News

Air Force OSI recruiting NCOs

  • Published
  • Det 204, Air Force Office of Special Investigations

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is responsible for investigating major crimes and conducting counterintelligence efforts against terrorist and foreign intelligence organizations.

With more than 2,700 members, AFOSI has been the Air Force's major investigative service since August, 1948 and is currently seeking exceptional non-commissioned officers from all career fields for duty as enlisted special agents.

"Airmen from all career fields in the Air Force can join AFOSI and bring something to the fight," said Special Agent Steven Carmical, superintendent of the Applicant Processing Branch at Headquarters AFOSI. "We are constantly seeking top quality Airmen to join our team by retraining into OSI."

According to Carmical, AFOSI's primary recruiting focus is on Staff Sergeants with 5 - 10 years of service, Technical Sergeants with less than one year in grade, and top quality Senior Airman who are eligible to retrain.

However, they will consider others who don't fall within those parameters.

"The standards are high and it's tough to make the cut, but we know there are many good Airmen who meet the standards and would make great agents," said AFOSI Command Chief Master Sgt. Karen Beirne-Flint.

Once approved for retraining, all new special agent candidates attend training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. The candidates must complete both the 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program and seven weeks of AFOSI-specific coursework. Both courses offer training in weapons use, forensics, surveillance and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and several other topics.

After successful completion of a one-year probationary period, some agents receive specialist training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counterintelligence, computer crimes and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of training to acquire skills in electronic, photographic and other technical surveillance countermeasures.

"Besides being inquisitive and able to interact with a variety of different personality types, agents must be able to take initiative," said Special Agent Justin Bierwirth. “They also need to be able to handle the stresses that can come with some of the criminal investigations.”

For more information about AFOSI's mission, visit the AFOSI public website at http://www.osi.af.mil. NCOs interested in becoming an AFOSI agent should review the website and contact Special Agent Justin Bierwirth, Det 204, at 294-3126.