• SPECIAL AGENT INFORMATIONAL PACKET

U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Recruitment, Hiring and Staffing Center
SPECIAL AGENT INFORMATIONAL PACKET
BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR (SPECIAL AGENT)
Grades 5, 7, and 9
WANT TO BE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR (SPECIAL AGENT)?
The career of a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) special agent is unique and one
of the most challenging in Federal law enforcement. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ATF has field offices
throughout the United States and its territories. Highly trained special agents are responsible for investigating
violations of Federal law relating to firearms, explosives, arson and alcohol and tobacco diversion. These
investigations involve surveillance, interviewing suspects and witnesses, making arrests, obtaining and executing
search warrants, and searching for physical evidence. Chemists and other specialty personnel provide expert
assistance in developing cases.
The profession of special agent is exciting and rewarding. Special agents must be tough - both physically
and mentally. They must also be able to handle rigorous training, personal risks, irregular hours, and extensive
travel. Special agents are subject to reassignment to any ATF office in the United States.
Please review the enclosed information regarding salary and benefits,
basic requirements and conditions of employment.
Applications for position openings will ONLY be accepted in response to a specific ATF
job notice or vacancy announcement.
For updates on ATF special agent recruitment efforts, please visit our website at
www.atf.gov or contact the ATF Recruitment, Hiring & Staffing Center at 202-648-9100.
ATF is ranked as one of the Top 20 “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government”
(www.bestplacestowork.org under Federal subcomponent category).
ATF is looking for energetic, innovative, solution-oriented professionals to assist the ATF team
in it’s mission to prevent terrorism, reduce violent crime and protect the public.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
ATF Publication 2310.4
Revised January 2010
 POSITION INFORMATION SALARY AND BENEFITS
Position Title and Grade Levels: Criminal Investigator (Special Base Annual Salary Range For Year 2010
Agent), GL-1811, grades 5, 7, and 9.
$33,829 (Grade 5, Step 1) to $42,948 (Grade 9, Step 1)
Major Duties: (Salary range excludes locality pay and 25% Law Enforcement
Availability Pay).
- Investigates criminal violations of Federal laws within the
enforcement jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Justice. Starting base salary will depend upon grade qualifications (see
- Conducts investigations of violations relating to explosives, the basic qualifications section of this informational packet).
firearms, arson, and alcohol and tobacco diversion.
- Gathers and analyzes evidence through investigative leads, Locality Pay: All ATF duty stations qualify for locality pay.
seizures and arrests, execution of search warrants, and a variety of Special agents receive an additional percentage of their base
other means. salary, which will vary by duty location. The current range of
- Prepares concise criminal investigative case reports. locality pay is 14.16% to 35.15%.
- Testifies for the government in court or before grand juries.
Law Enforcement Availability Pay: Because of the type of
Work Schedule: work and additional work hours, generally all special agents
receive the 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay, which is
ATF’s business hours are generally 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., added to locality pay.
Monday through Friday. Due to receipt of Law Enforcement
Availability Pay (LEAP), special agents usually work an average of Promotion Potential: The full performance level for this
2 additional hours per day. Depending upon the type of position is Grade 13 ($71,674 - $93,175 excluding Law
assignments, agents frequently work other than normal business Enforcement Availability Pay and locality pay).
hours and more than 2 additional LEAP hours per day. In short, a Note: Promotions are based upon performance and must
special agent’s work schedule and the number of hours worked per receive supervisory approval.
day or week will vary according to assignments.
Foreign Language Award Program: The Foreign Language
Travel: Travel may be considerable, depending upon assignments.
Award Program authorizes cash awards for ATF employees
who possess and make substantial use of one or more foreign
language(s) in the performance of their official duties. The
cash award is based upon proficiency and substantial usage.
Benefits:
- Annual leave (vacation time) is earned at the rate of 13-26
days per year, with a maximum accumulation of 240 hours per
year.
- Sick leave is earned at the rate of 13 days per year and may
be accumulated without limit.
- 10 paid holidays.
- Low cost health insurance with the option to choose from a
variety of plans.
- Low cost life insurance.
- Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) benefits.
Special agents may retire at 50 with 20 years of service. Age
57 is the mandatory retirement age, with 20 years of service.
- Tax-deferred Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
- Health improvement (physical fitness) program.
2
 BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Be a U.S. citizen This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm and
ammunition. Persons who have been convicted of felonies and
If male applicant born after December 31, 1959, be certain misdemeanors, including a misdemeanor crime of
registered with the Selective Service System, or be exempt domestic violence (Title 18, U.S.C. section 922 (g) (9)) are not
from having to do so under Selective Service law. eligible to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Be between the ages of 21 and 37, at the time of Applicants will be required to sign a geographic mobility
appointment, unless you have had previous service in a agreement acknowledging that if selected, they may be
Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by special assigned to any office in the United States, to include U.S.
civil service retirement provisions, including early or territories, and are subject to relocation at any time.
mandatory retirement.
Payment of relocation expenses to the first appointment with ATF
Possess a current and valid automobile operator’s license. will not be authorized unless you are a current ATF employee.
Complete ATF special agent applicant questionnaire (at time Selected applicants shall be appointed in the excepted service
of application). and must satisfactorily complete a three year trial period which
includes but is not limited to successful completion of the criminal
Take and pass the ATF Special Agent Examination. investigator training program, special agent basic training and
qualifying and maintaining firearms proficiency.
