On September 22, 1991, I was sworn in as a Special Agent of the FBI on the first day of New Agent training in Quantico, VA. I somehow stumbled through the next four and half months and was turned loose on the world.

I was issued a Sig Sauer P226 9mm - my class was the first to go through after the 1076 was recalled, so we got whatever DEA was issuing to their guys - their Academy was also at Q'tico.

I got to my first office, New Orleans, and qualified with my trusty Sig P220. I turned in my 226 and it was reissued to a guy on the white collar squad since we were transitioning out of revolvers. All Bureau issued Sigs have been recalled and most likely transformed into manhole covers. Since my 220 is personally owned it is grandfathered in. It is rare to see anything but a Glock in today's Bureau, but my Sig is still on the job.



I still have the kid (now a 20 year old college student), the wife, the shirt (though it has shrunk), the shoulder holster and of course the Sig. I have lost the dark hair and the porn moustache. I have also added a son and a daughter.

After New Orleans I went to Browning, Montana, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. I found I really liked working Indian Country (that's the actual legal Federal term in the statutes) and have continued in Idaho and now in New Mexico.

I was the first one in the office today. I made a pot of coffee and drank most of it. I met with a prosecutor and a rape victim. I made paper, checked my email, and helped my partner look for a guy on the reservation who has a manslaughter warrant. I took the back of the house and for the millionth time slid the Sig from that old holster. It would have made for a better story if the guy was home, but he wasn't. Maybe tomorrow.

I'm eligible to retire as of today, but I'm not mandatory for five more years. I'll stick around for a while, at least until they really piss me off.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Great tale, thank you for sharing. Congratulations on an outstanding achievement! May God continue to bless you, and stay safe.

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NICK-SWCA-NRA BENEFACTOR LIFE

Congrats on the milestone! I did 20 and got out on NYPD. They have fairly recently made the minimum 25 and maybe a minimum age also. It was good to get out at 40 for me.

As long as you enjoy, stay. good luck.

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Fidelis Ad Mortem

Good job. Hang in there.

My brother retired after 30 years, about 12 years ago. He let them tell him when to go, and at that time his best deal was 55 years old. He had a lot of stories, and he and his wife were visiting DC. So they went to headquarters and got their picture taken with J Edgar Hoover. His wife had been an FBI secretary (I guess its how they met.) Nothing else unusual, except Hoover died the next day.

His story was a little different than yours. He wanted to work in their crime lab and applied. They had a grueling process for vetting new agents. It took about a year back then, but they did offer him a draft deferment until he knew one way or the other. So he went to the University of Idaho for a masters degree while it played out. Their policy back then was to take agents out of the field, not hire them directly into the lab, so he agreed. When it came time to decide, he wanted to stay in the field.

He even had a book written about one of his cases, something like "The lasers edge". It was about the most dry and boring reading I've ever done, and I went to law school.

Most agents retire and double dip in a second career. I'd guess you'll start seeking a job with a private firm in some kind of position as director of security. You'll get your 102% of pay as a pension, and then about double your pay again in the private sector.

You have a problem....you'll soon have 2 or 3 in college. Not cheap, but if the kids are smart you'll get them some kind of scholarship to help out.

Good luck.

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Dick Burg

Thanks for your service!
Steve W

Wow, great story. What make and model is your shoulder holster? Is it a Galco? Or what is it?

You've done well and I think as long as you can you should do what you want.Everybody has their own ideas about retirement and I think I'd like to have something to do every day for the rest of my life.

If I had the option I'd just go fishing.

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Dum vivo cano

The 1076 was recalled due to its' "excess", correct?

The moustache & shrinking shirt were good.

But my fav line, is the last of your story, "I'll stick around for a while, at least until they really piss me off."

Great read & congrats.

Ah, yes--jamming time. How sweet it is to go in to the office--or not--because you FEEL like it.

When my old mentor and partner achieved that status, section memos we got devoted the first part to explaining that the actions required pertained to everyone--EXCEPT HIM.

Jamming time? Layman's terms.

I felt the same way. When I got my 25 years in, I stayed another two weeks and then pulled the plug.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

And be careful!

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Incoming fire has right of way

Congratulations to you and good luck in the future. Twenty-years goes by quickly, doesn't it?

