US secret service unveils fast-track recruitment process

The U.S. Secret Service has officially opened applications for its Accelerated Candidate Event (ACE), a surge hiring initiative designed to significantly speed up recruitment for protective and investigative roles.

In a post on its official X account on Friday, the agency said participation in ACE can reduce an applicant’s overall time to hire by up to 120 days.

The upcoming May ACE is scheduled for May 14–17, 2026, and will be held at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia.

The event is intended to allow qualified applicants to complete multiple key stages of the hiring process within a condensed timeframe of one to four days.

These stages include the Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE), the Physical Abilities Test (PAT), and required interviews, steps that are typically completed over a longer period in the standard hiring process.

“The fastest path to the Secret Service starts here! Our Accelerated Candidate Events (ACE) let you complete your entrance exam, physical abilities test, and official interviews all in one weekend. Take the first step. Apply by April 28 to be invited to the May 14 ACE event,” the post read.

The initiative comes as the agency continues efforts to expand its workforce in response to increasing demands across security and investigative operations.

Eligible roles under the ACE program include Special Agents, Uniformed Division Officers, and specialized units such as the Emergency Response Team, Counter Sniper Teams, and Canine Explosives Detection Teams.

The Secret Service emphasised its core values—Duty, Justice, Courage, Honesty, and Loyalty—and urged U.S. citizens who meet strict eligibility requirements, including age, physical fitness, background checks, and security clearance standards, to apply.

Interested candidates are advised to submit applications through the official U.S. Secret Service careers website.