An FBI agent is a member of our federal law enforcement branch. Their mission is to enforce our country’s laws, defend against terrorist threats, and provide assistance to all forms of law enforcement. This branch is responsible for investigating many types of criminal activity, as well as assisting other law enforcement agencies with their investigations. Their primary responsibility is to investigate interstate crime. Some of the types of crimes they investigate are cyber crimes, drug trafficking, international espionage, and highly sensitive security investigations. FBI agents will perform several activities in their pursuit of the criminals. These agents will conduct surveillance, monitor wire taps, and go undercover. They will also interview all types of people related to the crime. An FBI agent can work in the office on occasion and out in the field. This position usually requires a great deal of travel. With all of these duties, a 40-hour workweek can run into overtime.
For those interested in becoming an FBI agent, the federal government is looking for high-caliber police officers. One must be physically and mentally fit. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, criminology or political science is the minimum required education. Many agents have their law degree. The FBI will be looking for those who specialize in at least two of their priority skills. These include accounting, finance, computer systems/information technology, foreign language proficiency, intelligence expertise, engineering expertise, law enforcement, military expertise, physical sciences, and diversified expertise. After passing a background check and the physical exam, there is a 20-week extensive training course. This time will be spent studying a variety of academic subjects and engaging in intensive physical training, self-defense tactics, firearms education, and rigorous case exercises. It will prepare the agent to deal with traumatic experiences, death scenes, and life-threatening encounters.