You're doing good work, young fella; stay with it for a bit longer. Folks like you are needed.

BTW, you do know that our pal I**y is now in your neck of the woods?

Take care.

Be safe.

Congratulations on your milestone achievement. It feels good to know that you don’t have to go in to work. If your plans are for a second career, I hope you find the right one. If you decide to retire and not move on to another career, you have earned it! Retirement is definitely worth waiting for, enjoy it when you are ready.

Still diggin the porn 'stache though.

Congratulations and thanks for the job you are doing.

Congrats on making it to jamming time...definitely changed my daily outlook knowing I can stop anytime I want to. Been on the "one real bad day plan" now, for a little over two years (with almost 26 on). Have 4 years, 11 months and 11 days till I have to pull the plug, but who's counting?

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Non illegitimae carborundum

Its a Galco Miami Classic. I drifted away from it for a while and went to a belt holster, but I'm back to it. Its easier on my back, and I like being able to throw everything on and take everything off all at once.

It drives the firearms instructors nuts at the range, but I just stake out the spot all the way to the left on the line and shoot anyway.

It also generates a lot of Don Johnson (or Abe Vigoda) jokes, usually from folks who would like to wear one, but don't because they actually give a **** about what people think. I don't have that problem.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Congratulations, it's nice to make that threshold, I know the feeling. It does go by fast. A lot of my peers are retiring this year for a bunch of reasons. I will probaly stay a few more.

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Stan

Congratulations and best of luck in whatever your future endeavors may be.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Congrats. Once one satisfies the years required for retirement their whole outlook changes. Someone or something will piss you off enough one day, probably sooner than later, and you will know it is time to say "I'm done". That said, the gloomy economy is keeping a lot of people from pulling the plug.

First, thanks for your service. I'm glad for ya!
Nice to be where you can say "I don't think so today."



I always loved those rigs. What is it that Instructors hate?
Remember when Jackass came out with them?

NOW we know what happened to Reg Mag #1 !!!!!!!!!!
Dick had his brother lift it, and poor ol' J. Edgar had a heart attack when he saw it was gone!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

First off, Thank You for your service.

Been on the Res up at Browning a time or two...

I've retire twice so far, now back in the harness again

Just hang in thar...Like a hair in a buscuit.


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

They're afraid I'll sweep the guy to my left when I draw, so I just shoot at the left end of the line. They still don't like it, but I qualify with my carry rig. Some guys have "range holsters", which never made sense to me.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Gotcha.
People get so upset about friendly fire......

You oughta look into that Dick/Reg Mag thang.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Please accept my sincere gratitude for your service.

Best wishes.

Welcome to the jammit club, I'm a member myself, congrats to another Fed for making a difference when you can, and hanging in with it despite the BS, of which I am hardily familiar as a federal employee,

BTW, I like the porn star 'stache, I kept mine, it's longer and lots grayer for some reason, the mirror must have dust on it, yea, that it...

Take care...

First of all, congrats. Being a member of the KMA club IS nice.

It may have just been me, but I always worried more about the agents w/ankle holsters more on the PQC. I was sure that they were going to shoot themselves in the ankle trying to make the times @ 15 & 7 yards, or fall on their face and shoot someone else, at least at Q.

The vision problem? That will be when you call the office to tell them you're not coming in today due to eyesight issues - "I just can't see my *** coming into work today...."

Why does everyone fire at me just because my name is Will?

I have enjoyed the many, many contributions you have made to posts in this forum over the years. I got a real charge out of the vinatge photo of your very lovely Missus and youngster. It reminds me of what seems like yesterday when I was retiring 22 years ago....no not so long ago as I see things I guess. The photo speaks to me of a young cop, a young family and a whole bunch of bright future. Remember this from an old flatfoot, you may retire, you may change professions and you will get older no doubt, but you'll never ....never be less than what you were in your prime. An AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. Best of luck in all that you pursue in the future!

Cheers;
Lefty

Congratulations my friend. KMA is a wonderful feeling isn't it. Retirement feels even better. Stay safe, D

I wrestle with that "question" every day.

Congrats...but, you'll miss it for sure.

Congratulations on making it through. Be careful for the next 5!