I'm glad that I stumbled across your videos this past week. Very informative and I appreciate that. I'm looking into becoming a SA and was wondering if they allow Tandem assignments? My wife is a new hire FSS and I was considering switching agencies if they allow Tandem. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks.
Hey Cody, did I understand it correctly that if someone was going to DSS, they could request the Washington Field Office and maybe be able to game the system a bit to have more stability there? Also, say you were going on an overseas assignment, the higher risk location, is there some kind of preference for an agent finishing up in a high risk location, like Iraq, to come back to the field office of their choice? Similar to what the Army does with people that volunteer for Korea or Kuwait, those individuals generally get a little more preference when they come back CONUS. Thank you for all the info you put out, what little I have learned about DSS has mostly come from your videos.
Hey bud, you can either serve at WFO or HQ to remain in the DC area. Plenty of options there. If you went to a high threat assignment and wanted to come back to WFO (or if you went to any other assignment) that wouldn’t be hard. Staying DC metro is the easiest location yo remain at for the majority of your career in DS.
What’s the schedule like once at a post? Like do you work tours like a patrol cop or like how’s that work? Thanks for all the helpful info! (I’m sure it varies but I guess I’m just mainly looking to make sure you have a fair amount of time to explore the country you’re in, I get it isn’t a vacation but I just want to make sure you’re not working 7 days a week 24 hours a day lol)
At traditional posts (which are most posts) it’s like a traditional 9-5 job. High threat posts are different but you’re not really allowed to travel and discover high terrorist threat countries anyway - nor would you want to.
Can you choose the overseas assignments? I got two dogs who I can’t leave with anyone….I’d need to know if they could come along and if they’d fly like in a normal plane or special accommodations
You can select/bud on your preferred posts for assignment but doesn’t mean you’ll get #1 or #30 on your list. BUT, you are not directed to any assignment you don’t want to go to. The department has post reports you can view before going and they discuss having pets in that particular country
@@Ir0nman80can you expand on “not directed to go to an assignment you don’t want to go to”? Just to be clear, if someone has an overseas assignment for 2 years at x country but they would want to go to y country…?
@@dutch4973 no. For example, A-Y countries are listed. You will pick and rank order those countries. If you don’t put it on your list, you don’t have to go. If you do put it on your list and get selected then you have to go. There is always a way “out” if you don’t like the country you were selected for but likely not good for a career. Rule of thumb - If you def don’t want to go, don’t put it on your list.
I’m starting my transition from the army to civilian life, this is one of the agencies I’ve been looking into. Do you think I’ll be able to transition into this field of work. I served for 9yrs as an infantryman.
Up until 1916 DS was called the Bureau of Secret Intelligence which had a different badge. When the name was changed to the Diplomatic Security Service they changed the whole branding. After the centennial anniversary there was discussion to change the badge to reflect both the historical and current badge.
@@Ir0nman80 We were founded in 1916. We did a millennial badge in 2000, & that started the effort by DSSAA members to update the badge, & the inclusion of new & old as DS started/named Diplomatic Security in 1987, so our 25 yr anniv was 2002, and our 100 yr anniv was 2016... a convoluted system. The new badge was approved before I left, then quashed. Mark Sullo picked up our efforts and got it over the line in 2021!
I recommend watching the 40+ videos I put on RUclips, join the Becoming a DSS Agent Facebook Group, and listening to The Off The X podcast. I’m confident all the answers to your questions will be found there. If not, send me an email at info@codyperron.com
Thank you, Devildog!! Get some!!
I was thinking about applying to DSS. Hopefully I can base in HCM, Vietnam.
Thanks for the video. Im pretty early in the process. I hope to become an agent in the future.
@user-sk7wv3xm6s, hows the process so far?
I'm glad that I stumbled across your videos this past week. Very informative and I appreciate that. I'm looking into becoming a SA and was wondering if they allow Tandem assignments? My wife is a new hire FSS and I was considering switching agencies if they allow Tandem. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks.
Tandems are allowed overseas but are not guaranteed.
