What does a secret service agent do?

I've seen a lot about Secret Service agents in movies, but what do they do day-to-day? Are there specific skills or qualifications needed for this career path? Could it be an option after high school?

The United States Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security. It has two essential missions: Protection and Investigation.

In their protective role, Secret Service agents are responsible for the safety of the current president, vice president, immediate family members of those two, former presidents, visiting heads of state, and other individuals designated by the president. They also oversee the security of the White House and vice presidential residences. Their day-to-day tasks can involve planning travel routes, coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, conducting security sweeps, and being on high alert for any possible threatening behavior or events.

In their investigative role, agents dig into financial and cybercrime related to the U.S. treasury, such as counterfeiting, identity theft, credit card fraud, and computer fraud. Everyday tasks can involve conducting surveillance, examining financial transactions, interviewing subjects, and liaising with other law enforcement agencies.

In terms of qualifications, you certainly need a range of skills and requirements. Strong dedication to law enforcement, excellent physical condition, keen observation abilities, and superior decision-making and problem-solving skills are all critical. Furthermore, you need to meet certain age (at least 21 but less than 37 at the time of appointment), citizenship (U.S. citizen), and education (a bachelor's degree is generally required) specifications.

Becoming an agent typically entails several stages, including a written examination, a report writing test, an interview, a medical and polygraph examination, and a background investigation. Training is rigorous and includes both academic learning and physical training.

Generally, directly after high school may not be feasible as some education beyond high school and professional experience is typically expected before entering the field. However, if you're interested, you can aim for a relevant college degree (like criminal justice or sociology) and possibly consider gaining experience in law enforcement or the military. It's also worth noting that learning additional languages could make you more competitive. It's certainly a demanding career, but it could be incredibly rewarding for the right person.