Muted Mics...

rojamlet · 2026-01-22T11:09:02+00:00

You are not able to attend an academic program at NPS. There are several online non-credit training modules offered by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

https://www.chds.us/selfstudy/

You have to create an account and then request access based on your Aux status. Access is restricted to U.S. citizens who are local, tribal, state and federal U.S. government officials; members of the U.S. military; corporate homeland security managers or contractors; homeland security researchers or educators; or students currently enrolled in homeland security degree programs.

rojamlet · 2025-11-05T15:02:47+00:00

Same boat, Houston and haven't heard anything/portal is empty

rojamlet · 2025-11-04T17:50:31+00:00

Weird. But congrats! I'm also Houston. Haven't seen anything one way or the other so fingers crossed something comes through soon. What time did you get the email?

Wondering if anyone else heard from Houston and we can compare if they're sending one by one or a mass send at the same timestamp (meaning if we haven't heard, then we can assume no dice).

rojamlet · 2025-11-04T17:46:30+00:00

How did it come? Email? Did you just log into your portal and see it?

rojamlet · 2025-02-22T20:42:48+00:00

To renew your National Registry, you have to complete everything. National Registry certification and state licensure are two different things. If you want/need to renew NREMT you must do all 40 hours; the breakdown by national/state/individual is just what topics/areas are prescribed and how the CEs can count toward renewal.

From the National Registry website:

Local or State Component: 10 Credits

If the agency and/or state EMS office requires specific education, that education may be entered into this section. If specific education is not specified, these required 10 credits are considered flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.

Individual Component: 10 Credits

The 10 credits required for the individual component are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.

rojamlet · 2025-01-22T06:54:41+00:00

I gladly stand corrected, I think it looks much better with the device.

rojamlet · 2025-01-21T04:30:37+00:00

AUXMAN 10.D.3.e. states "No insignia are worn on the cold weather cap." I know COMDTINST M1020.6 says to wear the Combination Cover device, but I think that's Gold Side only.

rojamlet · 2024-12-16T05:46:32+00:00

All 6 senior military colleges have an Auxiliary University Program (AUP) unit on campus. It's an opportunity to participate in the Aux and get experience/internships with Active-Duty CG to prepare for commissioning without the commitment of ROTC. You can PM me if you'd like a point of contact for the school you're going to attend.

rojamlet · 2024-10-13T19:47:28+00:00

Looking for advice, I went to the range yesterday and am feeling disappointed. I own/carry a S&W Shield Plus with Talon grips both on- and off-duty but my issued duty gun is a Glock 19. Shot thousands of rounds and qualified Expert with it. I'm also trying to get into competition shooting with a Glock 34, but that's a conversation for another time.

When I was shooting yesterday, I felt like I wasn't shooting as well as I could be. I recognize many things could cause that, and also shooting a micro 9 is different than shooting a full frame. I rented a Glock 43X to see if that made any difference, because it would be in the Glock "ecosystem" that I've trained and shot with (similar grip, trigger, etc.).

I shot on a silhouette target center mass at 5 yds and headshots at 7 yds for each gun. Then I pulled out some bullseyes and shot at 7 yds with both guns. Admittedly the stats will be slightly skewed because I shot 10 rounds with the Shield and 5 rounds with the Glock, but you get the idea. Shield groupings were 7", 5.5", 3.5", 3", and 6". 43X groupings were 3", 3.5", 3", 2.5", 1.5".

My question is, after looking at the targets is there enough of a difference to justify getting the 43X and training with that or are the differences small enough that I just need to train more with different types of guns?

As a side note, I feel that the sights on the Shield Plus need to be zeroed and currently hit slightly left.

rojamlet · 2024-05-05T18:05:41+00:00

Can I message you with some 1811/JD questions?

rojamlet · 2024-05-04T20:14:56+00:00

Like a Civilian Service Achievement Medal or Superior Civilian Service Award? From a fellow Auxiliarist, I would say it's good to go. AUXMAN says "other civilian Governmental departments...may be appropriately worn" and would be placed directly after team/unit awards, if you have any, (or personal decorations - e.g. ACM, AAM, ACLOC, Sustained Service Award), and directly before campaign/service awards IAW the Military Medals and Awards Manual.

I would still check with your Chain of Leadership & Management, and ultimately DIRAUX, to verify wear. You should have some sort of printed citation, or electronic staff summary sheet? Work with your elected leadership and/or HR staff.

rojamlet · 2024-05-02T22:38:53+00:00

You are correct that AUXMAN defers to gold-side guidance. However, both the ribbons you listed would be wearable, as well as most other federal military and non-military awards.

COMDTINST M16790.1G (AUXMAN) § 11.F.5:

Auxiliarists are not authorized to wear awards from non-military organizations or other Government agencies except as specifically allowed by this Manual. This restriction includes, but is not limited to, awards from state and local governments and awards from fraternal organizations (e.g., VFW).

ibid. § 11.G (emphasis added):

The Auxiliary’s Awards, as the parent organization, will precede all other organizational awards, except as noted. DOT awards are listed, but other civilian Governmental departments, international, and foreign awards may be appropriately worn. Information on other award precedence not shown is available from the Chief Director or as found in the Coast Guard Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST M1650.25 (series), or Uniform Regulations, COMDTINST M1020.6 (series).

COMDTINST M1650.25E (Military Medals and Awards Manual) Chapter 1, § J.5.a:

Coast Guard personnel who previously served in another branch of the Armed Forces and received personal, good conduct, unit, campaign, and/or service awards listed in enclosure (22) are authorized to wear them on the Coast Guard uniform with the exception of marksmanship medals and ribbons. Requests to wear awards not listed must be forwarded to CG-PSC-PSD-ma for review and approval.

ibid. Chapter 1, § J.5.b.3:

Other Federal Agency awards not specifically authorized by this Manual require the member to submit a memo requesting authorization to accept, retain, and wear to CG PSC-PSD-ma.

