In the United States, for example… is the REAL POWER on the street, in the offices, with the U.S. Marshals, the FBI agents, the DEA agents, the Homeland Security officers, the Secret Service agents?

We all know the answer.

The people who investigate, who pursue, who track down, who enforce— they are the power. Without them, laws mean nothing.

And for all its power, the Federal Government depends on so many areas of law enforcement.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are the Government’s principal investigators, responsible for investigating violations of more than 200 categories of Federal law and conducting sensitive national security investigations.

Agents may conduct surveillance, monitor court-authorized wiretaps, examine business records, investigate white-collar crime, or participate in sensitive undercover assignments. The FBI investigates a wide range of criminal activity, including organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, bank robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, espionage, drug trafficking, and cyber crime.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents enforce laws and regulations relating to illegal drugs.

U.S. marshals and deputy marshals protect the Federal courts and ensure the effective operation of the judicial system.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents enforce and investigate violations of Federal firearms and explosives laws, as well as Federal alcohol and tobacco tax regulations.

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security special agents are engaged in the battle against terrorism.

The Department of Homeland Security also employs numerous law enforcement officers within several different agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Secret Service.

U.S. Border Patrol agents protect more than 8,000 miles of international land and water boundaries. Immigration inspectors interview and examine people seeking entrance to the United States and its territories.

Customs inspectors enforce laws governing imports and exports by inspecting cargo, baggage, and articles worn or carried by people, vessels, vehicles, trains, and aircraft entering or leaving the United States.

Federal Air Marshals provide air security by guarding against attacks targeting U.S. aircraft, passengers, and crews.

U.S. Secret Service special agents and U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers protect the President, Vice President, their immediate families, and other public officials.

Secret Service special agents also investigate counterfeiting, forgery of Government checks or bonds, and fraudulent use of credit cards.

Other Federal agencies employ police and special agents with sworn arrest powers and the authority to carry firearms. These agencies include the Postal Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Law Enforcement, the Forest Service, and the National Park Service.

The choices of federal law enforcement are many. How do you get the one you want?

Education is the door. isn’t it always?

To be considered for appointment as an FBI agent, an applicant must be a college graduate and have at least 3 years of professional work experience, or have an advanced degree plus 2 years of professional work experience.

An applicant who meets these criteria must also have one of the following: a college major in accounting, electrical engineering, information technology, or computer science; fluency in a foreign language; a degree from an accredited law school; or 3 years of related full-time work experience. All new FBI agents undergo 18 weeks of training at the FBI Academy on the U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.

Most other Federal law enforcement agencies require either a bachelor’s degree or related work experience or a combination of the two.

Federal law enforcement agents undergo extensive training, usually at the U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, or the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.

Even fish and game wardens must meet specific requirements. Most States require at least 2 years of college study. Once hired, fish and game wardens attend a training academy lasting from 3 to 12 months, sometimes followed by further training in the field.

Continuing education and training helps police officers, detectives, and special agents improve their job performance. Through police department academies, regional centers for public safety employees established by the States, and Federal agency training centers, instructors provide annual training in self-defense tactics, firearms, use-of-force policies, sensitivity and communications skills, crowd-control techniques, relevant legal developments, and advances in law enforcement equipment.

The level of government spending determines the level of employment for police and detectives. The number of job opportunities, therefore, can vary from year to year and from place to place. Layoffs, on the other hand, are rare because retirements enable most staffing cuts to be handled through attrition. Trained law enforcement officers who lose their jobs because of budget cuts usually have little difficulty finding jobs with other agencies.

Great news— Federal law provides special salary rates to Federal employees who serve in law enforcement.

Additionally, Federal special agents and inspectors receive law enforcement availability pay (LEAP)—equal to 25 percent of the agent’s grade and step—awarded because of the large amount of overtime that these agents are expected to work.

(NOTE: In 2007, FBI agents entered Federal service as GS-10 employees on the pay scale at a base salary of $48,159, yet they earned about $60,199 a year with availability pay. They could advance to the GS-13 grade level in field nonsupervisory assignments at a base salary of $75,414, which was worth $94,268 with availability pay. )

FBI supervisory, management, and executive positions in grades GS-14 and GS-15 paid a base salary of about $89,115 and $104,826 a year, respectively, which amounted to $111,394 or $131,033 per year including availability pay.

So, if the real power in any of the branches of government appeals to you, check out one of the links below. See what educational base you need to get where you want to go.

Special salary rates, exciting work, civil service perks and special benefit packages.

Sound good? It can be dangerous work. And it can require long hours, and assignments far away from family and home.

One thing is certain in an uncertain world— as long as bad people break the law, good people will be needed to enforce the law. And the pay is excellent.

Check out these links, and see which degree opens which door for you—

• Information about qualifications for employment as a FBI Special Agent is available from the nearest State FBI office. The address and phone number are listed in the local telephone directory. http://www.fbi.gov
• Information on career opportunities, qualifications, and training for U.S. Secret Service Special Agents and Uniformed Officers is available from the Secret Service Personnel Division at (202) 406-5800, (888) 813-877, or (888) 813-USSS. http://www.secretservice.gov/join
• Information about qualifications for employment as a DEA Special Agent is available from the nearest DEA office, or call (800) DEA-4288. http://www.usdoj.gov/dea
• Information about career opportunities, qualifications, and training to become a deputy marshal is available from: U.S. Marshals Service, Human Resources Division—Law Enforcement Recruiting, Washington, DC 20530-1000. http://www.usmarshals.gov
• For information on operations and career opportunities in the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, contact: U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Office of Governmental and Public Affairs, 650 Massachusetts Ave., NW., Room 8290, Washington D.C., 20226. http://www.atf.gov
• Information about careers in U.S. Customs and Border Protection is available from: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20229. http://www.cbp.gov
• Information about law enforcement agencies within the Department of Homeland Security is available from: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528. http://www.dhs.gov
• To find Federal, State, and local law enforcement job fairs and other recruiting events across the country, contact: National Law Enforcement Recruiters Association, 2045 15th St. North, Suite 210, Arlington, VA 22201. http://www.nlera.org