NFA Branch Examiner Assistants

[ExecDirector]

There has been some Internet chatter about assistants being hired for the NFA Examiners in Martinsburg. I have sought confirmation and clarification and can verify the following:



There are currently 10 DOJ hired ATF employees as NFA Examiners. That number is not changing anytime soon, barring attrition, etc.
Assistants are *not* ATF employees and being placed via a government contract for a one year term.
ATF is still under a hiring freeze.
ATF is making its case to post a solicitation for hiring 5 new Examiners in FY 2013


It is estimated that it will take a few months before the new Assistants are up to speed and effective.

[ExecDirector]

10 ~ 12 Assistants are being added, at least initially.

[wlake75]

Excellent information, and hopefully a big help to reduce work load on examiners and reduce transfer time.
Bill

[S_Phoenix]

Cool, that should help to speed up the time it takes to get forms back.

[ExecDirector]

Not for long. As long as the work load continues to increase (and I see nothing to indicate we have peaked), this will only be a temporary measure. We need more full time Examiners and we all need to be banging on our Congress Critters to give ATF the budget to do this.