Federal air marshals do important work in patrolling the air space to ensure that citizens are safe. A federal air marshal works under the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The U.S. Government hires thousands of marshals to patrol the air space. The intent behind the Federal Air Marshal Service is to protect the country from terrorist attacks. After the events of September 11, 2001, President Bush hired thousands of additional air marshals to protect citizens traveling on airplanes. An air marshal is assigned to a flight, and he or she poses as a regular passenger. An air marshal seeks to neutralize a threat or hijacking that occurs during a flight. Maybe you have wondered, “How do I become a federal air marshal?” When you want to become a federal air marshal, it is important to has an educational background in criminal justice or constitutional law.
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What’s it like to be a federal air marshal?
When you are a federal air marshal, the majority of your time will be spent on airplanes. You should enjoy flying on planes if you want to become a federal air marshal. About 15 days out of the month, you will need to pose as a passenger on flights. A federal air marshal should have the ability to maintain a low profile on flights. If his or her identity is compromised, then the federal air marshal may become a prime target for a terrorist on an airplane. The federal air marshal is always on-call with the government. The government can call upon a federal air marshal to be deployed to any location in the world. An agent must be in great physical shape to function in this career.
Education Requirements
To become a federal air marshal, one only is required to have a high school education. However, jobs in this field have been becoming more competitive in the past few years. To distinguish one’s self in this career path, one should obtain a bachelor’s degree in a field like constitutional law or criminal justice. You will also need to undergo training through the federal air marshal program. You should have three years or law enforcement experience if you want to become a federal air marshal. Also, you will need to be under the age of 37 and a citizen of the United States in order to be considered as a federal air marshal. You will receive training to learn how to provide emergency assistance on a flight if it is needed too. You must also have excellent eye vision in order to become a federal air marshall.
Salary & How to Get a Job
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a federal air marshal is about $40,000 to $60,000. Federal air marshals have differing salaries depending on their responsibilities. A federal air marshal in the top level may be paid anywhere from $120,000 to $160,000 a year. If you want to become a federal air marshal, then you will need to submit an application with the federal air marshal program. The competition for these positions is fierce, so you should obtain as much education as possible before becoming a federal air marshal. You should also try to gain as much experience as possible working for a law enforcement agency before submitting an application.
References:
1. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4675001_federal-air-marshal-spend-workday.html
2. http://www.ehow.com/how_2121880_become-federal-air-marshal.html