By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

On Thursday, Jan. 12, Western had a recruiter from the US Border Patrol explain to students the process of how to apply for both Border Patrol and US Customs. Through the Department of Homeland Security, the US Border Patrol secures the southern perimeter of the United States hoping to deter any illegal activity. As for Customs agents, those interested can expect to be stationed at a state port, examining international travel and shipping.

For 2017, the Department of Homeland Security is looking to bolster their Customs and Border Patrol forces by hiring up to 21,070 Border Patrol agents and 23,821 Customs agents, according to to the budget outline released by DHS.

The recruitment process is fairly easy, as Matt Zurcher, a recruiter for US Border Patrol explained. “There’s no degree required, but it must be someone willing to move,” Zurcher elaborated that they should also be “law enforcement motivated. That’s the main focus.”

The willingness to move was stressed, noting that most people who start with Border Patrol are stationed somewhere along the southern US Border. “Arizona, California, Texas or New Mexico specifically,” Zurcher explained. “For the Customs side of it, it can be a landport, seaport or airport.”

Those looking to apply can go to cbp.gov or usajobs.gov and submit their resume online.

Western was also going to host Buckeye International on Wednesday, Jan.11; unfortunately, due to weather, the recruiter could not make it. Buckeye International is looking for students close to graduation who are interested in sales and business for full-time sales positions in Portland, Oregon.

Buckeye is an international distributor and an, “innovative leader in the cleaning/maintenance industry,” as their website states. Their program targets recent college graduates for their Sales Management Program to give students experience in the business and sales field, offering “accelerated training, performance feedback, increased responsibility in direct decision-making” as a part of the experience according their careers page. Students can find more information at buckeyeinternational.com/careers

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu