TSA Rant

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by Squad10

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport

"We are already seeing the effects at some of the ports of entry - at the big airports, for example. Some of them had very long lines this weekend," Napolitano said at a "Politico Playbook" breakfast event.

"Look, people, I don't mean to scare, I mean to inform. If you're traveling, get to the airport earlier than you otherwise would," she said. "And please don't yell at the Customs officers or the TSA officers - they are not responsible for the sequester."

Statements made between 02:00 and 03:50 of recording.

Error | C-SPAN


*Please specify your observation of length of line(s) in feet or number of individuals in single line(s) with airport name, date, time. (Your report may be corroborated using My TSA)

*Videos of TSA security lines posted on youtube are welcome. Please remember to state airport name, date, time. and your youtube link.

Well, you get what you pay for.

I am believing that after 9/11 a bunch of people showed up for the TSA hiring, and believed they were going to be the tip of the spear, get into a job so exciting and so rewarding. Little did they know..as publicized, that morale would be at the same level as with the Federal Air Marshals service - moderate to low

Anytime you start up a program ( EMS, Ambualance, Fire, SWAT ) you need time and money. TSA did not believe that time was on their side. So they hired a bunch of people at once, and ran into some serious problems.

Leadership has many responsibilitys, such as = Maintaining a properly equipped organization - ensuring a high level of morale - keeping track and making sure promotions are in order - keeping subordinates up to date and trained - accepting responsibility for infractions and some discrepancys - dissemination of important information....and other things.

TSA has problems. alot of problems. Initiation of the program should have began with hiring people knowledgable of security and security practices - such as current or prior Law Enforement and Military.

A training academy ( not necessarily a paramilitary academy ) should have been set, or could still be set up, for those civilians...with no prior military or L/E experience, before puting on the uniform ; THUS installing some pride and dignity among those whom were destined to become future TSA agents. make them feel like they accomplished something. Do a good and thorough background check, have a good screening process and hire qualified people. Then send them to a training academy.

Some classes that could have been, or still could be = Screening and security practices, terrorist and terroristic threats, patrols and patrol methods and practices, laws and powers of arrest, search and seizure, constitutional law, firearms, weapons of mass destruction, and limited negotiation ( one on one when a problem erupts suddenly at a screener site - sudden hostage situation...ect ), eating/exercise/nutrition. Nothing big ; just maybe a five or six week academy to make them qualified....or more than qualified to stand a post at an airport. Have a graduation, pass them a certificate, maybe a small dinner or lunch after graduation. Issue a uniform worth wearing and is presentable to the public, a service pistol and a handheld radio

Rotate dutys for the TSA people. A TSA employee could work a screening station, then foot patrol inside the airport. Work a screening station - then foot patrol or vehicle patrol outside the airport. EVERONE carrys a weapon, and has a handheld radio. Teams of two work together.

How the U.S. Govt initially done the TSA Screener program shocked me. It really shocked me.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Janet Napolitano does not even have a clue in my opinion. And she has a large mess to clean up and straighten within the TSA.




Screener Employment Eligibility Requirements

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/loca...y-suitc/nTnz6/

http://www.examiner.com/article/outr...ill-on-the-job

http://www.wsvn.com/features/article...lcase/MI90493/

http://blackburn.house.gov/uploadedf...tso_report.pdf

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...screeners.html



FF- Medic !!!

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by jhooten

........no problems with TSA. I drove.

" Step right up and sign up for an exciting career with the TSA "

" You get to carry a gun." ( golly gee, I have never done that before...Sounds exciting.) - rolling my eyes back and forth...up and down.

"You get to ride around in a U.S. Government vehicle with flashing lights and a two-way radio inside" ( I have never done that before either )

"You get to wear a snazzy looking uniform, and do foot patrols" ( golly-gee, I have never done that before either )

TSA does not exactly get my attention.

FF-Medic !!!

[Squad10]

ff, what you describe are similar but lesser requirements met just before an individual is issued credentials, one being a laminated piece of hard-stock paper having the printed words (in addition to other words, a picture and signatures) "Special Agent" and "Top Secret Clearance", the other, a Gold Badge having an embossed U.S. on it.

Not many ex-G in possession of the laminated credential having a stamped perforated RETIRED and receiving 75% average of their three most highly compensated years for a lifetime pension typically G-13, Step 3 to 8., need to work for the U.S. TSA.

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by Squad10

ff, what you describe are similar but lesser requirements met just before an individual is issued credentials, one being a laminated piece of hard-stock paper having the printed words (in addition to other words, a picture and signatures) "Special Agent".

Special Agents........I was talking about the screeners. The door puppies - floor notches - carpet banisters - air sniffers, and other colorful nicknames I have heard in my 20+ years of this type of, and particular.....security personnel

Special Agents have to complete a single scope background investigation ( among other things ), and go through
the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and quite possibly additional training. If I recall correctly, Federal Agents all receive Top Secret Security clearances. FBI receives clearance for compartmentalized information. If you do not know what compartmentalization is....Look it up sir.

Screeners, in as I have read, showed up and was hired. No, or a minimal back ground investigation. Ooops.

Originally Posted by Squad10

..... and "Top Secret Clearance".

THAT is not what is on a Federal Agents "Creds". I know. I have seen a few in my career. I have tipped beer bottles with Federal Agents. Yoy sir ( respectfully ) are full of it. Go back to watching movies. Even some positions within the Federal Government you do not receive a security clearance....BUT you have to be eligible for one, due to one may advance, or at some time in their employement...need to be "Privy" to sensitive or classified info.

Some government jobs/positions - if you do not meet the elegibility for a security clearance..... although you may not need one immediately, you will not be hired. It is that simple.

Originally Posted by Squad10

Not many ex-G in possession of the laminated credential having a stamped perforated RETIRED and receiving 75% average of their three most highly compensated years for a lifetime pension typically G-13, Step 3 to 8., need to work for the U.S. TSA.

Haaaaaa.Bahwaaaaaaaa. ROTFLMAO.


FF-Medic !!!

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by Squad10

ff, what you describe are similar but lesser requirements met just before an individual is issued credentials, one being a laminated piece of hard-stock paper having the printed words (in addition to other words, a picture and signatures) "Special Agent" and "Top Secret Clearance", the other, a Gold Badge having an embossed U.S. on it.

Not many ex-G in possession of the laminated credential having a stamped perforated RETIRED and receiving 75% average of their three most highly compensated years for a lifetime pension typically G-13, Step 3 to 8., need to work for the U.S. TSA.

TSA - Federal Agents...AKA the Federal Air Marshals have had their tough times also.

I am willing to bet that when it was initially "Beefed Up" after 9/11, the Federal Air Marshals was a great job to get into. Then, all the media broadcast about Air Marshals complaining of having to wear dress clothes...instead of casual clothes to blend in with the passengers started. And other problems that existed within the Federal Air Marshals ( The government paying hotel bills of agents ) about that time frame.

Then, they are issued, as reported, .357 Sig Caliber - Sig Sauer Pistols. Too much gun in my opinion, on an aircraft. They should have went with a 9mm load ( successful for years with the U.S Secret Service ), or a .45 ACP. A .357 Sig caliber in my opinion...especially with the short barrel of the P229 - Is a howitzer. Talk about over penetration inside a commerical airliner.

Not every security person within the TSA is a Federal Agent. And as publicized by media and U.S Government sources...Not everyone had a background check.

Federal Agents and screeners. Two different people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal...#Controversies ( some people dont like wikipedia - cites are at the bottom of the page )

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/03/travel...-service-probe

FF-Medic !!!

[Squad10]

ff - you may have seen a federal agent credential, I can safely say you've never read an ATF Special Agent credential.

Have you had a recent TSA security line length experience?

[loumaag]

I moved the OT posts from this topic to its own topic. Please don't drag topics into areas that bear little relation to the original point of the topic.

[PVPD730]

Originally Posted by ff-medic

Rotate dutys for the TSA people. A TSA employee could work a screening station, then foot patrol inside the airport. Work a screening station - then foot patrol or vehicle patrol outside the airport. EVERONE carrys a weapon, and has a handheld radio. Teams of two work together.

Airport smurfs carrying weapons? Oh hell no! Some of those people are serious liabilities. I wouldn't trust most of them with just pepper spray.

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by PVPD730

........ Oh hell no! Some of those people are serious liabilities. I wouldn't trust most of them with just pepper spray.

Awlfully narrow minded aren't you. Some people are quite smart and intellectual.

Believe it or not, some people ( TSA Personnel ) have college degrees and even served in the Armed Forces of the United States. I don't see them as smurfs.

Again....TSA has problems. I believe it is a leadership problem and senior staff problem.

FF-Medic !!!

[PVPD730]

Originally Posted by ff-medic

Awlfully narrow minded aren't you.

Nope, I just call it how i see it

Originally Posted by ff-medic

Some people are quite smart and intellectual.

True, but most TSA screeners (especially at Chicago O'Hare, DFW, and Orlando) aren't. The smart and intellectual ones are few and far between.

Originally Posted by ff-medic

Believe it or not, some people ( TSA Personnel ) have college degrees and even served in the Armed Forces of the United States.

