Why Should U/D Join Former Agent Assn?

How sad. Look at the Former Agent Assn. at www.oldstar.org They want to shake down USSS Uniformed Division officers to join, but they offer U/D nothing in return. It looks like the Assn. considers the U/D Officers as second class citizens. The Assn. lists U/D only as "support" at their web site, but cannot use the words Uniformed Division Officers. No thanks.

How sad. Look at the Former Agent Assn. at www.oldstar.org They want to shake down USSS Uniformed Division officers to join, but they offer U/D nothing in return. It looks like the Assn. considers the U/D Officers as second class citizens. The Assn. lists U/D only as "support" at their web site, but cannot use the words Uniformed Division Officers. No thanks.

I don't agree.

This is the "Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service." It was formed decades ago by a small group of retired Agents who wanted to stay in contact and meet socially. Like many other social organizations, the core membership is composed of a relatively small, sharply defined group of people - in this case it is "agents" which has a special significance and definition in federal law.

The organizers realized that many of their close friends and associates in the Service were non-Agent support personnel, such as Security Specialists, Special Officers, Uniformed Division Officers, Clerical and Administrative personnel. In order to extend the social contacts they included these friends as Affiliate Members.

I see nothing on the web site that indicates an effort to "shake down" UD officers to join the association. I see UD officers offered the same thing as everyone else - opportunities for social contacts and a listing of post-retirement employment opportunities as well as access to the Membership side of the board where there is a Message Board and a membership directory which facilitates contacting old friends.

It's a shame that you are so oversensitive that you chose to exclude yourself.

It is your loss.



:arrow:

[RETUD]

I joined the AFAUSSS about a year ago to just maybe be a part of this organization. Well I was wrong and now have no clue why I joined. It's just like when we were on the job. They ignore the UD in the Pipeline, on the web site, and even in the emails that are sent out on a regular basis. As a former and proud UD member, I can just imagine how I would be treated if I went to one of their functions or get togethers. It would be just like you were back on the job. I don't understand why they even let us join other than getting our money because there is no other benefit that I can see by being a member. Look lets face it, things will NEVER change between the Agents and the Uniformed Division. Yes I'm just an uneducated piece of crap that has nothing to do with the protection of the President. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[worfusa2008]

RETUD, Take a look at the photos in The Pipeline. Most, if not all, the SA's pictured at the various gatherings are retired Bosses. Many of them went on to careers in the private and government sector (double dipping at TSA courtesy of the DC Plan). The main purpose of their getting together now, besides golf, is so they can remind each other how impotent (oops, important) they once were. There is a definite hierarchy in the AFAUSSS, just like it was, and still is, on the job. Whenever I was assigned to a protective detail (permanent or temporary), I saw how the UD Officers were treated by the SA's afflicted with Potomac fever. Maybe because I was an ex-cop, I vowed never to look down on a uniform and I never did.

Potomac Fever: When you go to Washington and your head swells up and you forget where you came from (paraphrasing Harry Truman)

Boy you guys have it all wrong. The reason you see so many pics of bosses is that many of them show up at the functions. But look closer, many of the pics are of us poor old humps.

Look at the current Board of Directors. We have a couple of 15's (new Board members I might add). The President and one other (me) were career humps (13s) and probably others on the Board are too. I just don't know everyone's (on the Board) career paths.

A number of years ago AFAUSSS went to regional representaives just for the reason you are commenting on. That being to move away from our HQs bosses representing ALL of us, especially those of us who had no desire to go to HQ and STAY.

Instead of having our annual conference and business meeting in WDC, we now have said meeting on a rotation basis between all of the regions.

What can AFAUSSS offer U/D.................LOTS. If U/D Officer Steve (I don't recall his last name), who is seriously ill overseas HAD BEEN A MEMBER, I know for a fact that AFAUSSS would be paying for his mother's travel expenses so that she can be by her side. Although AFAUSSS cannot offer any money as Steve is not a member. We will be using our e-mail tree to ask for donations to help Steve's Mom offset her expenses.

AFAUSSS makes no distinction between job titles, pay grades, etc., when it comes to a member who has a financial crisis. Everyone is treated equally.

Hopefully this will clear up some (unfounded) issues.
PS -- At our annual conferences, it's interesting to see those "Bosses" that were "AH" hang together and those "Bosses" that were the good guys, hang with the rest of us.

Anyway that's my two cents.

[worfusa2008]

Sorry Tony,

No offense but maybe you should stop drinking their Kool-Aid for a minute. For the past 30+ years, it's always been Us vs. The Suits. Just because I have been disillusioned, disenchanted, and disenfranchised doesn't mean I have given up on the Service. But, if I ran my business like the Good Ol' Boy's network has been running the Service, not only would I be bankrupt but I would probably have been indicted long ago. The nepotism infecting the Service is what ruined TSA and the Federal Air Marshal program before it even got off the ground. And yes, I am a member of AFAUSSS and FLEOA to this day. Still waiting.

[RETUD]

RETUD, Take a look at the photos in The Pipeline. Most, if not all, the SA's pictured at the various gatherings are retired Bosses. Many of them went on to careers in the private and government sector (double dipping at TSA courtesy of the DC Plan). The main purpose of their getting together now, besides golf, is so they can remind each other how impotent (oops, important) they once were. There is a definite hierarchy in the AFAUSSS, just like it was, and still is, on the job. Whenever I was assigned to a protective detail (permanent or temporary), I saw how the UD Officers were treated by the SA's afflicted with Potomac fever. Maybe because I was an ex-cop, I vowed never to look down on a uniform and I never did.

Potomac Fever: When you go to Washington and your head swells up and you forget where you came from (paraphrasing Harry Truman)

worfusa2008, you made some very good points my friend and please don't think that I am down on all Agents because I'm not. When I was out of town on details I worked with some great Agents. I was in S.C. for a week driving a limo for St. Lucia and those guys I worked with were the best. They treated me like one of them, it was the best detail I was ever on. Some of us even stayed in contact after returning to DC. The thing is I spent most of my career at the WH working with PPD and VPPD, need I say more. We were treated different I don't care what anybody says and it hurt because a would take a bullet just as fast as they would. We were just left out of so many things like pay, benefits, etc. Even now as a retiree we have had a bill in Congress for pay that we not only deserve but it was law. Yes I'm bitter but not at everybody. Take care.

[worfusa2008]

I am glad you were able to mix with some street humps, especially in the real world south of the Mason-Dixon Line. When visited by Agents from the "Big Detail, we often had to remind them, "This is the Field Office, not The Oval Office". I remember early in my career when an Advance Agent from the # 2 detail began to throw his weight around at the first Police Meeting. A phone call was made and he was not around for the second Police Meeting. But then, we had a leader for a boss. Watch your six!

I am glad you were able to mix with some street humps, especially in the real world south of the Mason-Dixon Line. When visited by Agents from the "Big Detail, we often had to remind them, "This is the Field Office, not The Oval Office". I remember early in my career when an Advance Agent from the # 2 detail began to throw his weight around at the first Police Meeting. A phone call was made and he was not around for the second Police Meeting. But then, we had a leader for a boss. Watch your six!

Sounds like something Newbie would do in Miami!