Border Patrol Agent (BORSTAR) Not-to-Exceed

Salary: $125,158.00 to $162,708.00 Per Year

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Commissioner located in Washington, DC.

Major duties

Relocation Authorized Position: Relocation expenses will be paid in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation limits and agency policy. The primary function of this position is to serve as a senior Border Patrol Agent and Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) operator providing advanced border enforcement, search and rescue, tactical medical, and emergency response expertise to support Office of the Commissioner leadership and Commissioner-directed priorities. This position starts at a salary of $125,158.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $162,708.00 (GS-13, Step 10). Typical duties include: Provides Border Patrol enforcement, BORSTAR search and rescue, tactical medical, and emergency response advisory support to Office of the Commissioner leadership on border security and border safety issues. Plans, coordinates, and supports complex border enforcement, interdiction, search and rescue, emergency response, and tactical medical support operations in remote, rugged, or high-risk border environments. Conducts advance security, route, terrain, environmental, threat, vulnerability, and medical response assessments to identify and mitigate risks affecting Commissioner travel, field engagements, and operational activities. Supports protective security operations for the Commissioner by providing close protection, perimeter security, immediate emergency response, and tactical medical support within the scope of training and agency policy. Maintains operational readiness and supports training by applying BORSTAR skills in tracking, sign cutting, land navigation, emergency response, tactical medical support, rescue coordination, and specialized equipment operation.

Qualifications

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Planning or supporting border enforcement, interdiction, search and rescue, emergency response, or tactical medical support operations in remote or high-risk border environments. Conducting threat, route, terrain, environmental, border safety, or medical response assessments to identify operational hazards, rescue concerns, smuggling activity, or mitigation options. Applying Border Patrol enforcement, BORSTAR search and rescue, emergency response, tracking, sign-cutting, tactical medical, or rescue coordination capabilities during field operations. Coordinating with Border Patrol sectors, stations, BORSTAR elements, CBP components, emergency response entities, medical or rescue partners, or law enforcement agencies. Preparing briefings, operational assessments, incident reports, recommended courses of action, or other documentation related to border enforcement, rescue operations, field safety, equipment readiness, or lessons learned. This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized Experience in law enforcement or other responsible work that demonstrated the ability to: Make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of firearms; deal effectively with individuals or groups of persons in a courteous, tactful manner in connection with law enforcement matters; analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions or take prompt and appropriate law enforcement action in light of applicable laws, court decisions, and sound law enforcement procedures; and develop and maintain contact with a network of informants. Mandatory Prerequisite for Secondary Administrative LEO Retirement Covered Position: This position has been identified as Administrative, that is, an executive, managerial, technical, semiprofessional, or professional position for which experience in a primary/rigorous law enforcement or firefighting position, or equivalent experience outside of the Federal government is a mandatory prerequisite, as defined by 5 CFR 831.902 (CSRS) and 5 CFR 842.802 (FERS). Note: if you currently serve in a permanent Secondary LEO Retirement covered position, you are exempt from this mandatory prerequisite. Language Requirement: Must be proficient in the Spanish language. (i.e., able to speak and read in Spanish). BORSTAR Selection and Training Course: You must have successfully completed the BORSTAR Selection and Training (STC) Course to be considered for this position. Firearms Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child. Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 10/13/2026. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Polygraph Examination: This is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package.