Applied to STAR in 2024 Failed SUPER
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Accepted offer to current Federal Agency March 2025
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Re-Applied June 29th 2026
Accepted Already Passed SAEE From August 2024 Application

07/15/2026: APAT Failed (i don’t recommend not eating anything before the apat)
07/29/2026: APPLIED
08/06/2026: APAT Passed
08/09/2026: ACE Registered
08/16/2026 (ACE): SUPER (Verbal Pass), SECURITY (Verbal Pass), and FULL MEDICAL
08/20/2026 (ACE) POLYGRAPH (Verbal Pass)
08/24/2026: IRS Compliance Submitted and Notification of BI Started
08/25/2026: Fingerprints
09/01/2026: BI Call and Home Interview
09/24/2026: Background turns white
10/15/2026: THE CALL FINAL OFFER
11/16/2026: EOD

Offered: Boston, Toledo, Cleveland, San Francisco

They asked me to just ask for whatever offices I’m interested in which I asked for Orlando, Miami, or DC. Said all available. Curious on any thoughts of the Offices.

23M. Current Uniformed Fed Agency
Like traveling abroad, investigations, and protection
Im leaning towards Miami. Lmk

So I’m a little concerned about my medical and background. My medical I have 60% VA disability and my background I’ve had many employers since I got out the military trying to find what I enjoy and couldn’t find it. I was terminated from 2 jobs. 1 was for calling out 2 days in advance during my probation period and the 2nd I was conducting other work on the clock cause I was working two jobs. I have my home interview next week. What’s your guys thoughts?

Title says it all, but I'll include a post I asked other Reddit communities, who subsequently suggested VRE.

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We are considering living in VA or MD, but would prefer NOVA. We have young kids, so like most people, we are trying to thread the needle between a manageable daily commute to DC, good schools, low crime, "affordable" housing, and polished amenities.

Ideally, we'd love to find a turnkey house under $650k that is in a master-planned community. I know that's a tall ask, so we're open to a townhouse if it checks off the other boxes. With two little kids and my background in law enforcement, safety and peace of mind are crucial to us. I know there's no one-size-fits-all, but I'd like to hear what you'd recommend I lean into or steer clear of.

I've done my due diligence and know the different school ratings, taxes, and relative housing market in these places... I'm more so looking for your lived experiences and what you think is great or bad (e.g., "the commute on I-95 is WAY worse than I-66 even though mileage looks similar..." or "They just built X down the road from _______, which is awesome/bad for the kids...").

I'm open to new suggestions, so if my short list of places doesn't accomplish our goals, please let me know where you'd suggest instead.

Good afternoon, is anyone here in the SA Applicant process with WFO?

Anyone have experience or insights on doing orientation in ATL? I currently live over an hour away and I'm trying to figure out my daily logistics.

After almost a year finally got the call for USSS

General timeline (I didn’t keep track of all the dates exactly)

Application 12/04/25

Interview request 01/26

Panel Interview 02/26

Tentative Offer 02/24/26

SI: 03/24/26

Poly: 04/28/26 (Verbal Pass) tracker went gold a few days later

Medical 1: 04/26

Drug Screen: 04/27/26

Poly turned Gold 04/30/26

BI Start/Interview: 05/26

Tax Forms 05/26

05/26 Request for Military medical history

BI white sometime in early August

Medical 3: 09/03/26

Medical turned Gold 09/11/26

Got “the call” (it was an email) 09/26

Field Office: Southern California

Start Date: Jan 2027

FLETC (UPTP): February 2027 (Artesia)

Background: Mid 30’s, 6 Years USAR, Bachelors in Intel, Dual Masters in NatSec and International Relations. 12+ years in Corporate Security/Loss Prevention currently at a regional manager level.

Had so many medical Appointments because acuity kind of forgot I existed in April for a few months and never actually scheduled me for anything until the end of July, then the provider they sent me to forgot to do a portion of the paperwork so I was sent back for a 3rd exam.

Thank you to all in this sub for the advice and support along the way, obviously the end goal is to be an 1811 but this gets the clock stopped and starts checking the boxes!

What’s going on everyone!

A little background on myself: I’m a 25m that is prior Active Army, served 5 years as a 31B (Military Police), and I’m currently serving in the Army Reserve as a 35L (Counterintelligence Special Agent).

I applied under announcement SAB-26-Q3-CAT for the Special Agent position and was offered GL-11. I’m currently moving through the hiring process and literally just waiting for my BI to turn white on the portal.

I’m originally from Florida, married with kids, and I’m trying to get as much insight as possible before potentially making this transition. I’m particularly interested in the Washington Field Office (WFO) and would appreciate some perspective from current agents or anyone familiar with the area.

I have a few questions:

1. Washington Field Office (WFO): What’s the overall experience like for a new agent assigned to WFO? How’s the work environment, schedule, and work-life balance? What should someone coming from a military background expect?

2. Suits & Professional Attire: Where do most agents actually purchase their suits? Are there particular brands or stores you’d recommend that offer a good balance of quality, durability, comfort, and affordability? Also, what dress shoes do you recommend for long days on your feet? I’m trying to build a solid professional wardrobe without spending unnecessarily.

