PORTLAND, Ore. — When many of us think of an FBI special agent, entertaining the idea of actually becoming one can feel ridiculously impossible. But it might not be as out of reach as you might think.
“We hire all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds,” said Beth Anne Steele, FBI spokesperson in the Portland field office.
The FBI wants more women and people of color to consider becoming a special agent because they are underrepresented in the agent ranks. Steele said about one-fifth of agents in the FBI are women, which doesn’t match numbers in the general population. The agency also falls below the national average when you look at minorities.
“The FBI as a whole needs to make sure we represent the people we serve and that means making sure we have more women and people of color in our agent ranks,” Steele said.
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon, Renn Cannon, said having diverse viewpoints is beneficial for the FBI.
“We need agents who possess a variety of skills and attributes across the board. We need diversity in educational background; life experiences; race, ethnicity and national origin; language skills; sexual orientation; and professional experience,” said Cannon.
What’s being called a “Diversity Agent Recruiting” event is scheduled for Portland on Tuesday, April 23 from 6 - 9 p.m.
It’s for women and minorities who might be interested in becoming a special agent. Pre-registration is required by April 18. To pre-register, go to fbijobs.gov, click the “Search Jobs” tab, and search for “DAR.”
While agents come from all sorts of different backgrounds, there are some specific requirements to be an FBI special agent.
Those interested have to be between the ages of 23 and 36. They must have a Bachelor’s degree at least, some work experience, be a U.S. citizen, and be able to pass the physical fitness test. There are also things like a drug screening and a background check.
A day at the FBI Portland Field Office
KGW’s Christine Pitawanich got to spend some time at the FBI’s Portland Field Office as part of a Media Challenge Day that was held to promote the agency’s hiring initiative.
Pitawanich started her day with Special Agent in Charge Renn Cannon along with June, the fitness instructor. The physical fitness test is comprised of a maximum number of continuous sit-ups in one minute, a timed 300-meter sprint, pushups until exhaustion (untimed), and then a timed 1.5-mile run.
Then, Pitawanich participated in a shooting simulation.
“We want to put agents in a position where they have to think through a situation, make a decision, carry out an action, then we stop and we work our way through it legally to try and determine why did you make this choice you did,” said Special Agent Sandee Flint, a training coordinator for the FBI.
Flint described what parameters agents must meet before they decide to use deadly force.
“Deadly force can be used whenever death or serious bodily injury is imminent to someone,” Flint said. “Imminent means if you do not take action, action will be taken against someone now.”
Next, Pitawanich was allowed to examine and take fingerprints after suiting up in a clean room suit, also known as a bunny suit. It was a part of evidence response training. The purpose of wearing the full-body suit, goggles, and gloves, was to prevent contamination.
Antonia Kreamier, a Community Outreach Specialist with the FBI said women and minorities should consider becoming an agent. There are many different tasks agents can specialize in. In addition, Kreamier said the agency promotes the importance of family and having good work/life balance.
A free opportunity for teens this summer
The FBI also has a Teen Academy that will be held July 8-12. It is a free, overnight academy in Salem.
There are only 30 spots available for the event. The goal is to bring in young people from across Oregon.
Students will have opportunities to take part in in hands-on activities with the FBI’s Evidence Response Team and Emergency Medical Technicians.
There will also be discussions with experts on gangs and cyber safety, violence prevention, community policing, and constitutional law.
Here are the requirements:
- Will be a Junior or Senior during the 2019-2020 school year
- Complete online application in its entirety at fbi.gov/portland
- Application questions must be complete and in paragraph format
Questions can be e-mailed to ajfabiankreamier@fbi.gov.