Federal Air Marshals Department Homeland Security

Introduction The Federal Air Marshals are considered to be one of the Department Homeland Security. Throughout history they have been know for keeping passengers on airliners safe from hijackers. Many how question do we still need air marshals with improved security on aircraft and at airports many question the effectiveness of the air marshals. Even though they go through intensive training they have been involved in some controversies that have put the program under the scope even with their rich tradition on securing the skies.
The History of the Air Marshals In 1961 a man from Miami by the name of Antonio Ramiez Ortiz hijacked a U.S airplane and ordered the aircraft to be landed in Cuba. Within three months of the National Airline being
hijacked, three more American airliners where hijacked (Grabel,2008). Then President John F. Kennedy created the first group of air marshals available at the request of the airlines. Even after the creation of the air marshals, between the years of 1968 and 1972 approximately 75 more U.S airliners were hijacked by nationalist. The air marshals then expanded their role to baggage screening at every U.S airport. The force of the air marshals rapidly grew from a team of six marshals to over 1,700 to include the customs security officers which their job consisted of screening passengers before boarding the aircraft. In 1973, the FAA made it a requirement for security to screen passengers and their baggage forcing the customs security to be disbanded until President Ronald Regan and the U.S Congress passed the International Security and Development Cooperation Act. This Act was enacted because of the hijacking of TWA flight in June of 1985 by Hezbollah. Under the International Security and Development Act the air marshals grew in numbers with about forty air marshals with the goal of securing international and domestic flights. However, many European countries did not agree with armed American officials in their airports and airspace. Then, the threat of hijackings significantly declined and the number of air marshals decreased to a total of 33 on September 11, 2001. After 9/11 the Aviation and Security Act was passed enormously growing the agency to 6,000 agents at 21 field offices. In October 2005, the federal air marshals were transferred under Transportation Security Administration.
Federal Air Marshals Role Federal air marshals are not on every flight but they still assist in keeping flights safe from terrorist and potential harm.
Even though federal air marshals spend the majority of their time protecting airplanes in the sky, they do spend some time on the ground by working along with TSA officers to keep the screening lines safe since they are armed and TSA officers are not. Since the early 1960s when John F. Kennedy started the first group of air marshals, they have been on domestic and international flights. Air marshals ride in plain sight, wearing regular clothing as other passengers to blend in with the rest of the population. But, they do carry a weapon on board to diffuse any hostile actions that may occur on a flight. They are appropriately trained on how to spot these potentially dangerous situations and how to react appropriately by using the necessary use of force to keep passengers and citizens on the ground safe. Whenever possible, air marshals will ride in first class with the objective of keeping the flight crew informed and to protect the crew in any emergency situations. Being that federal air marshals are under the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), they spend some time inside airports observing for any suspicious activities. They may provide assistance to other TSA officers at security checkpoints while they carry their weapons in the event they detect terrorist activity and also deterrence. Air marshals job setting are not limited to aircrafts and airports. In 2009, the role of air marshals was expanded as they became part of a joint task force who are called the Visible Intermodal Protection and Response (VIPER). The viper teams usually consist of air marshals, local police officers, K-9s and transportation security inspectors. The viper teams will patrol mass transportation such as both local and passenger rail lines. Federal air marshal’s officials also offer advice to other agencies such as the FBI and CIA about homeland security
issues.
Federal Air Marshal Training Air marshals have to go through countless amount of training. Since there is a small amount of room on an aircraft, a bad shot by a air marshal could cause the plane to crash, so they must be very proficient in weapon qualification and hand to hand combat. Federal air marshals must go through a very difficult, two phase training course. The first stage consists of seven weeks of basic law enforcement training. The training is usually geared to the duties of the air marshals will do once they are in the field. The first phase is also where the air marshals candidates complete their basic firearm qualification, physical fitness, behavioral observation and various other law enforcement courses. During the second phase is where the air marshals candidates take courses on tactics and duties. They will also go through advance firearm training where they will be able to fire their weapons inside an airplane without hitting any innocent bystanders. Once they are completed with the two phase training course they are then assigned to one of the 21 field offices. At their field office they are tested every four months to remain proficient with their marksmanship skills. They also spend a day out of each week for training to refresh their skills and to continue learn how to spot out potentially dangerous activities and how to determine if certain situations are normal or a much more dangerous situation.