Posted on Jun 1, 2015
Were you aware of TSA's 95% failure rate to detect concealed weapons? What needs to be done to correct this problem?
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TSA chief out is after screeners fail 95 percent of tests 3:26
The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration was reassigned Monday after an internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security found security failures at dozens of the nation's busiest airports. The breaches allowed undercover investigators to smuggle weapons, fake explosives and other contraband through numerous checkpoints.
Melvin Carraway, an 11-year veteran of the TSA who became acting administrator in January, was immediately reassigned to a DHS program coordinating with local law enforcement agencies, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday night. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Pete Neffenger's nomination to be permanent administrator is awaiting Senate confirmation.
Upon learning the initial findings of the Office of Inspector General's report, Johnson immediately directed TSA to implement a series of other actions, several of which are now in place, agency officials said.
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TSA chief out is after screeners fail 95 percent of tests 3:26
The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration was reassigned Monday after an internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security found security failures at dozens of the nation's busiest airports. The breaches allowed undercover investigators to smuggle weapons, fake explosives and other contraband through numerous checkpoints.
Melvin Carraway, an 11-year veteran of the TSA who became acting administrator in January, was immediately reassigned to a DHS program coordinating with local law enforcement agencies, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday night. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Pete Neffenger's nomination to be permanent administrator is awaiting Senate confirmation.
Upon learning the initial findings of the Office of Inspector General's report, Johnson immediately directed TSA to implement a series of other actions, several of which are now in place, agency officials said.
Image: Acting TSA Administrator Melvin Carraway
Acting TSA Administrator Melvin Carraway discusses an attack by a man with a machete at the New Orleans airport in March as other law enforcement officials look on.Reuters
In one case, an alarm sounded, but even during a pat-down, the screening officer failed to detect a fake plastic explosive taped to an undercover agent's back. In all, so-called "Red Teams" of Homeland Security agents posing as passengers were able get weapons past TSA agents in 67 out of 70 tests — a 95 percent failure rate, according to agency officials.
"The numbers in these reports never look good out of context, but they are a critical element in the continual evolution of our aviation security," Homeland Security officials said in a statement.
Read More: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/investigation-breaches-us-airports-allowed-weapons-through-n367851
TSA chief out is after screeners fail 95 percent of tests 3:26
The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration was reassigned Monday after an internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security found security failures at dozens of the nation's busiest airports. The breaches allowed undercover investigators to smuggle weapons, fake explosives and other contraband through numerous checkpoints.
Melvin Carraway, an 11-year veteran of the TSA who became acting administrator in January, was immediately reassigned to a DHS program coordinating with local law enforcement agencies, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday night. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Pete Neffenger's nomination to be permanent administrator is awaiting Senate confirmation.
Upon learning the initial findings of the Office of Inspector General's report, Johnson immediately directed TSA to implement a series of other actions, several of which are now in place, agency officials said.
Facebook Twitter Google PlusEmbed
TSA chief out is after screeners fail 95 percent of tests 3:26
The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration was reassigned Monday after an internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security found security failures at dozens of the nation's busiest airports. The breaches allowed undercover investigators to smuggle weapons, fake explosives and other contraband through numerous checkpoints.
Melvin Carraway, an 11-year veteran of the TSA who became acting administrator in January, was immediately reassigned to a DHS program coordinating with local law enforcement agencies, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday night. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Pete Neffenger's nomination to be permanent administrator is awaiting Senate confirmation.
Upon learning the initial findings of the Office of Inspector General's report, Johnson immediately directed TSA to implement a series of other actions, several of which are now in place, agency officials said.
Image: Acting TSA Administrator Melvin Carraway
Acting TSA Administrator Melvin Carraway discusses an attack by a man with a machete at the New Orleans airport in March as other law enforcement officials look on.Reuters
In one case, an alarm sounded, but even during a pat-down, the screening officer failed to detect a fake plastic explosive taped to an undercover agent's back. In all, so-called "Red Teams" of Homeland Security agents posing as passengers were able get weapons past TSA agents in 67 out of 70 tests — a 95 percent failure rate, according to agency officials.
"The numbers in these reports never look good out of context, but they are a critical element in the continual evolution of our aviation security," Homeland Security officials said in a statement.
Read More: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/investigation-breaches-us-airports-allowed-weapons-through-n367851
Security
Leadership
US Department of Homeland Security
Homeland Security
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
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1LT Kathleen Heisler
It depends on the size of the airport. We had to take training yearly on detecting things that were on the x-Ray screen. Trust me people cram enough stuff in their carry on. If the screener was unsure of an item in the bag they stopped the x-Ray belt and call another screener to do a full search of the bag. You can get all the new equipment but if the operator still has to know how to run it and to know what to look for. As for hiring a private company to run the check points, they were doing it before TSA came and took it over.
On how to fix the problem, yes there are some employees some of them should not be there maybe change the hiring practices and pre-testing to hire. I really don't an answer for you
On how to fix the problem, yes there are some employees some of them should not be there maybe change the hiring practices and pre-testing to hire. I really don't an answer for you
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Sounds to me like better training is the first order of business. Perhaps pat-down/search tecniques taught by civilian/military/federal law enforcement.
Another thing, HIRE MORE VETERANS. Preferably veterans with specific experience. MP experience or infantry types who have deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan and have road block, vehicle, and personnel search experience.
Lastly, and this may not work for all TSA workers, but perhaps for supervisors who are at security check points, consider arming TSA agents after they have been through the proper training.
Another thing, HIRE MORE VETERANS. Preferably veterans with specific experience. MP experience or infantry types who have deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan and have road block, vehicle, and personnel search experience.
Lastly, and this may not work for all TSA workers, but perhaps for supervisors who are at security check points, consider arming TSA agents after they have been through the proper training.
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SPC (Join to see)
lulz, I think your down-vote was for arming the TSA. I think they need to earn the ability to use deadly force when they can show that the organization is at-least mildly effective at doing ANYTHING.
Please, hire vets. Maybe I should look into the TSA.
Please, hire vets. Maybe I should look into the TSA.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Love it, except for the arming them. Most of them are incompetent and pay no attention to their surroundings. Even if properly trained to use the firearm themselves, it wont take them long to get complacent and be vulnerable to being disarmed. I would be fine giving them a taser or some pepper spray though.
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PO1 John Miller
1LT Kathleen Heisler, would you care to explain the down-vote? You've got the courage to press that little button but not the courage to explain yourself? If you want respect you have to stand behind your reasoning and explain yourself before you get called out, kind of like I am doing right now.
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considering that they tend to hire the "lowest common denominator" for their gates, I am not surprised. I attempted to get on w/ TSA as a TSO, however, was told that it would only be part time, at a rate of about 19 hrs/wk. There is no way I could accept that job.
How do they expect to attract trained security personnel at that rate?
How do they expect to attract trained security personnel at that rate?
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SSgt (Join to see)
That part-time thing was TSA wide. Initially, all of the screener positions are part-time. On top of that, a lot of their training was pencil-whipped.
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