THE COUNTER ASSAULT TEAM (CAT) is a specialized unit within the U.S. Secret Service that provides full-time, global tactical support to the Presidential Protective Division. On order, CAT will also provide tactical support to designated protectees, protected venues, and National Special Security Events.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- 21 years of age and younger than 37 at the time of conditional offer (Veterans – 40 years of age at the time of conditional offer)
- Qualify for the GL-07, GL-09, or the GS-11 level
- Current Valid Driver’s License
- Qualify for a Top Secret Clearance
- DD-214 or Statement of Service (dates of service and campaigns) Specialized Experience: Weapons and Tactics Training or Statement of Service, depicting the same
ACCELERATED CAREER TRACK TO CAT:
- 33 weeks Special Agent Training
- Upon successful completion of Special Agent Training, reassignment to the Washington Field Office (WFO)
- While assigned to the WFO, 9 weeks CAT Selection and Basic Training
- Upon successful completion of CAT Selection and Basic Training, reassignment to the Special Operations Division (SOD) CAT
- Approximately 12 to 24 months from Enter on Duty Date to reassignment to SOD CAT
IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL LIKELY POSSESS ONE OF THE SEVEN CATEGORIES:
- Occupied a combat arms occupational specialty in the U.S. Armed Forces
- Served as a tactical operator (in a non-support or administrative role) in a military or government special operations unit
- Those who served as a military member, not occupying a combat arms occupational specialty, but possess direct combat experience
- Those who have served as a member of a federal, state, or local law enforcement tactical team
- Participated as a student athlete, in a sport, at a college or university
- Participated as a professional athlete in a sport
- Completed the requisite training course for a military or government Special Operations unit or a federal, state, or local law enforcement tactical team
QUALIFICATIONS:
To be considered for the position of Special Agent, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have uncorrected vision no worse than 20/100 binocular; correctable to 20/20 in each eye (NOTE: Lasik, ALK, RK and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eye surgeries for special agent applicants provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are the waiting periods before visual tests are conducted after the surgery: Lasik surgery—two months; PRK–six months; and ALK and RK—one year.) Applicants must meet the vision requirement at the time of application
- Be in excellent health and physical condition
- Pass an Applicant Physical Abilities Test
- Complete interviews and pass a written examination
- Qualify for a Top Secret clearance and undergo a complete background investigation, to include driving record check, drug screening, medical and polygraph examinations
- Certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so, if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959
- The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone-exception is a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the in the form of a ring (e.g., wedding band))
COUNTER ASSAULT TEAM IN THE MEDIA
CBS Morning's Coverage of CAT
Standing Post: From NFL to CAT
Special Agent Ronald J. Shurer, II
Jocko Podcast 173 w/ Ron Shurer, Medal Of Honor Recipient: Fighting Up-Hill Battles.
Standing Post: Ep. #013 - Medal Of Honor Recipient SA Ronald Shurer II
LEARN MORE at SecretService.gov or CALL US at 866-909-9785
Deaf and Hard of Hearing | EOE 202-406-5370
Counter Assault Team | INTERESTED IN JOINING CAT? Email SOD.CATRecruiting@usss.dhs.gov