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The career of a Secret Service agent is one that many young children dream of.
It seems filled with action and intrigue.
It is indeed a job of adventure at times, as well as long hours with not a lot to do.
If you are interested in the possibility of exploring this career further, we have gathered a list of the top pros and cons of being a Secret Service agent to help you decide.
Read on to see if you want to explore further.
Pros of Being a Secret Service Agent
1. Meet Many Important People
Secret Service agents not only protect the President and Vice President, but they are also called to protect important foreign dignitaries, celebrities, and family members of these people.
As a Secret Service agent, you will meet and interact with some of the most important people in the world.
Granted, you may be called in to protect some people you would rather not, but all jobs have their downsides.
Normally, you will be happy with the people you are chosen to protect.
2. Varied Activities Daily
Your days will never be the same, and you never know when you might be called in to make a change of schedule at a moment’s notice.
You will enjoy many different activities, be subject to many different situations, and meet so many different people.
Boredom is not part of this job.
You may never know today where you will be next week, and sometimes even who you will be with.
Some Secret Service agents are assigned to protect one person for a long period, but others change assignments regularly.
3. A Chance to Travel
You may end up seeing a good part of the world before you end up retiring if you become a Secret Service agent.
Important people travel, and you will need to go where they do to protect them.
You will also be able to attend many events that most people only dream of.
Many Secret Service agents keep detailed notes of their travels to write books once they retire.
Imagine the number of cultures you will experience, the foods you will enjoy, and just the chance to immerse yourself in many different cultures.
4. Good Work Environment
While your physical environment will change, you will normally see yourself staying in good hotels or estates, eating good food, and being able to travel in style.
In addition, there is a certain camaraderie among those who perform the duties of the Secret Service agent.
Your family life may be non-existent outside your job, but you will make lifetime friendships and have your sense of family among those who share your profession.
5. Job Security
People will always have a need for protection, and it is unlikely that once you have gone through the hiring process to become a Secret Service agent, you will want to give up your position.
Most agents stay with the job until they retire.
You can count on the job being relevant for many years to come, and this will give you a better sense of security than with many other positions.
6. Good Pay and Benefits
The pay of a Secret Service agent is high because of the importance of the position.
It is also a position that offers many benefits.
You will have life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a choice of retirement plans.
There are paid vacations and paid days off, and these increase in number the longer you work.
There are also many paid holidays.
A Secret Service agent may be eligible for tuition reimbursement to pay off student loans and may be eligible for educational opportunities without cost.
In addition, most positions allow for a personal spending account.
7. Play an Important Role in the Nation’s Security
You can go to bed each night knowing you have an important role in keeping the country safe.
You may have prevented a terrorist attack or assassination.
You may have made sure someone important arrived safely at their destination or was able to give a speech without fear.
By protecting those who perform nationally important tasks, you are protecting our very country.
Cons of Being a Secret Service Agent
1. Hard to Maintain a Personal Life
It is very difficult to have a social life, including marriage and family, when you are constantly travelling.
Many spouses also find it difficult to handle the stress that comes from the secrets you must keep.
You can tell them what your job is, but not the details.
They can’t help when you are going through emotionally trying times because you can’t share information.
It is difficult, as you may have to cancel more dates than you keep because of schedule changes.
This is not a job that many marriages can withstand.
2. Long Hiring Process
The process of getting hired into a Secret Service position can be as little as six months or as long as eighteen months.
First, there is a thorough background check.
This isn’t just a state search but a national one.
If you have traveled, there will be an investigation into that also.
Even juvenile records will be explored.
You must also undergo extensive training in both firearms and the process of protection.
There will be numerous interviews with yourself and those who have had involvement in your life.
You can rest assured that by the time you complete the process, you will have no secrets left.
3. Stressful Situations
It can be very stressful to have to be constantly on guard for any inconsistencies in the environment.
You must be ready to defend your client in a split second because one second of hesitation can mean the death of someone.
This is a huge responsibility.
Knowing that one mistake on your part could cost a life or many lives is a stressful situation that not many people can successfully handle.
4. Frequent Travel
While traveling can be fun, having to keep a bag constantly packed and never really knowing where you will be tomorrow can get old after a while.
You will often be given very little notice that you need to be ready to fly in an hour.
Not being able to just sit down, put your feet up, and enjoy the fruits of your labor can make it difficult to keep a positive attitude.
Everyone needs to have downtime.
5. Must Maintain High Personal Standards
Secret Service agents are held to a higher standard of behavior than almost any other profession.
Not only must they undergo a rigorous background check that will eliminate many who made a mistake years ago, but they are required to remain morally upstanding in all cases.
Even the slightest indication that they are less than perfect can result in reprimand and possibly even dismissal.
It can be difficult to maintain this level of perfection.
6. Weekend and Holiday Work May Be Required
Security issues don’t take a break on weekends, evenings, or holidays.
You may find yourself working on all of these.
Yes, you get paid holidays, but that doesn’t mean you get them off.
Not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and crime doesn’t take the holidays or weekends off.
Many criminals may think these are better times to act because the security is perceived to be less during that time.
7. Long Hours
This is in connection with the above and more.
Some people, such as visiting dignitaries or the President, may have schedules that have them active from the time they get up until they retire at night.
You may find yourself working 16-hour days or more.
You may find you only catch a nap on an airplane from one destination to another.
The job of a Secret Service agent is not a 9-to-5 one.
Pros and Cons of Being a Secret Service Agent – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Secret Service Agent | Cons of Being a Secret Service Agent |
|---|---|
| 1. Meet Many Important People | 1. Hard to Maintain a Personal Life |
| 2. Varied Activities Daily | 2. Long Hiring Process |
| 3. A Chance to Travel | 3. Stressful Situations |
| 4. Good Work Environment | 4. Frequent Travel |
| 5. Job Security | 5. Must Maintain High Personal Standards |
| 6. Good Pay and Benefits | 6. Weekend and Holiday Work May Be Required |
| 7. Play an Important Role in the Nation's Security | 7. Long Hours |
Should You Be a Secret Service Agent?
Becoming a Secret Service agent is a career for those who seek adventure, want to be part of keeping this country and its elite safe, and don’t mind a life of constant travel.
If you are more concerned about a steady family life, it might not be for you, as it is hard to maintain a family while you travel and face danger daily.
Decide on your priorities, and that will help you determine if life as a secret service agent will meet your needs.
For those who do go into the profession, the rewards can be great.
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