3. Living in the DMV Area: For those assigned to WFO with a spouse and kids, what areas would you recommend living in? I’m coming from Florida, so I’m unfamiliar with the DMV. I’m looking for somewhere family-friendly, relatively safe, with good schools, a reasonable commute, and housing that makes sense on a GL-11 salary. NOTED: I’ll be using my VA Home loan depending.

4. Advice for New Agents: Looking back at when you first started, what’s something you wish someone had told you? Whether it’s about training, finances, work-life balance, equipment, networking, career progression, or the overall lifestyle, I’m open to hearing it all.

5. Military-to-USSS Transition: For any prior-service agents, how was your transition from the military into the Secret Service? Did your previous experience help you adjust, and were there any major differences you weren’t expecting?

I’m excited about the opportunity and just trying to prepare myself and my family as much as possible. I understand everyone’s experience will be different, but I’d really appreciate any insight from those who’ve already been through the process.

Godspeed

Do the smaller field offices in the Midwest do a lot of protective work, like Springfield, IL, or St, Louis, MO? I was just referred for the Springfield office, obviously I know its possible to change, but just curious how much travel i could expect from this location if I do ACTUALLY get it? Thanks!

Anyone else work a second job while waiting for academy? Im sure quite a few of us are looking at a 3-month wait and wondering if I put in my two weeks too early.

Out of curiosity. When others have gotten their offer for a SA position, did they max you out on the grade that you were referred for?

Finally got the call and am so excited for this opportunity. Everyone’s timeline is different and all depends on your background, if you attend ACE (like I did) and how fast you respond and set up the steps when contacted.

Background - No college degree or education. USMC Reserves Infantry 4 1/2 years. Some private security on the side for movie theaters and community centers. Honestly it shows that how you present yourself and the more you get under you belt the better it’ll look for any applicant.

Applied - 5/23/26
BI turned white - sometime between 9/20/26 and 9/22/26
Home Interview - 9/29/26 (Had mine after the BI cleared for some reason)
Call - 10/13/26

EOD - Nov 2, 2026
FLETC - Most likely early 2027
WFO

Medical cleared after a deferral and additional testing, last reference called Sunday, home interview and virtual BI interview completed completed a few weeks ago, hoping to hear back soon! Back to hurry up and wait

What are agents clearing right now with heavy protective detail OT and per diem factored in?

Delete if not allowed - Applied for the protective medicine specialist and figured I'd start a thread for others who may have insight to this relatively new position, or other applicants to push any info out they're willing to share. Thus far, no communication since the posting closed on my end. Yesterday was a holiday, so not super surprising.

I applied like 5 days ago, I’m currently a federal employee and 20 years old. I just did my Background for my current job. What are the exams like ? What should I know ? I have zero criminal background. 2 speeding tickets.

I applied to the USSS back in July 2025. At this point, I’m starting to think my application has developed its own retirement plan. 😂
I’ve officially been sitting at 90% on the tracker for three weeks, just waiting for that background to turn white. I’ve checked the tracker so many times I’m surprised it hasn’t asked me to stop harassing it.
So, two questions:
Are there any other 2025 applicants still stuck in the hiring pipeline, or am I the last surviving member of my generation?
Anyone else sitting at 90%, waiting for their background to turn white? If yours recently changed, how long were you stuck at 90% before it happened?
Just trying to figure out if there’s actually light at the end of this tunnel or if I should start charging the USSS rent for living in my head for the past 15 months. 🏴‍☠️

Hey everyone, I recently just graduated with my bachelor’s and I’m working on my graduate degree. I have about a year left till I complete my master’s degree, and a master’s degree will minimally qualify me for the gl-09 position. So my question is, do I have to wait until I actually graduate and receive my master’s degree in order to apply for the gl-09 position or could I apply a couple months before the completion of the degree? Thanks.

For anyone who has applied specifically for the U.S. Secret Service Counter Assault Team (CAT) position, I’m trying to get a better understanding of the timeline after receiving a Final Job Offer (FJO).
For those who have gone through the process or are familiar with it, I have a few questions:
After receiving the FJO, how long did it take to receive a FLETC reporting date?
How long is the academy and any required follow-on training for CAT applicants?
After successfully completing the academy and meeting all training requirements, when does the CAT selection process typically take place?
If you pass all phases of CAT selection, how long does it generally take to receive a selection notification and move forward with the team?
I’m specifically interested in the CAT hiring pipeline, rather than the general USSS Special Agent process.
I understand timelines can vary, but any firsthand experiences or insight from current/former USSS personnel or recent CAT applicants would be greatly appreciated

Wife wants to settle roots in that area. I'm currently in the process with SA, invited to and planning on attending ACE in November. Just curious as to how the QOL is for someone who specifically wants to put roots/buy a house/raise a family in that area of the east coast and not really look to leave for the duration of my career. Odds I can stay in this area for a career? Whether it be protection or investigations.

Before you say it, I know. End of the day it's a fed job and where the fed says go, you go. Still, just curious.

Appreciate you guys.

Passed the UDEE today! And man let me say those patterns really screwed with my head 😂. Even on the study guide leading up to the test I couldn’t figure them out🤷🏾. Anyone else thought the Patterns were difficult. Overall test was good.

Any update on the event? I’ve tried contacting the Human Resources officer or recruiter and they have not gotten back to me at all