Thread: Border patrol jobs are popular

Border patrol jobs are popular
Local recruitment drive attracts scores hoping for a part in growing role

By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer
First published in print: Sunday, November 16, 2008

COLONIE — Local interest in working to catch "terrorists," illegal immigrants and smugglers along the U.S.-Mexico border was surprisingly strong Saturday at the Albany Marriott, where the U.S. Department of Homeland Security held an eight-hour recruitment blitz.


More than 100 area residents were interviewed to become border patrol officers by lunchtime, said Walter Harwell, recruitment coordinator for the U.S. Border Patrol. Many applicants were eager to take a series of tests for the jobs, based along the borders of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.

"It looks like a fun job," said Elias Ruhland of Schodack, who expects to graduate soon from Sage Colleges with a law and society degree. "The pay is good and you can go anywhere."

Ruhland saw an advertisement for the border patrol positions and stopped by to apply with his father.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is in the midst of its largest expansion ever, trying to fulfill a commitment made by President Bush to hire 6,000 new border patrol officers a year from 2006 to 2008. To hire the final 300, it held recruiting pushes in "non-traditional" hiring areas in Albany, New York City and New Jersey on Saturday.

The hiring comes amid a dimming American economy. Border Patrol recruits earn between $36,000 to $46,000 their first year and have the potential to make $70,000 a year within three years.

"Our Border Patrol agents protect America in America," said Joseph Abbott, director of national recruitment. "We are embarking on a recruiting mission into states that may not be as familiar with CBP, and we are certain that with awareness comes interest in this unparalleled federal law enforcement opportunity."

More than a dozen people were milling around the recruitment rooms at around 1 p.m. Saturday. To be hired, Ruhland and others must pass written and medical exams and Spanish proficiency and physical fitness tests. Training is a 55-day program in Artesia, New Mexico. Military veterans make up 25 percent of CBP's workforce.

Ruhland was excited to take his tests in December. "I've been looking to leave the area anyway," he said.

Dennis Yusko can be reached at 454-5353 or by e-mail at dyusko@timesunion.com.
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Spanish proficiency