Thread: Tired of

So you are saying they have a set amount of SS agents....never more nor less? No "part-time"/"on call" agents called for larger assignments? I find that hard to believe.

The Feds also reimburse cities, etc. for extra police, traffic control, etc. coverage as well...and they make overtime. The larger the city, the higher the bill. It all adds up when presidents (and presidential families) travel. It's not just his 'staff'....they pay 'locally' as well.

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Originally Posted by Jolie Rouge

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Originally Posted by Bahet

"Part time" or "On Call" to protect the POTUS??? Seriously???? You think secret service agents are just regular guys who work at Wal Mart in their off shift?? These are highly trained security forces with high security clearances. Your average Major in the military doesn't have the access to the sensitive information those guys have. Secret Service agents assigned to the POTUS and his family have one job and one job only.

There are core agents whose only purpose is to be at the POTUS, etc. side and then there are other SS agents in the wider area. The core and wider agents have different responsibilities within the detail. Not every agent knows every thing, although I'm sure that a handful of them do. So if there are agents in 'reserve' (just like we have an army reserve of trained personnel who will be called upon based on need), yes, I am sure there are agents in 'reserve' that will be deployed based on need.

So they do their 'day job' until their services are called upon for larger projects. They would have already been cleared and checked to be on the 'list'. I know for a fact, that the government does this in other areas, I would assume they do this in the SS area as well. Thus increasing the cost servicing the POTUS et al based on the need/movement/event. They are not sitting there being fully paid all.the.time while doing nothing.

Originally Posted by Bahet

Yes, cities are reimbursed for their costs associated with Presidental travel. That happens whether the President travels to NYC or Podunk TX. The airport is still shut down while AF1 takes off and lands, the local police still block roads. It affects more people in NYC than in Podunk but they aren't less diligent just because there are fewer people. The fact that Bush went to the same place all the time means they were more diligent if anything. If terrorists wan to target the President when he is outside the WH it's a lot easier to do if they know he goes to the same place, following the same route every few weeks the way Bush did. They could have just set up camp and waited. They knew he'd be back.

I disagree. It's easier to secure a known and familiar route. Even if others with ill intentions know the route (frequent route). If new routes/areas/destinations are chosen, there is less familiarity on the SS part and possibly more opportunities for the other side as perhaps they are more familiar with the overall area.

I am financially comfortable. I am NOT jealous..but the Obamas are very extravagant people. They talk about tightening your belts, blah blah blah..and then hey lets jet around and see kings and do extravagant spending and say its "our dime"

No I could care less about THEIR finances. I am not poor, nor jealous..but I do BELIEVE the American people should come first!! LEGAL Americans at that.

I am PROUD to be American, PROUD to have SERVED my country. So before you call all of us whiners, reconsider. Have a blessed day!

Originally Posted by Bahet

There are different levels of SS agents. Those assigned to he Presidental family are not "on call" or part time. They have one job and one job only. There are reserve agents to an extent in that they might be called in to do something else. But securing the President is not on that list. They might need someone like that for Bush sr or Nancy Reagan or to scout an area where Carter is going to give a speech. But the SS agents whose job is the safety of the President and his family are full time salaried agents who don't moonlight.

I agree that the 'core' SS have one job & one job only...however, when they are travelling, etc. those relatively few SS agents cannot and do not control the whole safety for the entourage...they are assisted by the other levels of SS agents...which, still add to the total cost and may be 'reserve' SS agents called in as needed.

Originally Posted by Bahet

By "reserve" I didn't mean part time. I meant agents who are sort of like the second string on a football team. They still are salaried and still make the same amount of money regardless of who they are guarding or what they are doing. I don't know how explain it any clearer. They are not hourly employees. They do not get paid overtime. They are not like military reservists where they only work one weekend a month but could get called up to be full time for some set task.

Part-time would mean they have a set schedule. For me, a 'reserve', is someone who is trained and 'on call'. They may get a certain amount just being 'on call' but if they are 'activated' then their salary would increase based upon participation.

So, on an average day of their 'non-deployment', their full active salary is not paid.