Age Discrimination in Federal Jobs

**TXCharlie** · 06-14-07, 02:36 AM

This isn't a police question, but it's a military question so many of you may know...

I've been out of work for about a month, so I ran across a civilian programming job I seem to qualify for in the US Navy Recruiting Office in Dallas, but they said unless I'm like 17-39 years old, I can't be hired.

SO I was asking him WTF is that all about - I'm not going into combat, it's a desk job! - The officers of a private business would be put in prision for age discrimination like that!

He told me it's because of the Military Retirement system - I can't possibly put in 20 years to retire. I told him I didn't want to retire, I want the job - I can pay my own Social Security & I have 401(k)'s so why do I need a Military pension? But he said there was NO WAY.

So are ALL Federal jobs this screwed up, or just some of them? What determines this? Would I encounter the same B.S. if I found a civilian job I would otherwise be qualified for with the FBI, DHS, or something like that?

**Lazy Fed** · 06-14-07, 02:06 PM

You can work for CBP, we have no age limit that stop hiring at, as long as you can pass everything.

**BigBossMan** · 06-14-07, 02:23 PM

I work for the Federal Prison system. As i understand it, all Federal Jobs have an age cut off of 37 years old. They will not hired anyone over the age of 37 just because of what you were told. They want Longevity.

**TXCharlie** · 06-14-07, 02:46 PM

I called my Congressman about this and asked him to intervene - He probably won't, but he might at least look at some type of legislation.

Private businesses want longevity too, but they're prevented by law from practicing age discrimination - It figures that the Federal Government doesn't abide by its own laws, but they expect everyone else to (so what else is new, the bunch of assholes!).

Thanks for the tip Lazy Fed... I'll look & see what jobs Customs/BP might have.

**Jks9199** · 06-15-07, 11:57 AM

It's not all federal jobs -- but I know that federal law enforcement has an age cut off at 37, due to the retirement system. They did waive some of that for FAMs, but I'm not sure if that's still in effect. They do sometimes credit military service somehow.

**PersiusOne** · 06-16-07, 04:18 AM

From what I understand, due to a mandatory retirement program in fed positions, they have an age cut-off. I've been told that time-served in military positions can count towards credit in age requirements for federal positions.

**Big Sexy** · 06-16-07, 08:20 AM

A lot of agencies have a age cut off of 37 for certain positions. Military time will not waive this or counts toward it.

Examples of these agencies are"

FBI
USSS
ICE
DEA
ATF
USPIS
USMS
USBP
FAMS
IRS/CID
AFSOI
NCIS
DSS
OIG's from various departments, such as DHS, DOJ, etc

FAMS were allowed at during the initial start up to waive the 37 age limit to 40, in certain cases. You had to be very damn high speed to get it waived. It no longer is in effect.

USBP was granted permission last year to raise the limit to 40, but BIG isn't certain if it is still in effect.

Now, just because one agency waives it and hires you, doesn't mean other agencies have to honor it, if you attempt to go to another agency with the same restriction.

**Kpdpipes** · 06-16-07, 09:09 AM

It's not just the Feds Charlie. NJ Currently has a hiring cap of 35 (Up to 40 if you have appropriate military or other pensionable time that can be bought back) because we have a mandatory retirement at 65, and a pension max of 30 years. There are some who are looking to change that now to a max age of 40, since we have a Minimum elligibility time of 25 years for our pension. The point is, they wont hire someone who, because of age wont be elligible to recieve the fullest pension benefit possible.

**TXCharlie** · 06-16-07, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Big Sexy

A lot of agencies have a age cut off of 37 for certain positions. Military time will not waive this or counts toward it.

Examples of these agencies are"

FBI
USSS
ICE
DEA
ATF
USPIS
USMS
USBP
FAMS
IRS/CID
AFSOI
NCIS
DSS
OIG's from various departments, such as DHS, DOJ, etc

FAMS were allowed at during the initial start up to waive the 37 age limit to 40, in certain cases. You had to be very damn high speed to get it waived. It no longer is in effect.

USBP was granted permission last year to raise the limit to 40, but BIG isn't certain if it is still in effect.

Now, just because one agency waives it and hires you, doesn't mean other agencies have to honor it, if you attempt to go to another agency with the same restriction.

Fucking Federal Government!

After carefuly explaining the type of jobs I was talking about (civilian desk jobs, NOT combat jobs), my Congressman's office left a voicemail and said that the age limits are in place due to combat requirements.

So Monday I'm gonna have to call them back and explain it all over again.

This is the type of shit that causes people to want to never pay another dime in income taxes. Maybe they should just take me out behind the barn & shoot me since I've outlived my usefullness.