You spent years running missions, leading teams, and making decisions under pressure. Now you want to take that into the FBI. Good news: the Bureau wants your background. Bad news: many veterans apply the wrong way and never hear back.

The FBI hires veterans at a higher rate than the general population. But the application process is long. It is specific. And it is nothing like applying for a GS position on USAJOBS. If you treat it like a normal federal job, you will get lost in the pile.

This guide breaks down the full path. Requirements, timelines, which military jobs translate best, and how to build a resume that gets you through the door. No fluff. Just the steps.

Why Does the FBI Want Veterans?

The FBI recruits from five entry programs. Three of them line up with what veterans already bring to the table.

The first is the Tactical/Operations program. If you were infantry, special operations, combat arms, or military police, this one was built for you. The FBI needs people who can plan and run operations. You have done that for years.

The second is Intelligence. If you held an MOS or rating tied to SIGINT, HUMINT, imagery analysis, or any intel discipline, the FBI is looking for that exact skillset. Military intelligence professionals often move into FBI intelligence analyst or special agent roles.

The third is the STEM program. Cyber operations, communications, IT security. If your military job touched networks, encryption, or digital forensics, the FBI has a growing need for those skills.

The other two programs are Accounting/Finance and Law. Those are less common paths for veterans, but not impossible if you used your GI Bill for a CPA or JD.

The Bureau also values two things that are hard to teach. First, the ability to work under stress without falling apart. Second, the ability to follow complex procedures exactly. Both of those come standard with military service.

What Are the FBI Special Agent Requirements?

Before you start the application, make sure you meet the baseline. The FBI is strict about these. No exceptions.

Age: You must be between 23 and 36 years old at the time of appointment. There is one big exception for veterans. If you have qualifying veterans preference, you can exceed the age limit by the number of years of military service you completed. So if you served 6 years, your cutoff moves to 42.

Education: You need a four-year degree from an accredited college. Any major works, but certain degrees give you a leg up for specific entry programs. Criminal justice, computer science, accounting, and foreign languages all stand out.

Work experience: You need at least two years of professional work experience. Military service counts. If you were an E-5 (Sergeant/Petty Officer Second Class) or above, your leadership time likely meets this.

Physical fitness: You must pass the FBI Physical Fitness Test, or PFT. It includes sprint, sit-ups, push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. If you stayed in decent shape after separating, this is manageable. But do not assume you can wing it. Train specifically for the PFT standards.

Background: You need to pass an extensive background investigation. This goes beyond what you experienced for your military security clearance investigation. The FBI looks at finances, drug history, social media, foreign contacts, and personal references going back years.

Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen. Dual citizens can apply but face extra screening. This is rarely an issue for veterans.

Driver license: You need a valid license. The FBI requires agents to drive government vehicles.

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How Does the FBI Hiring Process Work?

This is where many veterans get surprised. The FBI process is long. Expect 12 to 18 months from application to academy start date. Some candidates wait over two years.

One thing to know: you can apply to the FBI while still on active duty. Many veterans start the process 12 to 18 months before their ETS or EAOS date. The timeline works in your favor if you plan ahead.

The FBI also does not use USAJOBS for Special Agent positions. All applications go through FBIJobs.gov. Do not waste time looking on USAJOBS for this role. The support staff and analyst positions do show up on USAJOBS, but Special Agent does not.

Which Military Jobs Map Best to FBI Careers?

Every branch has jobs that line up with FBI needs. Here are the most direct matches by entry program.

Tactical/Operations

This is the most popular path for combat arms veterans. If your MOS or rating involved direct action, security, or force protection, you qualify here.

• Army: 11B/11C Infantry, 18 series Special Forces, 31B Military Police, 19D Cavalry Scout
• Marine Corps: 0311 Rifleman, 0321 Recon, 5811 Military Police
• Navy: MA Master-at-Arms, SO Special Warfare Operator, ND Navy Diver, SB Special Warfare Boat Operator
• Air Force: 3P0X1 Security Forces, 1T0X1 Survival/SERE Specialist, PJ Pararescue

You can use BMR's career crosswalk tool to see how your specific MOS or rating maps to civilian and federal law enforcement careers.

Intelligence

If you worked in an intelligence shop, the FBI wants what you know. The Bureau runs one of the largest intelligence operations in the country.

• Army: 35F Intelligence Analyst, 35M Human Intelligence Collector, 35N SIGINT Analyst, 35P Cryptologic Linguist
• Marine Corps: 0231 Intelligence Specialist, 2621 SIGINT
• Navy: IS Intelligence Specialist, CT Cryptologic Technician (all variants)
• Air Force: 1N0X1 All Source Intelligence, 1N4X1 Fusion Analyst, 1A8X1 Airborne Crypto Linguist

STEM/Cyber

Cyber is the FBI's fastest growing area. If you worked in military cyber operations, network defense, or digital forensics, you are in high demand.

• Army: 17C Cyber Operations Specialist, 25B Information Technology Specialist
• Navy: CTN Cryptologic Technician Networks, IT Information Systems Technician
• Air Force: 17S Cyber Warfare Operations, 3D0X2 Cyber Systems Operations

If your job is not on these lists, that does not mean you are out. The FBI values leadership, languages, and life experience. An E-7 (Sergeant First Class) Infantryman with a degree and 15 years of experience brings something an entry-level college graduate cannot match.

How Do You Write a Resume for the FBI?

The FBI resume is different from both a civilian resume and a federal resume. Since you apply through FBIJobs.gov and not USAJOBS, you do not need the traditional federal format with hours per week and supervisor contact info.