Take and pass the ATF Special Agent Applicant Assessment
Test. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Appear for and successfully complete a field panel interview The ATF Academy strongly encourages all applicants and new
– a writing sample will be required. special agent hires to be in top physical condition prior to arriving
at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).
Be in compliance with ATF’s drug policy for special agent Arriving in excellent physical condition will allow you to enjoy all
applicants (posted at “Careers” page at www.atf.gov ). aspects of training and prepare you for your future as an ATF
special agent. For additional information on special agent training
Take and pass a medical examination by an authorized requirements, visit the “Careers” section at www.atf.gov (click on
government physician and meet medical requirements. “Special Agent Training” link).
Medical requirements include:
METHODS OF RECRUITMENT
At a minimum, ATF special agents must meet
uncorrected distant vision of at least 20/100 in each eye,
and corrected distant vision must test 20/20 in one eye All applicants must take and pass the ATF Special Agent
and 20/30 in the other. Normal depth perception and Examination and the ATF Special Agent Applicant Assessment to
peripheral vision are required as is the ability to be eligible for further consideration for agent positions.
distinguish shades of color by plate tests.
Applicants must meet basic qualifications (at least) at the grade 5
Applicants that have undergone Automated Larnellar to be eligible to take the ATF Special Agent Examination (see the
Keratoplasty (ALK); Laser in Situ Keratomileusis basic qualifications section of this informational packet).
(LASIK); Photorefractive Keratecotomy (PRK); and
Radial Keratotomy (RK) must provide proof that they Administration of Tests: The test sessions run about 4 hours for
have passed the specific protocol. The test must be both tests. The Office of Personnel Management will administer
administered by a board-certified opthalmologist who will and score both tests.
document the results of the protocol test and that the
test was performed no sooner than the prescribed time Applications for position openings or testing opportunities
after the date of surgery. (3 months or one year, will only be accepted in response to a specific ATF job notice
depending on the type of surgery). or vacancy announcement.
Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not For updates on ATF special agent recruitment efforts, please visit the
exceed 30 decibels at 500, 1000, and 2000 HZ levels. “Careers Opportunities” section of our website at www.atf.gov.
Applicants must be able to perform physically strenuous
duties safely.
Weight must be in proportion to height.
Take and pass a drug test.
Take and successfully complete a polygraph examination.
Successfully complete a background investigation for a top
secret security clearance.
3
 BASIC
QUALIFICATIONS BASIC QUALIFICATIONS BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
FOR GRADE 5 FOR GRADE 7 FOR GRADE 9
A bachelor’s degree A bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). Two full years of progressively
from an accredited Superior Academic Achievement is based on one of the following: higher level graduate education;
college or university
Class standing – applicants must be in the upper third of the OR
OR graduating class.
A master’s degree or other
Three years of Grade point average – applicants must have a minimum average graduate degree such as: an
general experience, of 2.95 out of a possible 4.0, based on 4 years of education or LL.B, J.D. etc.,
one of which was based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the
equivalent to at curriculum. OR
least the grade 4.
General experience Three point five (3.5) or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the One full year of specialized
is defined as average of the required courses completed in the major field of experience. Experience must
progressively study or the required courses in the major field completed during have been equivalent to at least
responsible work in the final 2 years of the curriculum. the GS-7 level. The applicant
criminal must have specific knowledge,
investigative or law Membership in a national honor society as listed in the Association skills and abilities using criminal
enforcement fields of College Honor Societies: Booklet of Information (1992-95) investigative techniques to
that requires and/or Baird’s Manual of American College Fraternities (1991). successfully perform the duties
knowledge and of the position.
application of laws Applicants are required to provide proof of SAA; or
relating to criminal NON-QUALIFYING GENERAL
violations; GS-7 requirements may also be met by completion of 1 year of full- EXPERIENCE
time graduate education (18 semester hours) or
OR
Work experience as a uniformed
One full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the law enforcement officer, where
A combination of GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience is experience in or the principal duties consist of
education and related to investigations of criminal violations that provided the investigations and arrests,
experience. specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the involving traffic violations, minor
Education is duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized felonies, misdemeanors, and
credited on the experience include: comparable offenses; or
basis of 30 - Leadership or membership on a military intelligence or
semester hours or criminal investigative team or component in which the principal
Work experience in which the
45 quarter hours of duties consisted of security investigations, intelligence
major duties involve guarding
undergraduate work gathering or criminal prosecution. and protecting property;
which is equivalent - Analyzing raw investigative data and preparing preventing crimes, and/or legal
to 9 months of work comprehensive written investigative reports.
research without the application
experience. - Investigating complex claims involving suspected crimes or
of investigative techniques.
alleged fraud.
Note: see non- - Investigating criminal cases requiring the use of recognized
qualifying general investigative methods that may have included presenting
experience section. evidence in court.
- Supervising or conducting interrogations that involved eliciting
evidence, data or surveillance information.
- Law enforcement work in which 50 percent or more of the time
involved criminal investigations requiring the use of
surveillance, undercover or other criminal detection methods.
- Investigating computerized businesses and/or accounting
systems and forming sound conclusions as to related criminal
business practices and compliance with federal laws and
regulations.
- Investigative work that required rapid, accurate judgments and
sound decision-making in applying regulations, instructions
and procedures.
Successful completion of formalized programs of in-service
training for any of the above.
4