No Fear... Well, Maybe Some
by Robyn Tellefsen
"I fear for my life all the time," admits Thomas Ackerman, special agent for the FBI. But fear is necessary in his line of work. "If you're fearless, you'll probably be killed in the line of duty," he warns.
Why is his job so dangerous? Well, one day he might be interviewing victims and witnesses, and the next, he could be on surveillance. After that, he may spend a calmer day at the office, writing reports and analyzing financial records, or he might go out to execute search and arrest warrants.
"Anyone in law enforcement will tell you there is no typical day," assures Ackerman. "I have to respond to things as they unfold." But he doesn't mind that aspect of his work, he explains. "Unpredictability is one of the greatest benefits of this job."
A Self-Made Man
Early on, Ackerman learned hands-on experience was critical to his calling. "As a high school senior, I participated in an internship at a local police department, and it reaffirmed my desire to go into law enforcement," he says. But, get this -- since there was no formal program of the kind through his high school, he set one up himself!
After that, Ackerman relied on his entrepreneurial nature as a grad student at the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice (East Lansing, MI). He again set up his own internship, this time studying police training in Sweden. "These internships have served me well!" he says.
Check This Out
If you covet careers like CLINT EASTWOOD's in "In the Line of Fire," Ackerman has good news. "There are so many positions in the FBI -- there's something for just about anyone," he notes. Foreign language specialists are a commodity now, as are other professionals such as photographers and biologists, he says. "There hasn't been a better time in decades to get into federal law enforcement."
And the career comes highly recommended. "It's an exciting way to make a living -- you literally have a front-row seat to the events that make headlines," says Ackerman. "I've got a dream career."
To find out how you can align yourself with the agents, check out Ackerman's book, FBI Careers: The Ultimate Guide to Landing a Job as One of America's Finest (JIST, 2002).
Why is his job so dangerous? Well, one day he might be interviewing victims and witnesses, and the next, he could be on surveillance. After that, he may spend a calmer day at the office, writing reports and analyzing financial records, or he might go out to execute search and arrest warrants.
"Anyone in law enforcement will tell you there is no typical day," assures Ackerman. "I have to respond to things as they unfold." But he doesn't mind that aspect of his work, he explains. "Unpredictability is one of the greatest benefits of this job."
A Self-Made Man
Early on, Ackerman learned hands-on experience was critical to his calling. "As a high school senior, I participated in an internship at a local police department, and it reaffirmed my desire to go into law enforcement," he says. But, get this -- since there was no formal program of the kind through his high school, he set one up himself!
After that, Ackerman relied on his entrepreneurial nature as a grad student at the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice (East Lansing, MI). He again set up his own internship, this time studying police training in Sweden. "These internships have served me well!" he says.
Check This Out
If you covet careers like CLINT EASTWOOD's in "In the Line of Fire," Ackerman has good news. "There are so many positions in the FBI -- there's something for just about anyone," he notes. Foreign language specialists are a commodity now, as are other professionals such as photographers and biologists, he says. "There hasn't been a better time in decades to get into federal law enforcement."
And the career comes highly recommended. "It's an exciting way to make a living -- you literally have a front-row seat to the events that make headlines," says Ackerman. "I've got a dream career."
To find out how you can align yourself with the agents, check out Ackerman's book, FBI Careers: The Ultimate Guide to Landing a Job as One of America's Finest (JIST, 2002).
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