But you still need detail. The FBI wants to see specifics about what you did, who you led, and what the outcomes were.

Here is what works.

Translate your military role into law enforcement language. The panel reviewing your application includes current agents. They understand military structure, but they want to see how your skills apply to FBI operations. Use words like "investigations," "evidence," "intelligence collection," "threat assessment," and "interagency coordination" where they honestly apply.

Show leadership with numbers. How many people did you lead? What was your budget? How many operations did you plan? Numbers make your experience real. "Led a team" is weak. "Led 30 personnel across 4 operational deployments" tells the story.

Include language skills. The FBI pays extra for certain languages. Arabic, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, Farsi, and Spanish are all in demand. If you picked up a language through DLI or during deployments, put it front and center.

Keep it to 2 pages. This is not a federal resume going into USAJOBS. The FBI application has its own format. Two pages of strong, specific content beats five pages of filler every time.

If you need help building a resume that works for federal law enforcement, BMR's federal resume builder can handle the translation for you. Paste the job posting, and it builds a tailored resume based on the keywords and requirements the FBI actually lists.

What About Your Security Clearance?

If you held a Secret or Top Secret clearance in the military, you have a real advantage. The FBI requires all Special Agents to hold a Top Secret (TS) clearance with SCI access.

Having an active clearance does not skip you past the FBI background investigation. They run their own. But it does two things that help.

First, it shows you have already passed a thorough vetting process. The FBI knows what goes into a military clearance. That credibility carries weight.

Second, it means you are less likely to have surprises in your background. If you passed a TS investigation within the last five years, you know your record is clean. No hidden financial issues. No unreported foreign contacts.

Your clearance also has salary value beyond the FBI. If you want to explore what a top secret clearance is worth in salary, that premium follows you whether you go FBI, CIA, NSA, or private sector defense contracting.

If your clearance is in the adjudication process or recently expired, note that on your application. The FBI can work with clearances that are within the reinvestigation window. Check the security clearance timeline guide linked above for details on investigation timing.

What Other FBI Jobs Exist Beyond Special Agent?

Special Agent gets all the attention. But the FBI employs over 35,000 people, and only about a third are agents. The rest are professional staff, intelligence analysts, forensic examiners, IT specialists, and more.

If you do not meet the Special Agent requirements right now, or if you want a different pace, these roles are worth looking at.

Intelligence Analyst (GS-7 to GS-13): If you worked in a military intel shop, this is a direct match. You analyze threats, write reports, and brief leadership. It is similar to what you did in uniform but focused on domestic and international criminal threats.

Forensic Accountant: If you used your GI Bill for an accounting degree, this niche role combines financial analysis with investigations. The FBI follows the money in organized crime, terrorism, and fraud cases.

IT Specialist (GS-9 to GS-13): Cyber defense, network security, digital forensics. Military IT and cyber veterans are a natural fit. These positions often appear on USAJOBS and go through the standard federal hiring process.

Surveillance Specialist: Physical surveillance and mobile tracking. This is hands-on work that appeals to veterans who want operational roles without the full Special Agent commitment. It requires strong situational awareness, something veterans have in spades.

Tactical Operations (SWAT support): The FBI has tactical teams at every field office. Some support roles are available to non-agents with military tactical backgrounds.

Many veterans start in a professional staff role, build their network inside the Bureau, and then apply for Special Agent from the inside. That internal knowledge and recommendation from current agents can be a real advantage.

Veterans interested in other federal law enforcement agencies should also look at the CIA careers guide for veterans and the CBP officer career guide. Each agency has different requirements and timelines.

How Much Do FBI Special Agents Earn?

FBI Special Agents start on the GS pay scale, but with a twist. They receive availability pay on top of the base salary. This is an extra 25% because agents are expected to work more than 50 hours per week and be available at all times.

New agents start at GS-10. With availability pay and locality adjustments, first-year agents typically earn between $55,000 and $80,000. The range depends on your duty station. An agent in New York or San Francisco earns more than one in Omaha because of locality pay.

After training and field experience, agents advance to GS-13 within 4 to 5 years. A GS-13 Special Agent with availability pay and DC-area locality earns over $130,000 per year.

Supervisory Special Agents and those in senior positions can reach GS-14 and GS-15 levels. At those grades, total compensation exceeds $160,000 in most major cities.

The FBI also offers the same federal benefits package: FEHB health insurance, FERS retirement with a special law enforcement provision that allows retirement at age 50 with 20 years of service, and the TSP with matching contributions.

If you want to understand how your military rank maps to civilian title and pay, that guide covers the GS scale in detail.

What to Do This Week

Stop researching and start moving. Here are five actions you can take right now.

1. Check your eligibility. Go to FBIJobs.gov and review the Special Agent page. Confirm you meet the age, education, and experience requirements. Calculate your adjusted age limit if you have veterans preference.

2. Pick your entry program. Tactical, Intelligence, or STEM. Choose the one that best matches your military background. You only need to qualify through one program.

3. Build your resume. Two pages. Specific numbers. Leadership results. Language skills. If you need help translating your military experience, BMR's resume builder handles the military-to-federal translation automatically.

4. Start PFT training. Look up the FBI Physical Fitness Test standards and train for them now. Do not wait until you get a test date.

5. Prepare for the interview. The Phase II panel interview uses behavioral questions. Start writing out STAR-method stories from your military experience. Leadership decisions, ethical dilemmas, working with partner agencies, handling failure. Have 8 to 10 stories ready.

The FBI hiring process is long, but it is not complicated once you know the steps. Veterans have an edge. You already have the clearance history, the leadership experience, and the work ethic the Bureau needs. The only thing left is to apply the right way.