MIL Security Engine-1

Source: US FBI

USERT grew out of the New York Field Office’s dive team, which was established in the 1980s. Initially, two agents who were recreational divers began finding weapons on their dives, many of which turned out to have connections to criminal cases. Word spread, and the requests for their special skillsets led to the creation of the New York Dive Team.

Today, USERT is part of the Evidence Response Team Unit (ERTU) within the FBI Laboratory. USERT divers are based out of the New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Washington field offices and collaborate on cases across the country. With a total of 64 divers for the program, there are approximately 16 divers in each of the four field offices.

USERT members are not only expert divers—each one joined the FBI as an agent with a broad range of skillsets. Every agent can have a specialized collateral duty, in addition to their other responsibilities, which can take up to 25% of their time. USERT falls under this category, requiring tryouts to make the team and then rigorous training to prepare for the often grueling underwater work.

With USERT’s specialization, they get called in for the toughest underwater recovery cases.

As Supervisory Special Agent Brian Hudson, USERT program manager, explained: “We work on FBI cases and support local law enforcement—they’ll work the details of the case and collect the intelligence. Once they know something’s in the water, they’ll contact us to come out and search. We’ll recover the evidence, and based on chain of custody, we’ll give that evidence to the case agent or local law enforcement. They’ll send the items to a lab for further examination.”

Depending on the case, USERT may also work in international waters or assist fellow U.S. organizations. For instance, while the Coast Guard has their own maintenance divers, they do not have their own investigative dive team. In one case, USERT helped the Coast Guard recover large amounts of cocaine from a sunken drug running boat off the coast of Honduras. USERT has also been deployed to countries like Iraq to assist in investigations.

Source: US FBI

Before being sworn in the agencies from National Academy Session 284, FBI Director Christopher Wray met with DJ and his family and gave DJ his honorary FBI special agent credentials.  
 
“DJ Daniel’s journey brings unity to all law enforcement agencies, and the FBI National Academy is the ideal setting to demonstrate collective strength,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent Deborah Michaels, who serves as a counselor for this National Academy Session. “We are proud to be a part of DJ’s mission.” 

Source: US FBI

“The FBI event was supposed to be for us to get to know you guys, and for recruiting purposes, to see if this might be something we want to do…as well as get a good workout in,” O’Bar said. “Working out together is usually one of the first ways you get to know somebody and probably like them a little bit more. This was a good event. Building morale is always a good thing.”

The Wounded Warrior Regiment’s Marines came from an assortment of ranks and military career fields. They joined with students attending the FBI National Academy, a 10-week training program for law enforcement leaders that combines intensive coursework and physical training.

“As part of the FBI’s National Academy executive training program, we have weekly physical challenges,” said John Vanvorst, a supervisory instructor for the physical training unit at the FBI Academy. “In addition, today we linked up with members of the Wounded Warrior Regiment,” said Vanvorst. “They integrated in with members of our National Academy. So it was a true joint morale building and physical challenge exercise.”

The exercise challenges—held on a football field that features the eagle, globe, and anchor of the Marine Corps emblem—produced not only sweat but also the bonds of teamwork and partnership.

Source: US FBI

I have never worked with people who are as genuine as my FBI colleagues. We got into this to help people, but it doesn’t stop with the job. We are here to support each other through all of life’s ups and downs. 

Share the thing you’re most proud of from your FBI career.

Always striving to help people. Whether it was helping an elderly couple who had been swindled out of their life savings by a Ponzi scheme or pushing agents to improve their skills so they are even better at keeping themselves and others and safe, I feel like my work makes a difference. At the end of the day, I want my children to be proud of what their mother has accomplished.

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

I knew at the age of six that I wanted a career with the FBI. In 1996, I was fortunate enough to begin my career with the FBI in Detroit in a covert capacity, and I became a special agent in 2003. After 26 years with the FBI, my career continues to be exciting, and I enjoy working with intelligent and dedicated colleagues who fuel my passion for protecting and serving our country.

What is the best career or life advice you have to give?

Never get discouraged by the word NO. Reconsider the word NO to mean the Next Opportunity. I’ve been told no so many times in my life and career. People like to use the word because it’s easy and requires little effort. Have people explain the reason for their no. Once you explain your position, you may be surprised how often no will turn into yes.

Share the thing you’re most proud of from your FBI career.

I am most proud of being able to raise four children while building a career that I love. My children have witnessed my hard work and dedication and have seen my success as part of one of the greatest organizations in the world.

Source: US FBI

I often think of how crazy it was to begin my FBI career as an analyst in Puerto Rico, thousands of miles away from my family, but it was the beginning of what continues to be an amazing journey.

My analyst work sparked my desire to become an agent and prepared me for some of the toughest but most rewarding investigations into MS-13 gang members. Now being back in Puerto Rico, I get to share my knowledge and experience and hopefully inspire others to be great. I am truly blessed to be part of a great organization and to represent Latina women in the FBI.

Who made a difference in your career? How?

Everything I am and the successes I have had as an FBI analyst, agent, and now supervisor are all because of my amazing parents. My parents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and had to work extremely hard to make a living.

At a young age, they taught me the importance of getting an education, maximizing my potential, and identifying a career path that would lead me to a better life. They never allowed me to do the bare minimum or take the easy way out because they knew what I was capable of accomplishing, and they made sure to remind me of that every day. They also made sure I understood that nothing would be handed to me and that I would have to make sacrifices to accomplish my goals.