Secret Service Boosts Recruitment for 2028 LA Olympics

The U.S. Secret Service is intensifying its recruitment efforts to prepare for the security demands of the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The agency recently conducted physical abilities tests for prospective agents at Pasadena's Rose Bowl, assessing their strength, endurance, and stress tolerance through a series of demanding drills.

Jeff Stoller, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s LA Field Office, highlighted the critical timeline leading up to 2028. "The next two years is going to be an unprecedented timeline leading up to 2028," Stoller stated, referencing both the Olympic Games and the ongoing presidential campaign, which requires agents to provide security across the country.

As a designated National Special Security Event (NSSE), the 2028 Los Angeles Games will place the Secret Service at the forefront of developing and implementing the comprehensive 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 added.

The Secret Service's recruitment drive is targeting both special agent and officer positions. The agency's physical fitness standards require candidates to demonstrate proficiency in four core areas: push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. Trainees are evaluated on the number of push-ups and sit-ups completed within one minute, the maximum number of chin-ups performed, and their speed over the 1.5-mile distance.

For a 25-year-old male candidate, failure criteria include completing 37 or fewer push-ups, 32 or fewer sit-ups, four or fewer chin-ups, or running 1.5 miles in 14 minutes and 14 seconds or slower. For a 25-year-old female candidate, the benchmarks are 19 or fewer push-ups, 26 or fewer sit-ups, no chin-ups, or a 1.5-mile time of 16 minutes and 34 seconds or slower. These evaluations are mandatory at the beginning, during, and at the conclusion of training, with recruits scored and ranked based on their fitness levels.

Los Angeles is set to become the first and only U.S. city to host the Olympic Games for a third time in 2028, having previously hosted in 1932 and 1984. The sporting program for the 2028 Games will include traditional events alongside new additions such as Cricket (T20), Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, and Squash. Flag Football will also make its Olympic debut.