Any U.S. Marshals

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Springfeildkid585

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I'm persueing a criminal justice degree, the final result of which hopefuly will be becomeing a Deputy U.S. Marshal. I have a question relateing to the duty weapon. I dare not say the G word in mixed company. are there any repremands if my Springfeild Milspec ends up in the holster instead of the plastic sissy pistol?
 
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You have to take the test and go before an interview board and pass a physical fitness test to get the job. When you get to the interview part, if you make it that far, don't ask that question. Also don't ask things like "Will I get to drive fast through stop lights?" "Have you ever shot someone?" etc Right or wrong, it tends to set off alarm bells when someone asks about carrying their own weapon with the people who make hiring decisions.

You carry the weapon that you are issued. People notice if you don't. Bad things happen if you do violate policies such as having to go get a new job, perhaps guarding a warehouse at night or chasing kids at the mall.

Beyond the administrative matters, you need to realize that as a practical matter, you are going to develop muscle memories and familiarities with the weapon you train with the most. Presumably that would be whatever you are issued.

Most of the openings that you'll see posted periodically are, or at least used to be, for what amounts to guarding Federal prisoners in transport. It isn't much like you see in the movies.

Some agencies have an approved list of off duty/back up guns and you can pick one off that list. Some even allow some variance for a duty weapon, though most will not allow a single action cocked and locked auto (save for certain specialized units). Those that do carry 1911s professionally generally carry somewhat tuned and specialized weapons. A SA GI type gun would be out of place there as well and the unit armorers would likely be upset.
 
If you ARE fortunate enough to get an interview, I strongly suggest leaving out the "sissy plastic pistol" part....
If you can't live with their rules before you start, I strongly suggest look for an opportunity elsewhere....
 
Some law enforcement agencies want an associates degree. It doesnt matter if it is a criminal justice degree. Why not get a degree in another field so that you can enter that other field once you retire?
 
Don't some of these agencies require a BA or BS, sometimes in law or accounting? The FBI used to. The USAF OSI used to want a degree in those fields or in Foreign Service. Standards may have been lowered to accomodate affirmitive action hiring requirements. ??

I think some police agencies require at least 100 hours of college, too.

T-Star
 
Springfeildkid585 said:
I dare not say the G word in mixed company. are there any repremands if my Springfeild Milspec ends up in the holster instead of the plastic sissy pistol?
Click to expand...

Yeah, you'll get fired.

Or, worse yet, if you get in a shooting with it you could hear the dreaded words "acting outside the scope of employment".

I'm not a Marshal, but I work with them often. I haven't seen one with anything but a Glock in quite a few years. There may be some old dawgs like me with something else "grandfathered in", but I sure haven't seen them.

If you are serious about getting a job with them you should realize if you take their pay you play by their rules. The cowboy stuff you see on TV is fiction. While the USMS does a fair share of fugitive work, any honest Deputy Marshal will tell you they also do a lot of court security, judge protection, and prisoner handling. (And they generally do it for less pay than other 1811s).
 
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You'd be asking for a world of hurt via policy violations. Carrying an unauthorized firearm and more than likely unauthorized ammo too? If you got into an incident...just imagine the liability issues!
 
27145 said:
Some law enforcement agencies want an associates degree. It doesnt matter if it is a criminal justice degree. Why not get a degree in another field so that you can enter that other field once you retire?
Click to expand...

The Marshals webpage recomended a criminal justice degree.

To all referanceing the interveiw, ofcourse I'm not going to ask this in an interveiw. I meant this as casual conversation peice. I understand the differance between behaveing as a professional and being an imature kid. I was also really probing about a 1911 being an acceptible backup, as the Marshals allow some freedom as long as it meets certain standards, though I have yet to see what those standards are.
 
Oh, my; the OP is gonna do real well in the US Marshals Service.

Yep, questioning the duty weapon and substituting his own "professional" judgement will serve him/her well.

Be safe.

PS:

Suspect he/she has been watching Justified a few too many times.
 
Working for ANY Gov'ment agency, you better be by the book, all the time.

Worrying about what gun you get to CARRY (don't expect to get to actually use it), should be the last thing on your list.

Get through school, first. Worry about A's in your classes. All of them. Period. Make yourself desireable. Maybe do some work with a local agency (ride-along, reserve, etc) to get some "Real" law enforcement experience.

Keep your mind open to other agencies and get a real idea what each one does. You may be surprised what some are charged with doing.

How many know the Secret Service handles counterfeit money?
 
Again, I state this was not meant to be a serious matter. I am aware that the Glock 22 or 23 will do the job. No, I do not actully expect I will have to shoot someone, though I am prepared to, should a situation in which leathal force is nessesary arise, as anyone who carries a firearm should be. Beleive me, I have put in my research time. I like what the Marshal Service does, and would be willing to do any and all of those jobs, weather it's guarding judges and witnesses, extriditing criminals, or doing fugitive recovery. I am aware that it is not Justified, Chase, or any other tv show.
 
Call me paranoid, but if I wanted to work for a Fed LE agency, I would be very careful what I posted on any internet forum or social networking site, whether in jest for humor etc. or not.

I would think--and hope--that the feds do a pretty thorough background search. At this point companies in the private sector look at these things for a prospective hire.

Not trying to pile on you here, Sfieldkid, just something you should think about.
 
Cooter Brown said:
Call me paranoid, but if I wanted to work for a Fed LE agency, I would be very careful what I posted on any internet forum or social networking site, whether in jest for humor etc. or not.

I would think--and hope--that the feds do a pretty thorough background search. At this point companies in the private sector look at these things for a prospective hire.

Not trying to pile on you here, Sfieldkid, just something you should think about.
Click to expand...

Which is why I don't have my actual name on here, and if they are that good at their jobs, I've got more to answer for than a comment posted in jest on a handgun forum.
 
Ahhh guys give the kid a break. It aint been all that long ago ole Skeeter, Jordan, Charlie Askins, and others carried what they wanted in their holsters. Granted, you probably cant do it today but I applaude anybody who looks into a career with Fed LEO. When I got my Master's in Accounting, I had several Agencies wanting to recruit me...up until they found out I am color blind.
 
Get a Glock, AR, and shotgun, and get practicing!

My daughter is a criminal justice major (already has AA, working on BA....probably even a masters). I have her out practicing all the time. She want to go into probation/parole.
 
People trying to get into this line of work spend time, effort and money worrying about shooting.....DON'T....
they can teach anyone to shoot....their way......
What folks need to do is
Create a POSTIVE background....Do they show up for work on time? Pay their bills?? Honest?? Or do they drink, put stupid #$@% on facebook pages, show up late, quit jobs with no notice, lay about whining all the time about stuff....????
Do they have POSTIVE people who KNOW them who will give them good references....or all all their friends hanging at the beach all day???
You won't get a job in Federal LE if you don't have VERIFIABLE references and a VERIFIABLE work history, unless you speak Farsi....
Quit worrying about guns, and what gun you carry....truth is, it just doesn't matter...the job ain't about guns, it is about 2 million other things....
 
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