I know that. It's pretty easy to distinguish between the ones who have prior LEO/military experience and the one's who don't. The prior LEO and Military personnel conduct themselves professionally and actually know how to deal with people.

Originally Posted by ff-medic

Again....TSA has problems.

Absolutely. Let's see--Theft:
TSA screener arrested for swiping passengers' iPads at JFK | Fox News
ABC News Tracks Missing iPad To Florida Home of TSA Officer - ABC News

Drugs and Cash Bribes:
TSA screeners allegedly let drug-filled luggage through LAX for cash - latimes.com
Uniformed TSA screener busted in drug raid - NYPOST.com

Sex Offenses:
PressTV - TSA screener arrested for alleged child rape
TSA Screener Arrested For Child Pornography | JONATHAN TURLEY

To be fair, this kind of crap also happens in police departments, fire departments, federal agencies, and other professions.

Originally Posted by ff-medic

I believe it is a leadership problem and senior staff problem.

Those factors have been a problem since the TSA's inception in 2001. If they had more stringent hiring procedures, ran lengthy background checks, and put in place better training processes (as most law enforcement agencies do) from the beginning--then I would have no problem with TSA personnel being armed and carrying out patrol duties. Being what the TSA is today, I think the agency overall is a huge joke.

[ff-medic]

PVPD 730 :

Leaders need to - Set the example , not make their subordinates do anything they would not do, install and keep a high level of morale, lead from the front and not the rear, help - aid - assist subordinates when
possible, be a mentor. And every once and awhile.....sit down eat dinner and talk with them.

In my Military and Public Safety experience......Leadership is everything. Good leadership keeps the team together,or bad leadership
breaks apart the toughest of groups, causing arguing, confusion, situational stress and what I call....FOG. There is more to leadership than a title.

Take care of your team, and they will take care of you. Everyone follows the same standards and rules,no one person is better or worse than the rest. You watch your subordinates front, and they will watch your rear. Teamwork, communication, honesty, and the team coinciding goes a long way.

Leaders who have a tight knit group, should not change,alter, or reorganize in any way. To do so......might
mean disaster.

HOOA !!!!! " Its an Army thing "



FF-Medic

[PVPD730]

Originally Posted by ff-medic

PVPD 730 :

Leaders need to - Set the example , not make their subordinates do anything they would not do, install and keep a high level of morale, lead from the front and not the rear, help - aid - assist subordinates when
possible, be a mentor. And every once and awhile.....sit down eat dinner and talk with them.

In my Military and Public Safety experience......Leadership is everything. Good leadership keeps the team together,or bad leadership
breaks apart the toughest of groups, causing arguing, confusion, situational stress and what I call....FOG. There is more to leadership than a title.

Take care of your team, and they will take care of you. Everyone follows the same standards and rules,no one person is better or worse than the rest. You watch your subordinates front, and they will watch your rear. Teamwork, communication, honesty, and the team coinciding goes a long way.

Leaders who have a tight knit group, should not change,alter, or reorganize in any way. To do so......might
mean disaster.

HOOA !!!!! " Its an Army thing "



FF-Medic

Having been in supervisory roles myself, I pretty much agree with what you said. There are times, though, where you'll have the problem "children". You know, the ones who decide they want to work against you--and not with you, the ones who have a blatant disregard for polices, and those who refuse to work as a team. Those types need the iron fist treatment. If they choose to be insubordinate, the door is ---------> that way, don't let it hit you in the a** on the way out. At least that's my supervision style. As far as the TSA goes, I've seen checkpoints where the supervisors let their staff walk all over them. There's definitely a flaw there that needs to be put in check.

[feets]

The problem with TSA, is that it exists.

No amount of leadership, training, or experience will overcome that.

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by feets

The problem with TSA, is that it exists.

No amount of leadership, training, or experience will overcome that.

Most anytime you start, initiate, build, a agency or department such as this you have to plan.

You have to have a plan of action and a plan of how to keep that action going.

Manpower , job description, equipment, start up costs, finances to keep the department/agency continuing, procurement, expenditures, long term operation and it's costs along with upgrades that will be needed in the future.

My belief. My strong belief is that leadership is everything. Almost 11 years Military experience, and about 20 years in Public Safety. Leadership makes or breaks an "Organization" as I will call it ( department/agency ).

A strong leader asks for input and takes suggestions at times. They interact with their subordiantes. They, and some rules and policys are flexable to meet the everchanging work atmosphere. They give criticism, and at times.....they take criticism - As NO ONE is perfect. People are not infallable, and make mistakes. Use your subordiantes and your resources so the same mistake is not made again.

