DSS 2501 - The Other 1811

It's not uncommon to see questions about Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents on the 1811 subreddit, but folks don't always understand that they are probably asking about a 2501 position. What is it that classifies them under a separate skill code? Is this the right position for you? What are all these new Foreign Service (FS) acronyms and why are they on a different pay scale? Hopefully, this will provide some clarity.

#DS, DSS, or DOS? The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is a branch of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) which is a division of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) which is itself foreign affairs and international relations department of the United States government (USG).

DSS, specifically, is the law enforcement agency made up of special agents. DS is more broad and includes groups like diplomatic couriers who securely move equipment and information across inter ational borders in the diplomatic pouch; security engineering officers (SEOs) and security technical specialists (STSs) who deal with designing, installing, and maintaining security equipment; direct-hire local guard forces; a cadre of law enforcement and security instructors at FASTC and law enforcement academies abroad; and the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) which keeps the U.S. business community abroad appraised of security-related information.

DOS is the cabinet-level department that encompasses this all. Within DOS there is the civil service, which falls on the GS pay scale and follows all the civil service regulations you know and love from everyone else in the government, and the Foreign Service (FS), which is governed by a separate set of regulations.

There isn't a specific profile for who can or does become a DSS special agent. Anecdotally, I would say there is a split of around 40% prior military, 40% prior law enforcement, and 10% other.

While 1811 (GS) DSS Special Agents exist, the vast majority of the approximately 2,100 agents are 2501s (FS). So what's the difference?

#Same Same...

In many ways, 2501s are like 1811s.

1. Basic Qualifications and Training

2501s, like 1811s, must be U.S. citizens, hold a bachelor's degree at the time of application, and be eligible for a Top Secret (TS) security clearance.

They complete the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) which qualifies them as 1811s.

2. The Work

At the field office (DC, New York, Boston, Miami, Chicago, Houston, LA, or San Francisco) on their first tour and/or or resident offices down the road, 2501s conduct criminal investigations related to passport and visa fraud, they serve on task forces, they do lots of mundane paperwork and administrative tasks - just like 1811s! DSS has an abundance of protection work (some might say an overabundance in 2022) focused on cabinet-level foreign dignitaries, typically foreign ministers, and some domestic officials like the Secretary of State (SecState), U.S. Ambassador to the UN (USUN), and a couple of others...

3. Retirement

DSS special agents can retire at age 50 with 20 years of service, just like 1811s, but there is a big caveat to this (see below).

#... But Different

1. Basic Qualifications and Training

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, DSS special agents must be medically cleared cleared for worldwide availability. The Office of Medical Services (MED) ultimately determines who does or does not get a Class 1 (worldwide available) medical clearance, but it tends to revolve around the ability to receive care at remote locations (i.e. if you can take 6 months of your medication with you and get refills through the diplomatic pouch, it shouldn't impact medical clearance, but if your meds have to be transported in a cold chain or you regularly have to go into a facility to have a treatment performed then you won't be cleared Class 1).

I've heard that DSS has the most highly trained law enforcement officers in the federal government. After FLETC, DSS has a 12-week long follow-on training at the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) focused on our protection mission, passport and visa fraud investigations, and some other DSS specific training. Within the first two years at the field office they want you to complete another 10 weeks of Advanced Tactics, Leadership and Skills (ATLaS) training for high threat environments (think paramilitary training for providing security in conflict zones). Before getting posted overseas there is four months of the Basic Regional Security Officer Course (BRSO). For an Assistant Regional Security Officer - Investigator (ARSO-I, an overseas billet focused on investigations) there is also the 10-week Basic Consular Course (CongGen) Mobile Security Deployments (MSD) is DSS's tactical team which has an additional six months of training.

2. The Work

DSS manages security programs for our 280 diplomatic facilities overseas. This includes managing the local guard force that man's the gates and patrol the compound, and the Marine Security Guards (MSGs) that secure the chancery (the physical embassy building where folks work). It includes managing the residential security program for everyone under Chief of Mission (COM - i.e. the ambassador) authority. It involves serving as the principal law enforcement and security advisor to the COM and the primary liaison with local law enforcement and security offices. In larger Missions, it can include functioning as the coordinating office for a number of different federal law enforcement agencies at Post.

We should be honest here - criminal investigations are not the priority. Overseas work and protection far surpass the resources and attention given to criminal investigations.