Hey Cody, did I understand it correctly that if someone was going to DSS, they could request the Washington Field Office and maybe be able to game the system a bit to have more stability there? Also, say you were going on an overseas assignment, the higher risk location, is there some kind of preference for an agent finishing up in a high risk location, like Iraq, to come back to the field office of their choice? Similar to what the Army does with people that volunteer for Korea or Kuwait, those individuals generally get a little more preference when they come back CONUS. Thank you for all the info you put out, what little I have learned about DSS has mostly come from your videos.
Hey bud, you can either serve at WFO or HQ to remain in the DC area. Plenty of options there. If you went to a high threat assignment and wanted to come back to WFO (or if you went to any other assignment) that wouldn’t be hard. Staying DC metro is the easiest location yo remain at for the majority of your career in DS.
sorry if youve already answered but what degree do you think would be most likely to assist you as a dss agent i was thinking law
What’s the schedule like once at a post? Like do you work tours like a patrol cop or like how’s that work? Thanks for all the helpful info!
(I’m sure it varies but I guess I’m just mainly looking to make sure you have a fair amount of time to explore the country you’re in, I get it isn’t a vacation but I just want to make sure you’re not working 7 days a week 24 hours a day lol)
At traditional posts (which are most posts) it’s like a traditional 9-5 job. High threat posts are different but you’re not really allowed to travel and discover high terrorist threat countries anyway - nor would you want to.
@@Ir0nman80 yea nah I get that haha, but I wanna see Islamabad! 😂 But ok that’s good to know, thank you!
Can you talk about what the salary is like ?
What mic are you using, just curious. Thanks for the info 💪🏻
It’s just the regular mic on Apple MacBook pro
Didnt know about this field im a retired Army Sgt iraq and afghan vet.
Can you choose the overseas assignments? I got two dogs who I can’t leave with anyone….I’d need to know if they could come along and if they’d fly like in a normal plane or special accommodations
You can select/bud on your preferred posts for assignment but doesn’t mean you’ll get #1 or #30 on your list. BUT, you are not directed to any assignment you don’t want to go to. The department has post reports you can view before going and they discuss having pets in that particular country
@@Ir0nman80can you expand on “not directed to go to an assignment you don’t want to go to”? Just to be clear, if someone has an overseas assignment for 2 years at x country but they would want to go to y country…?
@@dutch4973 no. For example, A-Y countries are listed. You will pick and rank order those countries. If you don’t put it on your list, you don’t have to go. If you do put it on your list and get selected then you have to go. There is always a way “out” if you don’t like the country you were selected for but likely not good for a career. Rule of thumb - If you def don’t want to go, don’t put it on your list.
I’m starting my transition from the army to civilian life, this is one of the agencies I’ve been looking into. Do you think I’ll be able to transition into this field of work. I served for 9yrs as an infantryman.
Yes, of course. You just need a degree and be able to convey your experiences appropriately.
Im very interested in speaking with you about applying to DSS. Is there any chance I can speak with you?
Shoot me an email: info@codyperron.com
Why did you guys change the look of your badge, it was perfect before?? It looks like a meme or cartoon badge now.
Up until 1916 DS was called the Bureau of Secret Intelligence which had a different badge. When the name was changed to the Diplomatic Security Service they changed the whole branding. After the centennial anniversary there was discussion to change the badge to reflect both the historical and current badge.
@@Ir0nman80 We were founded in 1916. We did a millennial badge in 2000, & that started the effort by DSSAA members to update the badge, & the inclusion of new & old as DS started/named Diplomatic Security in 1987, so our 25 yr anniv was 2002, and our 100 yr anniv was 2016... a convoluted system. The new badge was approved before I left, then quashed. Mark Sullo picked up our efforts and got it over the line in 2021!
@@jamesminor4141 thanks for the correction and additional context Jim.
Is your podcast on Spotify?
Yes it is
@@Ir0nman80 thanks for the reply, will be checking it out
@@tiptonames Thank you
Hey sir. Thanks for the vid. How do you become a special operator in this?
Thinking about applying. Have some questions, could you please tell me how could i contact you
I recommend watching the 40+ videos I put on RUclips, join the Becoming a DSS Agent Facebook Group, and listening to The Off The X podcast. I’m confident all the answers to your questions will be found there. If not, send me an email at info@codyperron.com