Originally Posted by
Gadfly
Like other have mentioned above... back in the pre 9/11 days, INS special agents got a version of CITP that was one week shorter than everyone else, just make jumping ship a pain in the ass for them. Knowing you have to do 12weeks of CITP over again, PLUS the new agency basic, makes jumping ship a "no go" for many.
Pre 9/11, I had put in to go to US Customs, and was told under the table I was going to get an offer, but 9/11 ended that. After the merger, I was promoted from Agent to Special agent... but that meant a trip back to Fletc for CITP. They ran out of money, and I was sent home with no badge or gun for almost one year, until funding came back, and I was sent to the new ICE basic academy. All so I could go back to the same cubicle, in the same building, doing the exact same job I was doing before the merger. During the time I did not have a badge and gun, I was still signing court documents, arresting folks, issuing NTAs, and filling out affidavits... it was a very "gray area' for me.
A few years backs, when I was teaching at FLETC, HSI management was talking seriously about breaking out of FLETC CITP, and creating their own program. They even talked of leaving GLYNCO all together, and moving shop to Ft Benning to build their own facility. Allegedly, the could get the land they need at Benning for free, the issue would be building the structures, and staffing things like a chow hall and motor pool. I doubt it will ever leave Glynco, but breaking away from the traditional CITP model is a strong possibility. The say it will shorten the total time at the academy by 4 weeks if the skip the redundant stuff they had to repeat between the two programs.... the bonus would be to keep agents from leaving for greener pastures. We don't get a ton leaving, but we have lost a few to Dept of Commerce and various OIGs, where they always have nights and weekends off, and no midnight call outs.