That being said, we have overseas in estimations. This can include crimes committed on embassy grounds or in embassy housing, but more often than not it involves working with local law enforcement who have jurisdiction. At many posts, this is a specifically designated position called the ARSO-I. We also have a team of Foreign Services National Investigators (FSNIs) within the RSO shop that are often retired members of local law enforcement or security apparatus and were typically very senior in their organizations and still have a great amount of connections and clout to help get things done.

3. Retirement

Because DSS special agents are members of the FS, they fall under the Foreign Service Pension System (FSPS). This translates to what looks like the same retirement as any other federal law enforcement (retirement eligible at age 50 with 20 years of service) but with the important distinction that this is for any FS time. You can also buy back any time with the military and convert any time in the federal government.

Fun fact - because 2501s are members of the Foreign Services, mandatory retirement is 65.

4. Promotion

The FS is an up-or-out system, like the military. You must promote at a certain interval per grade or you will "TIC" (time in class) out. TICing out doesn't preclude you from retiring, but it does mean that you will be forced to retire when first eligible. This has been a problem recently with a large pool of FP-03 agents (GS-13 equivalent) but a dearth of FP-02 slots for them to promote into.

The whole of the FS is on a separate pay schedule which you can search for. Every 2501 enters as a FP-06. There is some flexibility in your steps which will determine your salary. Each year, up to step 10, you gain a step. After step 10, it's every other year.

The first few promotions, from FP-06 to FP-05 (12 months) and FP-05 to FP-04 (18 months) are administrative and automatic unless there is some kind of issue. FP-03 is a competitive promotion and you have 10 years to get there before you TIC out. FP-03 to FP-02 was recently extended to 20 years before TICing out and FP-02 to FP-01 is 13 years to get there before TICing out.

To get to the Senior Foreign Services (SFS - the SES-equivalent) there is a completely separate process called "opening your window.". Once you have opened it (voluntarily) you've only got 6 promotion cycles to cross the threshold or you have to go.

5. Mobility and Overseas Assignment

Your first tour will be at a Field Office, but after that the options open up.

"Worldwide availability" is one of the hiring stipulations for DSS special agents. By the nature of the FS, you are going to be moving frequently, either to a one-year tour in a conflict zone (think Pakistan), a two-year tour in a hardship post (think sub-Saharan Acrica, or a three-year tour in a low-differential assignment (think western Europe). While DS has the greatest opportunity for domestic assignment between HQ, field offices, and resident offices, there is still a requirement that you serve overseas every 8 years as a member of the FS.

6. Other Perks and Benefits

The FS has many perks, so I will try to outline a few.

-Free housing overseas: Self explanatory, but it's a huge boon. Housing is usually pretty large and luxurious and cost is covered by the U.S. government.

-R&R: At some overseas assignments you may get some rest and recuperation (R&R). This is a flight for you and your dependents to get back to the U.S., a designated R&R spot, or you can "cost construct" which translates into you only having to pay the difference in cost for a flight to anywhere you and your dependents want to go.

###What About the 1811s?

There are announcements for 1811 DSS Special Agents every now and then, but at this point it is usually onesies and twosies as they create more billets. They recently hired a handful of 1811 polygraphers and some cyber folks who have unique portfolios, but they are otherwise filling the same roles at a field office or resident office

Not surprisingly, most of these positions end up getting filled by current 2501s who want to stay on the job but aren't interested in continuing on the FS-lifestyle for whatever reason - usually family-related. But I know at least one DSS 1811 who got their visa-investigation experience to qualify for the job through CBP.

#Conclusion

DSS is, in my personal opinion, the least law enforcement of federal law enforcement agencies. As a 2501 you will conduct investigations, but a greater portion of your career will be spent surviving and interacting in an ecosystem outside of law enforcement.

DSS an agency that plays a supporting role in an organization that is focused on foreign policy and not always security concious by nature. The ability to move between combat zones and first world capitals, search warrants and cocktail parties, protection (PRS) and contract management, is what makes DS unique as an agency.

Yes, you're security, but you're often dealing with protocol issues. You're law enforcement, but you're often an intermediary with little statutory authority. At the end of the day, you are often a diplomat - and it is far easier for the Department to hire a diplomat and train you in hard skills than it is to do the opposite.

Uprooting every 2-3 years is a lifestyle. Not everyone can endure that. Not every family can endure it. For most of my colleagues on the way out (or at least considering it) I think that is one of the biggest factors.

There are a great number of perks and experiences to be had, but you have to weigh them against the potential costs of the 2501 lifestyle.