| The United States Secret Service is an | | | | all outlined in the United States Code in Title 18, |
| organization that is surrounded with mystery and | | | | Section 3056. |
| respect. The men and women that serve in the | | | | It states there that any agent or officer may |
| Secret Service are truly American heroes, and | | | | carry a firearm, make arrests without a warrant |
| the appeal to the excitement of their life is | | | | for any crime that is committed in their presence. |
| definitely appealing. However, being a Secret | | | | It also states if they have a reasonable belief that |
| Service Agent may not be the life that you might | | | | a crime has been committed, they may execute |
| see in the movies. | | | | warrants, investigate any fraudulent identification |
| The Secret Service is actually one of the United | | | | documents, and they may even offer rewards |
| States oldest law enforcement agencies. It was | | | | for information. |
| started in 1865, and at that time, it was actually | | | | To become a United States Secret Service |
| part of the United States Treasury Department. | | | | Agent takes quite a bit of time. First and |
| At that time it was brought about to help combat | | | | foremost, any applicant MUST be a United States |
| counterfeiting. | | | | citizen. At the time of application, there is a fair |
| However, in 1901, after President William McKinley | | | | amount of paperwork to be completed. After |
| was assassinated, the Secret Service was asked | | | | that, any candidate will need to go through a |
| to protect the president. From that day forth, | | | | comprehensive background investigation before |
| things have never been the same. In fact, today | | | | even being given an appointment to interview. |
| the duties of the United States Secret Service | | | | Typically, this will take anywhere from six to nine |
| have been split into two different avenues. | | | | months to complete. |
| One is that they are responsible for the safety of | | | | Due to the sensitive nature of this type of work, |
| the president, vice-president, and other important | | | | they need to be sure that they are hiring |
| political figures. The other avenue is that they | | | | top-notch individuals. From there if you are hired, |
| must guard the United States against any crimes | | | | you will proceed through a litany of different |
| that might threaten our financial security. | | | | types of training. Any United State Secret |
| However, the Secret Service does not simply | | | | Service Agent is trained to be the best of the |
| have cart blanch to do as they please. In actuality, | | | | best, and nothing less than that is accepted. In the |
| there are laws that dictate exactly who the | | | | long history of the United States Secret Service, |
| Secret Service may protect. Of course, the | | | | nothing less than that has been seen. |
| president and vice president are covered, but so | | | | A secret service agent career is indeed a career |
| are the families of these individuals. | | | | worthy of consideration for those seeking an |
| The Secret Service agents are actually required | | | | exciting career path. If you are interested, I urge |
| to protect past presidents for the next ten years | | | | you to look deeper into it. You can do so by |
| after they have served in office. They are also | | | | visiting websites which cover the career in more |
| charged with the safety of visiting political figures, | | | | detail. |
| and any other individuals that the president may | | | | Note: You are free to reprint or republish this |
| dictate need their attention. | | | | article. The only condition is that the Resource |
| A United States Secret Service agent has been | | | | Box should be included and the links are clickable. |
| guaranteed certain rights and privileges. These are | | | | |