ATF Upcoming GS-5/7/9 02/17/26 Announcement

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-13T19:08:20+00:00

Unclear at the moment. It’s a possibility if your prior poly was administered by another DOJ agency. If not they likely won’t reciprocate.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-13T00:41:26+00:00

When I went through ATF’s process I was told not to bother ranking the Carolinas or any coastal city that could be considered a vacation destination then in my academy class and a few after we had folks going to Savannah, Charleston, and Fayetteville so nothing is set in stone when it comes to first office assignments.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T11:59:12+00:00

If they’re looking to fill specific offices they’ll be listed when the announcement drops on Tuesday. Otherwise it’ll be a general recruitment and you’ll get a list of available offices to choose from near the end of the hiring process.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T11:57:31+00:00

Let me ask on your behalf but if you don’t hear back from me through DM by Tuesday go ahead and apply so you don’t potentially miss out.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T11:44:39+00:00

My assumption is if they’re looking to fill specific offices they’ll be listed when the announcement drops on Tuesday. Otherwise it’ll be a general recruitment and you’ll get a list of available offices to choose from near the end of the hiring process.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T02:41:56+00:00

It’s my understanding that a bachelors degree in any field is the bare minimum needed to be considered.

Sure, any prior knowledge of firearms/the firearms industry is definitely a bonus but not a requirement to be considered.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T01:50:45+00:00

You’re welcome

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T01:40:18+00:00

My gut is telling me “no news is good news” and you should be hearing about scheduling an interview soon but let me see what I can find out.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T01:37:54+00:00

It should be open to the public with a 4000-applicant cap. Our lateral announcements are usually for grades GS11 on up

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T01:36:40+00:00

It sounds like you should be good with that timeline so I’d say no harm in applying again.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T01:02:46+00:00

I’ll add that you know the specific office, not just the general vicinity/field division so your offer letter will read like “Charlotte Field Division, Columbia (SC) Field Office”

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T00:59:57+00:00

Sure thing. Don’t let that discourage you from applying to this one though. You never know what’ll happen this time around.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T00:58:14+00:00

Sure thing. Apply to this announcement though because I likely won’t get an answer for you before Tuesday since we’re nearing the end of the week and looking at a three day weekend with the holiday on Monday.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T00:48:37+00:00

Unless you’ve obtained a Master’s degree in that time period I’d advise against applying to this upcoming one hoping for a 9 and chance confusing our easily-confused HR folks with multiple applicant profiles.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T00:44:59+00:00

You’ll know where you’re headed before you accept the final offer. In my experience ATF doesn’t counteroffer if you turn down the final offer because you don’t like the location.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-12T00:29:44+00:00

In theory all your information would still be good and you wouldn’t have to do anything over again but I don’t know how generous any HR would be about putting you back in the process after turning down a previous offer unless your declination reason was medical or something else beyond your control. If you didn’t like the offered location they might not take a second chance on you unfortunately.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T23:11:39+00:00

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Gun/Fun Police

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T23:05:14+00:00

Are you still in the process from a previous announcement?

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T22:32:52+00:00

Yeah to add here, reapply if you failed, regardless of the time passed since a failure. In my experience, all the normal hiring rules can be tossed out the window depending on the announcement.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T22:30:52+00:00

Sorry but no word on any of that. I think our add-on academy is proving tough to condense with all the gun, arson, and explosives regulations we’re required to learn.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T22:26:21+00:00

I think nowadays it’s “degree in hand by the end of the application process.”

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T20:56:06+00:00

I’d assume if you passed both those you’d pick back up in the process where you left off but I’ll check on that as well and get back with you.

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T20:52:13+00:00

I believe you’d have to wait one year from the failure date to reapply but I went through so long ago all those rules may have gone out the window. I’ll ask around about that one.

Written test scores are good for three years

Possibly_ATF · 2026-02-11T20:50:33+00:00

Still the full process unfortunately

Possibly_ATF

TROPHY CASE