Large agencies and complex organizations that work within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employ special support personnel dedicated to maintaining operations. Much of the work these professionals perform involves gaining access to data and intelligence, managing complex systems, reporting and analyzing performance. They are intimately familiar with government agencies and how they interact, as well as the resources at their command.
Mission Support Technician Job Duties
Support duties include many administrative functions. Mission support technicians are called upon to provide access to sensitive information, produce accurate paperwork, and provide status reports and statements to superiors. Other duties may include:
- Preparing and monitoring budgets
- Designing training programs
- Managing and upgrading information systems
- Analyzing operations, and recommending improvements
- Preparing travel documentation and itineraries
- Coordinating operations with other organizations and governments
- Preparing status reports and statements, and filling out various paperwork
- Presenting studies and recommendations to superiors
- Accessing information to provide front line personnel with tactical and strategic advice
Education & Training
If you wish to pursue this career, you will find that a bachelor’s degree is often a minimum requirement. Florida Tech University Online offers related bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, Applied Psychology, Computer Information Systems, Criminal Justice and Criminal Justice/Homeland Security. It also offers master’s degrees in Information Technology Management, and eleven MBAs, including Project Management.
Since mission support technicians frequently deal with people, demonstrable skills in oral and written communication are desirable, and earning a related bachelor’s or master’s degree, can help set you apart from the competition. Previous training in a homeland security position is helpful, particularly if the position demonstrated excellent organizational awareness, good decision making and problem solving, and effective information management.
Salary & Advancement
Depending on the agency, the typical salary for a mission support technician can range from $51,000 to more than $90,000 a year. A mission support technician employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, for instance, may start at GS-9 pay level and advance to GS-11. Salary may include a 25% bonus each year (Law Enforcement Availability Pay), along with benefits. Job seekers are encouraged to conduct their own research, as salary can be affected by location, education, experience and other factors.
Career Outlook for Mission Support Technicians
Since mission support technicians are employed by the Department of Homeland Security, the employment outlook generally parallels that of other DHS positions. For example, the employment rate for ICE agents should increase by 7% through 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Steady growth in the number of agents employed by ICE and other agencies should support a demand for more mission support personnel.
Are You Ready to Be a Mission Support Technician?
Mission support is a vital role. This field of employment requires detail-oriented professionals with a desire to stay current in socio-political matters, and an appreciation for operations and systems analysis, accurate reporting and impeccable record keeping. Mission support technicians are adept at organizing and relaying information. If you have an aptitude for accurate and efficient communication and can critically analyze situations quickly, then you may find this career attractive.
Working professionals, military servicemembers and their families, and other students find it much more convenient to earn their degree from Florida Tech University Online, without the need to visit a campus. Students can obtain undergraduate and graduate level degrees 100% online. Florida Tech, ranked a Tier 1 Best National University by U.S. News & World Report, provides online students with the same degrees they would receive in a traditional campus setting.