Working as a Special Agent

The US Department of the Army has its marching orders. One of the three military departments (along with the Air Force and Navy) of the US Department of Defense, the Army provides ground-based military forces to deter and fight wars and protect the security of the US. The army has more than 675,000 soldiers, including active duty soldiers (nearly 75%) and reservists (Army National Guard and Army Reserves). Army personnel are deployed in about 80 countries. The Army operates about 40 forts throughout the US and has bases in Africa, Europe, Japan, the Middle East, and South Korea.

At the FBI, our work is constantly evolving and expanding to respond to the nation’s biggest challenges posed by rapid advances in technology, terrorism and intelligence threats, as well as increasingly sophisticated criminal actions. We’re experts from all specialty areas working collectively to stay ahead of threats. But first, we’re a family. Our employees are dedicated mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, colleagues, friends and peers. Each is dedicated to ensuring our communities and nation are safe. That’s where you come in. Does a career devoted to protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution spark your curiosity? Are you looking for an opportunity to push beyond your limits, take chances and channel your hidden strengths? Some 36,000 men and women are working to fulfill the FBI mission. Maybe it's your time to join us.

The US Department of Homeland Security exists to keep America safe. Created in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the department is devoted to keeping the US safe from natural and man-made disaster. Its activities include domestic nuclear detection, intelligence coordination, and protection of high-level government officials. The department's structure includes agencies for citizenship and immigration services, customs and border protection, emergency response and recovery (FEMA), and science and technology research. The US Department of Homeland Security has more than 230,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $55 billion.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) doesn't make the laws, it just enforces them. The DOJ, one of 15 federal executive departments, is charged with enforcing federal law, defending the rights of US citizens, and representing the legal interests of the US government. The department covers both civil and criminal areas of federal law and is involved in everything from prosecuting offenders of antitrust laws to investigating organized crime. With the US Attorney General at its helm, the DOJ comprises 40 separate components, including the FBI, ATF, US Marshals, BOP, CRS, and US Attorneys. The DOJ has an annual budget in excess of $27 billion.

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REPRESENT AMERICA TO THE WORLD Discover opportunities that allow you to contribute your experiences, knowledge, and expertise to work on foreign policies, technology, security systems, buildings, and more, around the world. Join the diplomatic workforce that reflects and represents America, one where diversity and inclusion make us stronger, smarter, more creative, and more innovative. Help the United States gain a significant competitive advantage on the world stage. Become a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, working in one of more than 270 U.S. Embassies or Consulates abroad or right here in the United States. Take a glimpse inside the careers at the U.S. Department of State today.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the Federal government's good soldier in the War on Drugs. The agency is charged with enforcing controlled substances laws and regulations in the US; bringing to justice key members of organizations that contribute to drug-trafficking; and supporting non-enforcement programs that reduce the supply and demand for illicit drugs in domestic and international markets. One of the component agencies of the Department of Justice, the DEA is also responsible for coordinating drug investigation and eradication efforts at the state, local, federal, and international levels. The DEA has an annual budget of around $2 billion.

It’s not a job. It’s a mission. The United States Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency with headquarters in Washington, D.C., and more than 150 offices throughout the United States and abroad. The Secret Service was established in 1865, solely to suppress the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. Today, the agency is mandated by Congress to carry out dual missions: protection of national and visiting foreign leaders, and criminal investigations.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is ready to help Americans pay their taxes, whether they want to or not. A bureau in the Department of the Treasury, the IRS is responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement in its numerous forms. The agency collects 93% of the revenues that fund the US federal government. With an annual budget of about $13.6 billion, the IRS strives to fulfill its mission by helping taxpayers understand their obligations and by consistently and fairly enforcing tax laws. The agency is structured into four primary divisions: Wage and Investment, Large and International Business, Small Business and Self-Employed, and Tax-Exempt and Government Entities.