How to Become a U.S. Marshal

Founded in 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency. Its role is to serve the federal court system. Like most law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Marshals Service requires candidates who are looking to enter its workforce to have specific qualities and qualifications. The hiring process is also one of the most demanding hiring processes that are out there. Candidates will have to meet age and experience requirements and will also have to pass a series of test. So what are those requirements and tests you ask?

Well, there are quite a few. The list includes an age requirement of 21 to 36, and candidates must not turn 37 before being officially appointed. In some cases, candidates can receive an age waiver depending on their circumstances. Candidates who can receive an age waiver include veterans and law enforcement officers. Candidates must also be a citizen of the U.S. and have a valid driver’s license in good standing to be considered eligible for the position. In addition, candidates must not have felony convictions and misdemeanor charges.

They are also required to have a bachelor’s degree, 1 year of specialized experience, or a combination of education and experience equivalent to the GL-07 level. The official U.S. marshals’ website actually fleshes out the academic qualifications that candidates must possess for the role. The site states that they are looking for candidates who have attained high academic achievement. Said candidates possesses a GPA of 3.0 or higher for all completed undergraduate courses, or for those courses completed during the last 2 years of undergraduate study. However, they must obtain a GPA of 3.5 or higher for any courses completed under their major field of study or those courses in their major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. They must also have performed better that 2/3 of their class in the courses they’ve completed and must have been a member of a national scholastic honor society. Candidates who have completed at least one year of graduate level study in degree programs such as Criminal Justice and Criminology are also considered academically qualified for the position.

Besides academic qualifications, qualified candidates must also possess the relevant experience for the job. The agency considers candidates who have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-05 or GS-05 grade level, which shows that they are capable of performing the duties that come along with being a U.S. marshal. For instance, they must have experience executing a warrant and tracking down fugitives using conventional methods and must have experience coordinating the activities of law enforcement agents.

Candidates who are qualified for the position must pass a physical fitness test, a medical test, and a drug test during the hiring process. An extensive background check is also done to determine the candidate’s character and personal history. Candidates must then undergo training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. This training usually lasts for 21 weeks and encompasses both study and intense physical conditioning. Training includes legal training, training on defensive tactics, driver training, studying courtroom evidence and procedure, training on court security, officer survival training, search and seizure training, firearms training, physical conditioning, first aid training, prisoner search and restraint training, and much more. Candidates will be given a total of six exams during this time and are required to achieve passing grades of 70% and higher on each exam. Besides written exams, candidates are required to participate in practical exercises designed to demonstrate their knowledge and competency of what they’ve learned, and candidates are given a pass or fail grade once these exercises are completed.

Interestingly enough, U.S marshals are appointed by the president himself, but first, they must be recommended to the position of US marshal by the senior member of Congress from the state in which there is a vacancy. Once that is done, the president receives the recommendation and if he agrees with it the president passes it on to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee then approves of denies the recommendation through a vote. If approved, the president will then officially appoint the candidate.