The U.S. Secret Service is ramping up recruitment as it prepares for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Earlier this week, the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office put 14 prospective agents through a demanding fitness test at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, including high-intensity sprints, push-ups and sit-ups.
The applicants also completed multiple rounds of agility and strength drills designed to measure endurance, physical conditioning and their ability to perform under stress.
“The next two years are going to be an unprecedented timeline leading up to 2028. We have the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to Los Angeles.
In addition, we have the presidential campaign, where our agents and officers are following candidates all around the country,” Jeff Stoller, deputy special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Los Angeles Field Office, told CBS Los Angeles.
Because the 2028 Games have been designated a National Special Security Event (NSSE), the Secret Service will lead the development and execution of the overall operational security plan.
“Hiring is crucial right now, and we need to bring the best and brightest on board so we can have people ready to support our mission in 2028,” Stoller said.
The agency is currently accepting applications for special agent and officer positions.
Under Secret Service physical fitness standards, applicants are evaluated on strength, endurance and aerobic capacity across four core events: push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups and a 1.5-mile run.
Trainees are measured by the number of push-ups and sit-ups they can complete in one minute, the number of chin-ups they can perform and the time needed to finish the 1.5-mile run.
For instance, a 25-year-old man can fail the assessment with 37 or fewer push-ups, 32 or fewer sit-ups, four or fewer chin-ups, or a 1.5-mile time of 14 minutes, 14 seconds or longer.
For a 25-year-old woman, the corresponding benchmarks are 19 or fewer push-ups, 26 or fewer sit-ups, no chin-ups or a 1.5-mile time of 16 minutes, 34 seconds or longer.
Recruits receive fitness scores and rankings through mandatory evaluations conducted at the start, midpoint and conclusion of their training.
“Doing something that’s bigger than myself—taking on the responsibility of protecting others while also doing investigative work—has always been my goal, and I haven’t really seen myself wanting to do anything else,” one candidate told the news outlet at the Rose Bowl on Monday.
The 2028 Games will make Los Angeles the first and only U.S. city to host the Olympics three times. The city previously welcomed the Games in 1932 and 1984.
Alongside classic events, Cricket (T20), Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, and Squash have all been officially added to the 2028 Games. Additionally, Flag Football will make its historic Olympic debut this year.
