worked for the United States government as an employee overseas in a federal or military
capacity; or
3. Been a dependent of a US federal or military employee serving overseas.

Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information
required to make a suitability/security determination.
Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence: The CBP Officer position is a weapons-carrying
position. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot
lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition. Therefore, if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor
crime of domestic violence, you are not qualified for this position.

Drug Testing: You must complete a drug test as a condition of employment for this position. Once
employed, CBP Officers are subject to random and unannounced drug testing.

Medical Examination: You must undergo and successfully pass the medical screening process.

Physical Fitness Screening: You will be required to pass two physical fitness tests.
See: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/which-cbp-career/cbp-officer Most applicants will be scheduled
for the first fitness test 6-8 weeks after the JOA closes. The Pre-Employment Fitness Test (PFT-1)
Physical Readiness Program is a 6 week program designed to assist you in achieving level of physical
fitness that will help you successfully pass the PFT-1.
See: http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CBPO_PFT-1_PhysicalReadinessProgram.pdf for
complete participation in the program.

Interview Process: You will be required to pass a video-based test (VBT) and may be required to

take and pass a face-to-face structured interview (SI).

Driver's License: You must possess a valid driver's license.

HOW TO APPLY:
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In order to begin your application, you will need an active USA Jobs account. To begin
your online application, click the "Apply Online" to create a USA Jobs account and follow the
prompts or sign into USAJOBS, take the online questionnaire, and submit the required
documents. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a
resume, and any applicable and/or required supporting documentation. Please see the
"Required Documents" section below for additional information. All application materials,
including transcripts, must be in English.
Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address
posted below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent
application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, application
questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 pm Eastern Time Sunday, July 19,
2015.
We recommend that you apply as soon as possible in order to receive consideration
as this announcement will close on Sunday, July 19, 2015 11:59 pm Eastern Time OR on
the day we receive 12,000 applicants (whichever comes first).

Duty Locations: Have changed for this Job announcement please read carefully. You may select ONE of
the following locations: Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales and San Luis, AZ; Calexico and San Ysidro, CA; Calais,
ME; Raymond, MT; Portal, ND; El Paso, Laredo and Presidio, TX.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for thef
ederal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibilityon OPMs CareerTra
nsition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the highlyqualified
category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documentslisted u
nder the required documents section of this announcement.

Relocations expenses will not be paid. To compare the cost of living data, calculate mortgage scenarios or
gather information on communities and schools,
visit: http://www.relocationessentials.com/aff/lifecare/tools/salary/col.aspx
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Resume: A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, address, phone
number, a detailed description of your duties and the dates you performed those duties
(MM/DD/YY), as well as your work schedule and hours worked per week. You are highly
encouraged to use the resume builder in USAjobs rather than upload your resume through other
sources to ensure all required elements to make an adequate qualifications determination are
included.

Assessment Questionnaire: You must submit your responses for the job questionnaire online.

Transcripts: Required if basing any part of your qualifications on education and must
be in English from an accredited institution. Transcripts from all colleges/universities
attended are required.

Veterans' Preference: If you claim veterans' preference you will be required to submit proof of
eligibility (DD 214, Member-4 copy, Certificate of Release or Discharge). Those applying for 10-Point
preference must submit documentation that demonstrates preference eligibility. Please see the
documentation as listed on the SF-15 . If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans
Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be
discharged or released from active duty within 120 days after the certification is submitted. The
certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and
contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the
character of service. Viewmore veterans information.

Age Requirement Documents: If you are over the age of 37 you will need to submit proof you are
eligible for the position of CBP Officer. If you are claiming an age waiver based on Federal law
enforcement service; you must submit copies of your SF-50s reflecting the beginning date and end
date of creditable Federal civilian (not military) service under Title 5 U.S.C. 8331(20), and Title 5
U.S.C. 8401(17). Block 30 of your SF-50 should show Retirement Code M or O. If you do not meet
the age requirement and you are unable to provide this required documentation, you will not receive
consideration under this announcement. If you are claiming an age waiver based on veterans'
preference, submit the required Veterans' Preference documents. Ensure that you enter your
creditable service dates in the Job Related Experience field on the Questionnaire.

Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition
Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit:
a copy of your agency notice,
a copy of your most recent performance rating, and

 a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position,
grade level, and duty location
If you fax your documents you must use the fax cover sheet found
at: https://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf and fax to (478)757-3144. You must indicate Vacancy
Identification Number LN1431057 on the fax cover sheet or your documents will not be
properly uploaded.
It is your responsibility to verify that information entered, or supporting documents that are uploaded or
faxed are received and are accurate. CBP will not modify, change, or contact you regarding the
completeness or accuracy of your application. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in
Application Manager and you must submit it again by the closing date.
AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
CBP Officer MHC OFO DEU
Phone: (952)857-2927x2
Email: CBPHIRINGDEUCBPO@CBP.DHS.GOV
Agency Information:
CBP Entry Level OFO OBP
5600 American Blvd
Bloomington, MN
55437-1450

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training. If you meet
the qualifications for this position, you will receive an email from email
address USAHire_support@panpowered.com to schedule the CBP Officer Entrance Examination
(Place/date/time). Please be sure to check your email, spam, and junk folders daily. Testing will be
available for two weeks starting August 13, 2015. The examination may take up to five (5) hours to
complete. Approximately 30 days after you pass the examination you will be considered for future
openings in "category order" in accordance with veterans' preference regulations. As referrals are made
in the geographic corridor you select and your category is reached, you will be referred for
consideration to start the pre-employment process. There is no guarantee of selection. Your status will be
updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account,
click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information."

If you are already in the pre-employment process for a CBP Officer position and you reapply under this
announcement and are subsequently referred for a position, your new referral will replace any

existing CBP Officer referral regardless of preference region for which you are currently in process, and
may delay your pre-employment processes.
DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly
hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about EVerify, including your rights andresponsibilities.

All agency employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary
payments.

View more information on applying for federal employment.

Additional Duty Location Info
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Douglas, AZ View Map
Lukeville, AZ View Map
Nogales, AZ View Map
San Luis, AZ View Map
Calexico, CA View Map
San Ysidro, CA View Map
Calais, ME View Map
Raymond, MT View Map
Portal, ND View Map
El Paso, TX View Map
Laredo, TX View Map
Presidio, TX View Map