People have built bridges over vast amounts of water. People have built skyscrapers that expand greatly into the sky. Language and culturtal barriers have been overcame. Initiating, and or building a agency for the protection of it's citizens should not be that difficult with a little planning.

In my opinion - Initial setbacks was --------

1) The appointment of Tom Ridge.

Mr.Ridge had no experience in supervising "Agents". He had no investigative expereince, nor any security experience. Again...I will say that Mr.Ridge was not confident in his leadership ability, nor his ability to make decisions. I did not consider him strong at all while watching him on televison. At least he could review/study his notes...so when he give a press conference/media release, he did not have to continoulsy look down at the note book, or paper.... to give his speech. ??? Don't they teach T.V Journalist NOT to do that. Give a speech , take your notes for refereence every so often / reread topics...then give teh speech while facing the audience and or cameras. Do not read a script from a piece of paper - notecard and talk to the public with your head always facing down. Mr.Ridges speeches...in my opinion...spoke volumes about him, and I bet a psychologist/sociologist would say the same thing.

2) Homeland Security should not be a seperate agency, with a seperate Secretary.

I do not believe that Homeland Security should have been a seperate agency. "Homeland Security" could have been give to U.S Customs and Immigration, The F.B.I , or some other agency. Add money, improve manpower. Senior agents mentor and train junior agents. You have manpower, investigative experience, and resources already in place. Why did they start at the bottom and built to the top...when they already had other well experienced Federal agencys that could have just been moved in.

3) Uncertainy in times of disaster.

Homeland Security, from my observation and assessment has been uncertain in times of disaster. From Hurrican Katrina, to wrapping your house up in plastic and duct tape in case of a biological disaster ( what was the govt going to do with all that contaminated plastic and ductape? And are you not going to contaminate the area/yard & house when you take it off anyway ) No one...in my opinion of watching media outlets and reading the newspaper...was certain or sure of themselves. Again...certainly Mr.Tom Ridge.

4) Color coded threat level.

The color coded threat level is assinine, as I see it. And Homeland Security, as I see it, does not have the best intelligence gathering to determine the nations threat level. How many times has Homeland Security "Cried Wolf" anyway.....with their threat level broadcast? Either there is a threat against lives and/or property, or their is not a threat...there is no in between. And with 9/11, in my military experience, there is no shouting "Wolf ", there is no "Kady barring the doors", there is no additional security posture...after an attack. If you increase you security after an attack, then you are to late. Terrorist most likely...unless they are martyrs...are not going to do a second strike and take a chance of getting caught. No terrorist want to go to prison for the rest of their live, when they can practice JIhad - Again...unless they are going to be martyrs. Deterranc procedures and policys, effective security practices....and otehr things deter a criminal/terrorist threat& event.

5) Effective leadership

Homeland Security needed an initial Secretary that could "take the bull by the horns" , and lead an agency. Someone whom had leadership experience in this particular situation & environment. They did not need someone whom just talked to the White House, while senior personnel did all the work. There is different leadership styles...I will agree. But neglecting overall operations and subordinate personnel ( all the way to the lowest person ) should not be tolerated.

Homeland Security is a huge agency. It is depected in movies, television, books and magazines. Right now, I believe they get more credit than they deserve. A cabinet secretarys actions, mostly reflects upon the President of the United States.

6) To quick of an initiation

Homeland Security was started as quick as one could "pop up a tent". There was no time to figure, plan, and initiate "Homeland Security". Again.......I still believe that F.B.I, Customs...ect , could have done the job. And Homeland Security being a senior agency ( like this is whom the U.S. Secret Service falls under ) makes me laugh. Nothing was wrong with the Department of Justice to begin with. Why was it messed with, by adding - deleting - and modifying agencys.

The law of seven "Ps" = Proper Previous Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

With all the "educated" people in government, you would have though that things would have went more smoothly. Well, they did not.

FF-Medic !!

[feets]

Originally Posted by ff-medic

With all the "educated" people in government, you would have though that things would have went more smoothly. Well, they did not.

Even the military was a cluster uh,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,fluke, most of the time. *shrug*

I envy your optimism but any agency funded by Uncle Sam has a bunch of people at the top that got their positions through friend or favor, not competence, and a bunch of people at the bottom that follow blindly.

It's just how government works.

[Ray_Air]

TSA was created to humiliate you and get you to submit to Government. Don't fly? Don't want TSA sticking their hand in your wife's crotch? Too bad TSA is being expanded to our nations highways.

[PVPD730]

Originally Posted by Ray_Air

TSA was created to humiliate you and get you to submit to Government. Don't fly? Don't want TSA sticking their hand in your wife's crotch? Too bad TSA is being expanded to our nations highways.

Don't forget the Amtrak and bus stations....