[Laredo Sector]BP joining with Dallas Cowboys

LAREDO MORNING TIMES ^ | 09/09/2007 | JULIAN AGUILAR

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The U.S. CBP Border Patrol is joining with America's Team to help recruit more than 4,000 new agents the federal agency wants to hire before the end of 2008.Saturday afternoon, Laredo sector's Border Patrol Chief Carlos X. Carrillo announced the Laredo sector of BP is an official sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys.

"The sponsorship will highlight career opportunities for men and women interested in a career with the Border Patrol," Carrillo said. "To become a Dallas Cowboy, it requires talent, hard work and dedication. To become a Border Patrol agent, it requires the same type of characteristics."

The marketing campaign will feature signs at Texas Stadium, radio spots and television commercials on the Fox Sports Network that will highlight the partnership between the two organizations, Carrillo said.

"When you look at the marketing potential of the Dallas Cowboys, it's a no brainer," agent F.T. Grijalva said. He added that there is always a need for new recruits in all areas of the law.

"No law-enforcement agency is going to say they have adequate staff. It's always in high demand," he said.

Grijalva, the patrol agent in charge of the Dallas sector, said the Dallas' division of CBP, based between Dallas and Forth Worth, is part of the Laredo sector.

Carrillo said the training system for new recruits has been overhauled, and that Spanish-speaking recruits spend less time in the academy than non-speakers do.

"The training cycle has been revamped where the candidate who speaks Spanish, who already is a native speaker, only is required to attend the academy for 55 days," Carrillo said. "If you don't speak Spanish, we have a responsibility to … teach Spanish to the agent. They remain in the academy for 88 days."

Starting salary for a new recruit is about $38,000 to $45,000, depending on the grade of the agent when he or she comes in, the chief said. He added that new recruits are told before they go to the academy where they will be stationed.

Carrillo would not provide exact figures on how much the campaign cost CBP, but said the deal was "very reasonable."

"It's a very good relationship we have with the Dallas Cowboys," he said.

The marketing blitz will run through the regular football season, which concludes at the end of December. The contract will have to be renegotiated if the Cowboys advance to the post-season, Carrillo said.

(To reach Julian Aguilar, call 728-2557 or e-mail jaguilar@lmtonline.com)

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"If you don't speak Spanish, we have a responsibility to … teach Spanish to the agent. They remain in the academy for 88 days."

¡Alto! ¡En la tierra! ¡Asuma la posición!....

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He added that new recruits are told before they go to the academy where they will be stationed.

Will they also be told where they'll be spending 10-20 if they do their jobs?

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