The Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), a division of the US Marshals Service (USMS), is seeking to notify Law Enforcement Officers and Correctional Officers in the Kansas City area about Personal Service Contract openings.

JPATS is looking for candidates to work as Aviation Security Officers (ASOs).  JPATS transports federal and non-federal detainees via Boeing 737 aircraft.  The pilots and Aviation Enforcement Officers (AEOs) who operate the missions, are JPATS full time, government employees.  The ASOs maintain constant guard, physical control, and observation of the prisoner/detainee(s) at all times.    

ASOs:

• sign individual contracts

• are not employees of the Federal Government, USMS, or JPATS, and shall NOT represent themselves as such

• mostly work on a part time basis

• do not receive Federal government benefits

• must pass a background check

• must successfully pass the weapons proficiency test in accordance with the current USMS policy

• must pass an annual medical examination  

Law Enforcement Experience Requirements: 

ASO applicants must meet the following experience requirements:

• Must be actively employed state, local, or reserve, law enforcement officers with arrest authority and minimum of one-year experience; or
• Actively employed state, local, or reserve, corrections or detention officers with a minimum of one year experience in prisoner handling or detention; or
• Former or retired law enforcement, corrections, detention, or military police officers who have not been separated or retired for more than five years prior to contracting with the USMS.

Physical Demands – The duties and responsibilities of an ASO require frequent and prolonged walking, standing, running, sitting, and stooping. In addition, an ASO may be required to subdue violent or potentially violent people. Physical stamina in all of its forms (i.e., mental, climatic) is a basic requirement of this position. Therefore, “light duty” post assignments are not available under this contract.

JPATS mission duty hours are traditionally scheduled from 0600 hours to 1800 hours, but can fluctuate due to mission demand, inclement weather, medical emergencies, aircraft maintenance, national emergencies, etc.

ASOs will be required to travel extensively within the continental United States during duty days, and such travel may require overnight stays on occasion.  Overnight travel is estimated at a maximum of two (2) nights per week per guard.  Actual travel may be more or less (usually less or none).  

These positions are open because JPATS moved its Las Vegas operations to Kansas City in October 2023.

Regarding part-time basis: ASOs can work as few or as many days as they want.  Some of them want to work every day possible; some want to work Tuesdays and Thursdays, for example.  Schedules vary.  Obviously, we are hoping individuals can schedule days and stick to the plan, so we don’t have to scurry before a 0530 start of day to find a replacement.  Like any operation dealing with detainees, we must have a set number of security guys per detainee per security level.

Regarding travel:  There are times when the aircraft has a maintenance issue and gets stuck at a location overnight, but for the most part, you will probably be home each night (unless scheduled for a Remain Over Night (RON)).  Annually (usually February), the operations folks go to Oklahoma City for a one-week annual training.  

Pay:  Currently, the pay rate for ASOs in KC is $40.00/hour ($60.00 for OT) and travel per diem for overnight stays.  Uniforms and gear are provided; a boot reimbursement, up to $125, is allowed approximately every 18 months (supervisor discretion on how much you use the boots for JPATS).  

For questions, please call Supervisory AEO Michael Wilkey at (702)728-0385 or email at michael.wilkey@usdoj.gov. 

If interested, you can send your resume to Supervisory AEO Wilkey at the email addresses listed above.