Thread: AZ: Border Patrol recruits at Palms

Border Patrol recruits at Palms
BY WILLIAM ROLLER, SUN STAFF WRITER
December 22, 2007 - 4:58PM
In an effort to meet next year's manpower needs, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) held a recruiting event Saturday at Yuma Palms Regional Center Saturday.

The Border Patrol vehicles parked in front of Harkins Theatres attracted some last-minute browsers just before the Christmas holiday.

"It's going to be kind of busy with the shoppers so we get a little more exposure," said Bart Triplett, senior patrol agent.

CBP has set a goal of recruiting 4,800 agents before the end of 2008. The focus of their candidate search tends to be broad, attracting "a little bit of everything" while holding events at job fairs all over Yuma County, Triplett said.

While requirements are not especially stringent, candidates must meet certain qualifications to be accepted into the training program. Interested applicants must be U.S. citizens between 18 and 40 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, a valid state driver's license and at least one year of full-time work experience.

Physical requirements include the ability to do 20 push-ups in one minute, 25 sit-ups in one minute and a "step test," in which candidates step up to a 12-inch block at a steady pace for five minutes.

"We've been doing quite a bit of advertising nationwide," Triplett said. "We've been able to hire more because of raising the age limit to 40."

Triplett said he did not have exact figures for 2007, but recruitment is "up a couple thousand" and goals were met for the year.

Interested candidates must fill out an application online at www. borderpatrol.gov. They will be required to pass a written exam and medical and physical fitness exams, an interview and a background investigation.

Prior misdemeanors will not disqualify anyone, but a felony conviction will, Triplett noted.

Candidates are trained for 17 weeks in Artesia, N.M., where a law enforcement campus that opened in the fall of 2004 consolidated all prior training.

"They'll get a call and are usually offered one or two stations. If they accept, they'll know exactly where they're going before their 17 weeks," Triplett said.

Veronica Carrillo, visiting from Sacramento, Calif., stopped by the recruiting desk to get a brochure for her 17-year-old son. He will graduate high school next spring and has been thinking about joining the CBP, she said.

"He's always talking about it," Carrillo said. "He wants to help people pass through legally, get their papers and do it the right way."

CBP's main concerns are to keep terrorist suspects, terrorist weapons, smuggling of illegal aliens and contraband from crossing the borders, explained Triplett.

He noted that the CBP appreciates candidates with a former military or law enforcement background. "They want to serve their country," Triplett said.

"The pay and benefits are good. Right now, we're hiring so now is a good time to apply."

www.yumasun.com

as a 20 year veteran of the Military.. you couldn't pay me enough money... It seems like it is far more dangerous being a BPO than being a soldier deployed in far off lands.

With Bush's open door policy and how he lets drug runners own the border.... no way Jose