South Carolina has always been a hub of activities for the federal bureau of investigation. Its location around near the eastern seaboard and the Atlantic Ocean has made it an area full of activity for the bureau. Agents working for the FBI in the state operate on a very wide scale in order to carry out their law enforcement duties.
FBI Agent Requirements in South Carolina
Basic Requirements
The FBI College is a training ground where prospective agents receive FBI training in order to be fully enrolled into the bureau. Such candidates must meet certain FBI agents’ requirements before becoming federal agents.
- Interested candidates must be citizens of the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands.
- He or she must be between the ages of 26 and 37 years.
- Must possess a minimum academic qualification of a four-year bachelor degree from an accredited school.
- He or she must pass a physical fitness test.
- Candidates must have at least three years of professional work experience.
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Additional Requirements
All candidates are expected to pass a medical test to show that they are in good shape for the job.
Working for the FBI requires great mental skills, only agents who pass a written personality test administered by the agency will proceed for FBI training.
To become a federal agent, all candidates must pass through a background screening process that shows all past criminal records and any arrest history. During the screening process, the FBI interviews close acquaintances of the applicants in order to obtain useful information about the conduct and history of the candidate.
Different Positions Within the FBI
Individuals who take up FBI careers are often trained to function in specialized departments. The state of South Carolina has its agents divided into units in order to effectively perform its functions.
Specialized Weapons and Tactics Team – This unit features a team of highly trained agents trained specifically to handle high risk situations. They function well in crisis and perform a host of actions from rescuing hostages, apprehending dangerous criminal and handling negotiations.
Translation – Agents in this unit are well versed in foreign languages. They assist in translating documents and assisting agents with interviews when the need arises.
Special Agents – The special agents in the FBI handle all areas of the bureau’s responsibility. They work primarily in the evidence response team and are responsible for retrieving and analyzing crime scene evidence without missing important details. A crime scene investigators job ranges from fingerprint collection, bullet trajectory mapping, blood splatter tracking, and a host of other laboratory procedures.
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South Carolina FBI Agent Education
Bachelors of Science Criminology – Any individual who wishes to join the FBI must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Candidates with degrees in criminology and criminal justice are suitable for jobs with the FBI as the course provide them with a background to certain activities of the bureau.
Masters of Science in Criminology – Aside from the importance of a criminology degree to the bureau, a master’s degree gives applicants certain privileges during the enrollment processes. A person with such qualification only needs to have two years of professional work experience as opposed to the three required.
Degrees for FBI Support Specialists – Other positions within the bureau require specialized skill sets. Some of these include financial analyst, security expert, criminal profile jobs, translators, paralegal, agents with the behavioral analysis unit (bau FBI), and a few others. Working for the FBI in any of these capacities requires degrees in, accounting, computer science, information technology, law, psychology, language, and other diversified qualifications.
Major Cities in South Carolina
South Carolina is the 24th most populous state in the country. The state has its FBI field office located in its capital city Columbia. Aside from this, there are eight satellite offices located in cities around the state namely; Spartanburg, Aiken, rock hill, myrtle beach, Hilton Head, Greenville, Florence, and Charleston.
Specific Duties of FBI Agents
Over the years, the duties of FBI agents in South Carolina have revolved around several cases, most of which are focused on investigation techniques. Some specific duties of agents in the state include;
- Interviewing witnesses at crime scenes and arresting suspects.
- Collecting and analyzing evidence at crime scenes.
- Conducting undercover operations among many others.
Interesting facts
The field office in the state is quite a home of activities; it has handled cases encompassing both major and minor scale operations. One of its notable achievements was a drug bust were members of a narcotics syndicate were caught and sentenced to more than 100 years’ imprisonment. As a part of its counter-terrorism job and activities, the FBI was instrumental in arresting a man who threatened to blow up a structure; the suspect’s home was searched upon arrest and was found to have child pornography on his computer.
South Carolina FBI Agent Salary
All agents starting at the federal bureau of investigation earn a salary commensurate with the general schedule payscale (gs pay scale). Of course, the pay may differ based on qualifications, experience and job description but new agents typically earn from $43,000 upwards. This is however subject to an increase by 17.16% according to the United States Bureau of labor statistics since adjustments are made based on geographical locations.
FBI Training Programs and Schools in South Carolina
Criminal Justice Programs and Schools in South Carolina
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Choose your area of study and receive free information about programs you are interested in. FBI agents are dedicated to America’s defense and security. There are a number of careers you can pursue within the FBI with current activities focusing heavily on anit-terrorism. No matter which career you pursue becoming an FBI agent requires deep commitment and dedication. Request information from multiple schools to find the best program and educational opportunity for you!