Here is a little of the magic that you will find at this years California Mid Winter Fair

U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Public Affairs

EL Centro, Calif. – U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, team members helped sort and bag donated food at the Niland Food Shed, Niland, Calif., Feb. 20.

The third Wednesday of every month, residents of the Niland area leave their homes with empty cupboards and arrive by foot, by carpool or any other means to the Niland Chamber of Commerce and leave with more than they can carry.

Several Blue Angels team members, along with Lt. Jared Smith, Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro base chaplain, and Lt. j.g. Lisa Lill, of Navy Public Affairs Support Element East, assisted in bagging and distributing 438 bags of food for those in need in the Niland area.

Aviation Machinist Mate (Aircrew) 1st Class Isaac Dominguez, assigned to the Blue Angels Quality Assurance shop said he enjoyed helping the volunteers and community.

 “Even though we don’t get to see the immediate result of our efforts today,” he said, “having the locals come up to us as we’re working and thank us for being here, solidified that we are helping make a difference in the community.”

The Niland Food Shed originally started out of the home of Constantine and Pat Vellas. The Vellas partnered with Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego and distributed food to local families.

“When we first started out we paid 14 cents per pound and Catholic Charities would deliver the food to us,” said Vellas.

The Vellas’ reached out to the Imperial Valley Food Bank for more support but still had to purchase the food. Eventually, they registered under the United States Department of Agriculture Commodities program and no longer had to personally pay for the food and became a federal program.

Since then, the Niland Food Shed has grown, moved to the Niland Chamber of Commerce and has taken on more volunteers.

Before the Sailors started to assist with the program, the volunteers were mostly made up of elderly women, said Volunteer Nellie Perez, Niland site leader.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how much it helps to have the extra help from the Sailors,” said Perez.

“We used to have to do all the heavy lifting, bag everything, along with the sign-ups and distributing of the food,” said Jenifer Hudson, Niland site volunteer. “With the Sailors helping us, it dramatically cuts the time and helps us focus on the people waiting in line.”

During the month of February the Niland Food Shed fed approximately 228 families for a total of 590 people.

Smith said he believes the attention the Blue Angels attract also brings visibility to this area of the country and the people who live here, “Niland is a forgotten community.”

“All morning people have been stopping me and asking me ‘are those the Blue Angels?,’” he said, laughing.

The Blue Angels team members regularly participate in community outreach programs similar to the Niland Food Shed throughout the year.

The Blue Angels are conducting winter training at NAF El Centro. The Blue Angels are preparing for the 2013 air show season, which kicks off at NAF El Centro March 16.

The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance Navy recruiting, and credibly represent Navy and Marine Corps aviation to the United States and its Armed Forces to America and other countries as international ambassadors of good will.

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BENEFITS:

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CBP offers competitive starting salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health insurance, Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k)), Flexible Spending Account, retirement plan, life and long-term care insurance, Employee Assistance Program, personal leave days and paid Federal holidays.  Other benefits may include: tuition reimbursement, transportation subsidies, uniform allowance, health and wellness programs, and fitness centers.  CBP is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and development opportunities.  For more information, go to http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/benefits_employees/overview_benefits.xml

 

Federal Law Enforcement Retirement Coverage: Border Patrol Agents are covered under the provisions of both the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and Title 5 USC 8412(d) (commonly known as the “12(d)”) law enforcement retirement benefit.  Law enforcement employees may voluntarily retire at any age after completing 25 years of service or at age 50 or older with 20 years of service.  The mandatory retirement age is 57 with 20 years of service; however, employees could work beyond 57 until they meet the combination of age and service requirements to retire under law enforcement provisions.

 

Uniform Allowance: Border Patrol Agents receive a uniform allowance to offset the cost of purchasing the required BPA uniform.

OTHER INFORMATION:

 

Polygraph: The Border Patrol Agent position is a polygraph-required position.  You will be required to pass a polygraph examination that takes approximately 4-6 hours to complete.  The results will be used to determine your suitability for the position. For more information on the polygraph examination please see the following link:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/apply/mandatory_back_invest.xml

 

Background Investigation: Prior to appointment, you must undergo and satisfactorily complete a background investigation, which includes but is not limited to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) name and fingerprint check and a 10-year background investigation.  As part of the investigation you will be asked to complete and submit a security questionnaire (SF-86).  The questionnaire will ask you questions regarding education, residences, past and current emplyers, police records, financial situation, drug and alcohol use, etc.  A history of problems in any of these areas may results in your disqualification for this position.  Keep in mind that because we have a law enforcement mission; we set a very high standard for our employees. For more information on the background investigation process please see the following link:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/apply/mandatory_back_invest.xml

 

Age Requirement: You must be referred for selection before reaching your 40th birthday.  In accordance with Public Law 100-238, this position is covered under law enforcement retirement provisions.  Please see the following link: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_careers/bp_agent/.  However, the age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving or have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement (non-military) position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). The age restriction does not apply if you are a veterans’ preference eligible.

   

Residency:  If you are not currently a CBP employee, you must meet one or more of the following primary residency criteria for the last three years prior to applying to this announcement:

1.    Resided in the United States or its protectorate or territories (excluding short trips abroad, such as vacations);

2.    Worked for the United States government as an employee overseas in a federal or military capacity; or

3.    Been a dependent of a United States federal or military employee serving overseas.

Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability/security determination.  Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant’s personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant’s “Study Abroad” program, the church records for the applicant’s overseas church missions, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas.

