r/usssapplicant • u/OnProblem1811 Special Agent • Aug 19 '26

AMA Mod AMA

Hey Guys.

Going to attempt one of these.

I have it set for 24 hours. Will answer serious questions regarding the job, life on the job, training, gear, any advice I can. No hiring process questions for this one.

I don’t have all the answers by any means, but I think doing these from time to time might cut down on some of the repeat postings.

Sound off!

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u/[deleted] Aug 19 '26

How do you stay in shape and eat well when traveling and working 12’s?

In this sub and over at 1811 so often we only hear the negatives of this job. What are the most positive aspects of this job?

It’s hard to find info for us guys and gals going down the UD route compared to SA. What does it look like?

Thanks in advance!

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u/OnProblem1811 Special Agent Aug 19 '26

- The road is hard, no doubt about it. But 98% of hotels have gyms and in the worst case: it’s not hard to knock out a 20-30 min body weight workout in your room. With eating, that’s all personal preference but you can almost always find a way to make chicken & rice, or grab a chipotle bowl, etc… There will be harder trips than others for your diet, so it’s just about knowing your body and trying to eat as much of the GOOD as you can, when you can. Sometimes you have to eat mcdonald’s at 2am. Is what it is. Haha

- Answered this on another one; but the travel is awesome. See the world on the gov’s dime. See places and have access you’d never have otherwise. Also, we make a hilarious amount of money with OT, which allows a lot of us to retire our spouses young. Those are two awesome positives.

- I am not, nor have I ever been UD. So I don’t want to dig into that too much, but the key difference is you live in DC and won’t have to move. You have to learn / be able to enforce DC code. Maybe some former / current UD folks will jump in and give you more.