Photos show what it takes to be a U.S. Border Patrol agent The Department of Homeland Security is hiring new agents. Do you have what it takes?

U.S. Border Patrol trainee Stevany Shakare, 24, takes part in a weapons training class at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy on August 3, 2017 in Artesia, New Mexico. See more photos of how U.S. Border Patrol trainees are prepared to man the border... less U.S. Border Patrol trainee Stevany Shakare, 24, takes part in a weapons training class at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy on August 3, 2017 in Artesia, New Mexico. See more photos of how U.S. Border Patrol ... more Photo: John Moore/Getty Images Photo: John Moore/Getty Images Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close Photos show what it takes to be a U.S. Border Patrol agent 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

President Donald Trump has pledged to add 5,000 new agents to the U.S. Border Patrol force which currently stands about 21,000 strong. All new agents must complete a rigorous months-long training course at a New Mexico facility before assuming their posts at Border Patrol stations, mostly along the U.S.-Mexico border.

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The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General recently released a report that stated that they were facing challenges in identifying, recruiting, hiring and fielding the huge number of border patrol agents that the president has mandated.

In order to fill the 5,000 new positions, Border Patrol would reportedly need 750,000 applicants while Immigration and Customs Enforcement would need over 500,000 applicants to fill the 10,000 new immigration officer positions.

All new agents receive a boot-camp style introduction to a month-long training course. The grueling training process includes physical training, shooting, and marksmanship training and building language skills, especially in Spanish. On day one for new arrivals, instructors forbid trainees from setting their luggage down.

The current class includes Stevany Shakare, 24, herself an immigrant. Shakare immigrated to Michigan with her family from Iraq in 2004, fleeing violence after the U.S. invasion.

If you are interested in applying for an open position, you can apply on the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website.

See photos of the months-long training process needed to become a U.S. Border Patrol agent.