This position is located under the Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS), National Tracing Center Division (NTC), Firearms Tracing Branch, in Martinsburg, WV.
The incumbent serves as a Firearms Program Specialist in one of the following groups: Firearms Active Distribution, Research, Firearms Services or Comprehensive Tracing. The NTC provides 24-hour assistance to Federal, State, local and foreign law enforcement agencies and is an essential component to investigations involving the criminal misuse of firearms.
As a Firearms Program Specialist, GS-1801-05, your typical work assignments may include:
- Developing knowledge of firearms and the firearms industry as well as the operation of equipment, the capabilities and limitations of the various data bases.
- Performing on-the-job training assignments which will provide a practical understanding of the functions/operations of the NTC.
- Analyzing basic computer-generated error reports on electronically generated traces; generating preliminary reports, e.g., number of guns traced in a particular State, which dealers had the greatest number of traces, etc.
- Providing limited technical advice to the Firearms & Explosives Licensing Center (FELC) in Martinsburg, WV., e.g., identifying problem dealers, bogus Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) and performing basic traces from manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, and retailers.
As a Firearms Program Specialist, GS-1801-07, your typical work assignments may include:
- Researching and evaluating firearm data from trace requests, manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers.
- Providing technical advice and assistance to the Firearms & Explosives Licensing Center in Martinsburg.
- Producing and analyzing trace reports on imports firearms to discern sufficient information to complete traces on guns.
- Analyzing data from various computer-generated reports.
As a Firearms Program Specialist, GS-1801-09, your typical work assignments may include:
- Performing research and evaluating firearms data from trace requests, property reports, field investigations and inspection reports, requests filed electronically via various databases and Federal, State, local and foreign law enforcement agencies to determine the validity of firearms information, age of weapon, completeness of firearm's description, etc.
- Providing technical advice and assistance to the Firearms & Explosives Licensing Center in Martinsburg, WV., e.g., identifying problem dealers, bogus FFLs, etc. and to the ATF Labor; and type (both character and numeric) serial numbers, etc.
- Researching trace requests from manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, and retailers to first individual purchasers via an automated workflow system. Ensuring that trace is not initiated on duplicate trace, suspect gun, Federal Firearms' Licensees (FFL) theft, Interstate theft, Multiple Sale, or a dealer under investigation.
- Analyzing data from computer generated reports against the OBRIS data base to determine if firearms disposition is located in the Out of Business Records Section prior to contacting first disposition.
Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progresses.