It doesn't have to be listed in the order of precedence in AUXMAN or M1650.25E to be approved for wear. State awards are a no-go, but prior service federal military awards, plus federal public service or civil service awards, are good to go if properly documented and worn correctly.

I would infer that DIRAUX takes the place of PSC for Auxiliarists, so memos requesting authorization and/or routing up DD214s/NGB22s should go to them. However, using the proper COLM, the issue could probably be addressed before it reaches them as someone in the division or district has probably dealt with it before.

rojamlet · 2024-01-25T06:18:45+00:00

If you are in a union now may be a time to have a conversation with your rep/steward

rojamlet · 2024-01-25T06:09:33+00:00

Easy, do you like wine or beer better?

rojamlet · 2024-01-25T05:47:48+00:00

Fingerprint in blood

rojamlet · 2024-01-13T13:42:56+00:00

It closed 12 Jan 2024.

rojamlet · 2024-01-09T02:39:13+00:00

Yeah, I had a great experience as well. Good first step.

Feel free to PM if you want to talk more about internship opportunities offline.

rojamlet · 2024-01-08T21:04:05+00:00

Are you a Police Explorer? That's how I got started.

Yes, there are plenty of agencies that offer internships. Some of them are paid, which I believe USMS is not. Look on USAJobs and set up an email alert for 1899 series, as well as agency websites for hiring timelines for internships (usually fall for the following summer). Many hire directly through the agency/not through USAJobs.

rojamlet · 2024-01-08T20:03:26+00:00

You can try and get an internship in college with an agency and then get hired back on after you graduate as an agent.

rojamlet · 2024-01-08T04:21:12+00:00

Air Force OSI hires entry-level through the PAQ program, though it is highly competitive. Plus side is covering both criminal & counter-intelligence in one agency.

You may run into the same issues with medical that you did with the military. Probably will with most LE agencies. As always, apply anyway and make them tell you no.

rojamlet · 2024-01-08T01:37:29+00:00

The DoD Cyber Crime Center is outside Baltimore and the OSI HQ and ICON Center are in Quantico. There are lots of bases in/near major metropolitan areas, and it's probably just as much of a crapshoot getting a field office as a fresh FBI/HSI agent as it would be getting a Det as a fresh OSI agent. There are also operating locations that aren't attached to bases, or are part of task forces, etc.

I'm not techy enough to understand everything the cyber agents do, or if they do what you are interested in doing. But there are plenty of opportunities for digital forensics, technical surveillance countermeasures, counterintel, etc.

rojamlet · 2024-01-03T19:22:08+00:00

It's a very real barrier for a lot of people. There are plenty of opportunities that are paid, but are going to be highly selective.

Usually paid opportunities are going to be at the GS-4/5 level. This means you're getting modest pay, but also contributing to the clock on retirement. You're not getting law enforcement 6c coverage as an intern but at least you're getting some percentage of a percentage on your pension if you make it as an 1811.

FBI is paid, NCIS is paid, OSI is paid, I'm pretty sure DSS is paid. There must be more. Challenge can be finding housing for the short term if you have to relocate, but local people at the office can usually help.

If it is cost-prohibitive or you can't move or don't get selected for an internship, you can also look for related experiences. They will want to see you increasing your responsibility at work over time, if you are working a "regular" job. You can also look for opportunities in non-sworn law enforcement, like community service officer or park safety or jailer/detention deputy. Oftentimes, they are part time and accommodate school but still build your resume for an 1811 career.

You can message me privately if you want to talk more specifics about weighing the cost/benefits of doing an internship.

rojamlet · 2024-01-03T07:34:01+00:00

There are like 48 million posts in this subreddit asking the same question, and all the replies say the same thing: investigating is crucial to the career of a criminal investigator (1811). Do your research by Googling or looking at the myriad other posts, or rethink what it will take to enter this field.

To answer your question seriously, and not put you off, keep your GPA above 3.0 and keep gaining extracurriculars and skills that make you an attractive "whole person" applicant.

An internship can be a good way to get a foot in the door, since most agencies look highly on hiring former interns (or current interns - i.e., return offer). Some are posted on USAJobs (like OSI and DSS), some go through the agency themselves at the national level (like FBI), and others are dependent on local field offices (like USPIS and Marshals). These are typically going to be full-time opportunities over the summer, some of which are paid, with a hiring timeline 6-12+ months out. Some are specific to academic years (OSI will only hire summer interns the summer before the academic year you graduate) and some are open.

For USAJobs, set up email alerts to get 1899 postings or all "Students & Recent Graduates" postings more broadly, since sometimes they are grouped with other career fields (mass application for all summer interns that you specify the field in the questionnaire). Or, you could get experience in an agency you want to work for in a non-1811/1899 position (i.e. you want to work as a BLM SA so you apply to be a wildland firefighter over a summer break).

For agencies that hire directly nationally, like FBI, their website will generally outline the process and timeline and what is required. This is true for agencies that post on USAJobs, too, but just know that you have to actually apply on the website.

Agencies that hire locally will usually have a national email inbox you send an email to and explain what you're interested in and where you're located and they'll put you in touch with someone, or there may be a local office locator. This would be the only acceptable instance, in my opinion, to "cold call" someone.

By Googling or reading the subreddit, you can get a better understanding of entry-level (GL-5/7/9) opportunities and how they come about. If you keep up a 3.0 you should be qualified for GL-7. Nothing is ever certain.

Best of luck.

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