The state of Alaska offers plenty of interesting opportunities for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employees because of its isolation from the continental United States. On one hand, the isolation of the state results in the job being very much focused on the region and does not include as much collaboration with other FBI offices around the country, but on the other hand, the isolation of the state also translates into a more hands-on approach when it comes to investigation work.
FBI jobs in Alaska are exciting because of its closer proximity to Russia and China, both important locations when it comes to anti-terrorism work and intelligence gathering, which are among the many tasks performed by the FBI. Also, because Alaska is so isolated, sparsely populated and so far from the rest of the country, it tends to be a place where fugitives seek asylum when fleeing from the law.
Careers with the FBI in Alaska are not as plentiful as they are in other states, but that means that FBI agents in Alaska are asked to perform multiple tasks, which is an opportunity that many agents in other states don’t get. Unlike other offices around the country, the FBI arm in Alaska refers to itself as a “family-like” government agency. Alaska only has one FBI field office, which is headquartered in Anchorage, the state’s largest city.
Becoming and FBI Agents in Alaska
FBI requirements in Alaska are the same as most other FBI offices around the country. Here are the requirements on how to become an FBI agent in Alaska:
- U.S. citizenship
- Must be between the ages of 23 and 36 (although age requirements can be waived in certain special circumstances)
- Must have a 4-year degree from an accredited school
- Must have at least 2 years of professional experience
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Must be willing to relocate to anywhere under FBI jurisdiction
FBI Jobs Found in Alaska
Linguists: Since the state has a diverse population of foreigners and Native Americans, linguists are in high-demand in order to translate languages. People familiar with Mandarin, Russian and Native languages are needed in the state.
Special Agents: These FBI employees are asked to do much of the investigative fieldwork for the Anchorage field office. Recently, special agents were able to capture a serial killer residing in the state.
Hazardous Materials: Alaska is one of the nation’s top oil exporters, and thus hazardous material agents are needed in order to respond to emergencies that can pose a threat to citizens in the state. Although these agents are trained to handle criminal and terrorist events that involve hazardous materials, they often assist in accidents and spills as well.
Tactical Support and Crisis Response: The Alaska FBI office has an 8-member SWAT (Specialized Weapons and Tactics) team that is called upon to assist local law enforcement when needed. Tasks included barricading crime scenes, hostage rescue, security, patrol services and the arrest of armed and dangerous criminals, among many other duties.