 

Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence:  If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, it is a felony for you to possess any firearm or ammunition.  A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is defined as any offense, which has as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian of the victim. The term “convicted” does not include anyone whose conviction has been expunged or set aside or who has received a pardon.

 

Drug Testing:  Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment into the position.  We will schedule, provide, and pay for the drug test.  Once employed, Border Patrol Agents are subject to random and unannounced drug testing.

 

Medical Requirements:  You must undergo and successfully pass our medical screening process.  We will schedule, provide and pay for the required basic medical examination.

 

Physical Fitness Screening: Due to the strenuous nature of the BPA duties and the associated training programs, fitness tests have been developed and will be used to screen candidates for entry-level Border Patrol Agent positions.  You will be required to pass the pre-employment fitness test (PFT-1) early in the pre-employment process.  The PFT-1 consists of a: (1) push-up test, (2) sit-up test, and (3) 5-minute step test or 1.5 mile run.  Approximately 30 days prior to your entrance on duty, you will be required to take a second pre-employment fitness exam (PFT-2).  The PFT-2 consists of a: (1) 220 yard run, (2) sit-up test, (3) push-up test, and (4) 1.5 mile run.

 

Oral Hiring Board: You must take and pass an oral hiring board (OHB) interview.  You will appear before an OHB panel and demonstrate that they possess the abilities and other characteristics important to Border Patrol Agent positions.  Among these are the competencies of judgment/decision-making, emotional maturity, interpersonal skills, and cooperativeness/sensitivity to the needs of others.  The OHB will be rated on a pass/fail basis.  You must receive a “pass” in all areas in order to continue in the hiring process.  During the registration process for the entrance examination, you will be asked to choose one of 27 cities where you would like to take the OHB.

 

Duty Locations: Duty locations along the Southwest Border of the United States include but are not limited to the following:

• South Texas Preference – (to include but not limited to the following locations) Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Cotulla, Dallas, Falfurrias, Fort Brown, Freer, Harlingen, Hebbronville, Kingsville, Laredo North, Laredo South, Laredo West, McAllen, San Antonio, Weslaco, and Zapata, TEXAS
• West Texas/New Mexico Preference – (to include but not limited to the following locations) Abilene, Alpine, Amarillo, Big Bend National Park, Brackettville, Carrizo Springs, Comstock, Del Rio, Eagle Pass North, Eagle Pass South, El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Fort Stockton, Lubbock, Marfa, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Rocksprings, San Angelo, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, and Uvalde, TEXAS; Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Deming, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, and Truth or Consequences, NEW MEXICO
• California Preference – (to include but not limited to the following locations) Boulevard, Brown Field, Calexico, Campo, Chula Vista, El Cajon, El Centro, Imperial Beach, Indio, Murrieta, Riverside, and San Clemente, CALIFORNIA
• Arizona Preference – (to include but not limited to the following locations) Ajo, Blythe, Casa Grande, Douglas, Naco, Nogales, Sonoita, Tucson, Wellton, Willcox, and Yuma, ARIZONA

A detailed map of Border Patrol Sectors can be found at:  

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_careers/bp_agent/sectors_map.ctt/Sectors_Map.pdf

When the bomb went off in the middle of the night at the San Diego federal courthouse in May 2008, the message seemed clear: This was an act of terror—or possibly revenge. At the time, no one would have guessed that the real motive was all about money.

 The strange case of the courthouse bombing came to a close recently when the last defendant, Donny Love, Sr.—the mastermind of the operation—was sentenced to 55 years in prison for using a weapon of mass destruction and other charges.

 Love persuaded his sometime girlfriend and two others who trusted him and depended on him for drugs to carry out the bombing. He then planned to contact authorities with information about the crime so he could collect a reward.

 “The plot seems so odd and bizarre,” said Special Agent Justin Zuccolotto, who investigated the case, “but you can begin to understand it when you understand Love’s ability to control and manipulate the people around him. His actions showed that he was a predator who didn’t care about anyone but himself.”

 The explosive device set in the entrance to the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse consisted of three powerful pipe bombs placed inside a backpack that was also filled with 110 roofing nails. When it exploded, the bomb blew out the courthouse doors and sent shrapnel and nails flying in all directions—over a block away and at least six stories into the air.

Although no one was injured in the blast, “we were very lucky this wasn’t a murder scene,” Zuccolotto said. “There was no reason to put nails in the bomb; the bomb by itself would have been enough for his scheme.”

 After the explosion, there was an immediate response from local authorities and members of the FBI’s San Diego office, including the Bureau’s Evidence Response Team and Joint Terrorism Task Force. Plenty of evidence was found at the scene, including surveillance video showing a person igniting the backpack.

A few days later, Love contacted the FBI through an attorney and said he would provide information about the crime in exchange for a $75,000 reward and leniency on criminal charges pending against him. He intended to provide false information, directly from him and from those he controlled.

 “His actions were beyond callous,” Zuccolotto said. “Thinking of anybody else’s well being never crossed his mind. It was all about him making a buck or saving his skin.”

 Love, 44, who had worked for the local water department for a decade but had recently been fired, was behind on his mortgage payments. He thought the reward money would solve all his problems.

 “He really thought he could get away with it,” Zuccolotto said. But his story soon fell apart, and two of his accomplices—including his former girlfriend—later became cooperating witnesses in the case against him. Those two each received 10-year sentences, and another accomplice was sentenced to 11 years.

Zuccolotto credits local authorities, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Attorney’s Office; the FBI Laboratory; and local, state, and federal members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force for bringing the case to a successful conclusion. “Everybody worked well together,” he said. “We needed to get this guy off the streets.”