QUANTICO, Va. -- The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, commonly referred to as CID, recently launched a new centralized recruiting program, part of which features an online application process aimed at recruiting qualified Soldiers to become CID Special Agents.
CID agents are sworn federal officers, responsible for investigating felony-level crime where there is an Army nexus. Agents in the field routinely conduct protective-service operations for the Department of Defense senior leadership, counter-narcotic operations, develop criminal intelligence, and work with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worldwide to solve serious crime.
To start the online application process, Soldiers must access the Common Access Card-enabled recruiting portal through the CID website at www.cid.army.mil, and click on the "Join CID" link.
Currently, the online application process is only open to active-component Soldiers.
Special Agent Frank Jeppe, the Recruiting Operations Cell, or ROC, team's non-commissioned officer in charge, explained that the initial questionnaire takes only minutes to answer.
"There are 13 basic qualification questions," Jeppe said. "If the Soldier is qualified, an alert message is sent to the Recruiting Operations Cell at CID Headquarters, and we contact the candidate."
Once contacted by the ROC, Soldiers are then given access to the CID-APP where they will build their CID application packet online. The process consists of filling out the special agent application forms and uploading supporting documents, such as their enlisted records brief, driving record, credit reports, and letters of recommendation.
During this phase of the application process, the ROC team can monitor the candidate's progress and is available to answer questions or provide assistance to Soldiers while they build their application packet.
The ROC team will also conduct the various name and background checks required for potential special agent candidates, as well as coordinate with the applicant should any additional documentation need to be added to their application.
After the application packet is complete, the ROC will then notify the closest CID office to the applicant's duty station to schedule a meeting with the Soldier and initiate the applicant's autobiography, medical screening request form, security clearance request and to conduct a required panel interview by current CID Special Agents.
Following the panel interview, results and final documents are uploaded into the applicant portal and verified by the ROC. Completed packets are then referred to the Special Agent Accreditation Division at CID Headquarters for final quality control check and referral to the selection panel.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CID AGENT
"Being a special agent is an opportunity to be a part of something significantly larger than oneself," said Special Agent David Eller, a special sexual assault investigator with the Fort Carson, Colorado, CID Office. "You are often placed in a position of great responsibility, whether it's protecting a dignitary at a foreign summit, to working a murder case, you have to be on your 'A' game every day."
"We need agents who'll take ownership of their investigations, but the most important thing we're looking for is unquestionable integrity," he added.
Serving a population of more than 1 million Soldiers, civilians, contractors and family members -- both at home and deployed -- CID provides an invaluable resource to the Army and commanders at posts, camps and stations.
"Many people don't realize the impact we have on a person's life and the impact we have on the Army," said Special Agent Edgar Collins, the assistant operations officer for the CID Washington Battalion. "In a sense, we are defending the honor of the United States Army."
"These are people who have had a crime committed against them, not just to their property, but them. So what we do, day in and day out, is extremely important," he said.
Prospective CID agents attend the CID Special Agent Course at the U.S. Army Military Police School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. For 15 weeks, candidates receive advanced training in various specialized investigative disciplines and upon graduation become sworn federal law enforcement officers.
Advanced training opportunities are available for selected special agents at the FBI National Academy, Metropolitan Police Academy at Scotland Yard, the Defense Academy of Credibility Assessment, and the Canadian Police College.
Enlisted CID agents have tremendous opportunities to become warrant officers. After accessing into the warrant officer ranks, special agents also have the opportunity to pursue a master's degree in Forensic Science or a master's degree in Digital Forensics from George Mason University.
A unique aspect of these programs for CID special agents is that they are offered to those who need it most -- the agent in the field. Some other law enforcement agencies and major police departments often reserve this type of training for just their senior investigators or chiefs of police.
For more information on the new online recruiting process, contact the CID Recruiting Operations Cell at USArmy.Join-CID@mail.mil, or call 571-305-4348.
