# What's so special about FBI agents? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2000, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402 "2000-06-24T15:27:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PigBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@PigBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigBoy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2000, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/1 "2000-06-24T15:27:40Z")
I was just thinking of a TV ad for an episode of The X-Files (I didn’t see this particular episode) in which Scully presents herself as “Special Agent Dana Scully,” and the man to whom she’s speaking yells, “What’s so special about you?!” So what is so special? Why are FBI agents called special agents? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/2 "2000-06-24T16:37:08Z")
I’ve been told that FBI and other government agents are called “special” to distinguish them from general agents of the United States, those individuals with contracting warrants that permit them to legally obligate the government in matters of contract. ---
**Author:** ![Jorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/3 "2000-06-25T01:14:30Z")
All Federal agents come under the Office of Personnel job title of special agent, except in the case of the FBI it’s meant to evoke special as in “special ed” - just ask any state or local cop, or Treasury Agent… No anser yet on why, but I’m gonna go check on the website for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center ([www.fletc.dot.gov](http://www.fletc.dot.gov) ?] who would likely have the correct answer. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/4 "2000-06-25T01:47:06Z")
Why are they sometimes called G-Men? Where did that come from? ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/5 "2000-06-25T02:50:55Z")
G = government G Man = government man Simple, no? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/6 "2000-06-25T20:38:20Z")
I seem to recall that at one point all FBI agents had to have degrees in law. Does anyone know if this is still the case, if it ever was? ---
**Author:** ![SarumanRex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@SarumanRex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SarumanRex)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/7 "2000-06-25T22:03:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > G = government > > G Man = government man > > Simple, no? > \*\* It was a famous bank robber of the 30’s (I forget which one) who yelled, “don’t shoot G-men”, after FBI agents surrounded his hide-out. J. Edgar Hoover liked the nickname and even promoted it in news reels. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/8 "2000-06-26T04:03:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > I seem to recall that at one point all FBI agents had to have degrees in law. Does anyone know if this is still the case, if it ever was? > > \*\* It was, and still is, quite common, although never a requirement. Most FBI agents had either a law or accounting degree prior to joining - except those with specialized training in physics or chemistry, destined for the FBI Lab, or special language skills. The only requirement, however, is a four-year degree from an accredited university. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/9 "2000-06-26T04:35:37Z")
A “special” agent is one who carries a concealed weapon. The IRS has “Revenue Agents”, and “Special Agents”, and it is the Special ones who carry guns, and incidentally, were the “Untouchables”. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/10 "2000-06-26T16:55:47Z")
Just in case there’s some confusion, and I think there might be, everyone should bear in mind that the FBI isn’t part of the Treasury Department. It’s part of the Justice Department now. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/11 "2000-06-26T19:39:12Z")
But Elliot Ness and Co. (and the modern BATF) work(ed) for the treasury dept. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-fbi-agents/23402/12 "2000-06-26T23:39:02Z")
> [@](#): > > G = government > > G Man = government man > > Simple, no? My wife asked and I said (honest), “Government Man”. She said, “You’re just guessing. Is that _really_ it?” So I pop out here and make a goof of myself. Not that I don’t do that frequently anyway but I see no need to push it. Thanks for the info.