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| Air marshals look to lower their profile |
| 2004-06-01 |
| As they settled into first class on American Airlines Flight 1438 from Chicago to Miami, they were supposed to be the last line of defense against terrorists - two highly trained U.S. air marshals who would sit unnoticed among the ordinary travelers but spring into action at the first sign of trouble. Imagine their chagrin when a fellow passenger coming down the aisle suddenly boomed out, "Oh, I see we have air marshals on board!" The incident, detailed in an intelligence brief, is an example of something that happens all too often, marshals say. The element of surprise may be crucial to their mission, but it turns out they’re "as easy to identify as a uniformed police officer," the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association said in a complaint to Congress. The problem is not security leaks. It’s the clothes. In an era when "dressing down" is the traveler’s creed, air marshals must show up in jackets and ties, hair cut short, bodies buffed, shoes shined. Jack Webb would be proud, but the marshals say they stand out like shampooed show dogs among the pound pups. And the tipoff provided by their appearance is magnified by a set of boarding procedures that make them conspicuous.Since they’re armed, the marshals can’t go through the initial security screening with the rest of the passengers. Instead using the entry points set aside for airport employees, however, the marshals often must go through the "exit" lanes - marching against the flow of arriving passengers, at times in full view of travelers. "They lose the advantage" of being undercover, said John Amat, a spokesman for the marshals within the federal law officers group. Officials with the Federal Air Marshal Service, however, defended their sartorial standards. "Professional demeanor, attire and attitude gain respect," spokesman David M. Adams said. "If a guy pulls out a gun and he’s got a tattoo on his arm and (is wearing) shorts, I’m going to question whether he’s a law-enforcement officer." As for the boarding procedures, Adams said, the agency is working to address the problems. Air marshals "are not undercover like Serpico," he added, referring to the legendary New York City detective. "The director refers to them as `discreet.’" The air marshal service has grown from about 30 officers at the time of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to several thousand today, operating under a $600 million annual budget. With the expansion has come an infusion of federal law-enforcement culture. The director of the air marshals, Thomas D. Quinn, who took over in January 2002, spent 20 years with the Secret Service. "Secret Service people are notoriously known for being snappy dressers," said Capt. Steve Luckey, security chairman for the Air Line Pilots Association. And it was after Quinn took over, marshals said, that the strict rules on dress and grooming were instituted, including a ban on beards, long hair and jeans. But today’s airliner is a come-as-you-are environment. Even "if you go in first class, you see the whole gamut," Luckey said, from people in cut-off jeans to those in suit and tie. "I think you can go overboard with the professionalism. ... The mission dictates flexibility and some relaxed dress standards." Many marshals interviewed - who requested anonymity because they are not allowed to talk to the media - agree. What makes them uneasy is the prospect of being spotted by terrorists and disabled or killed before they can react. "This is what I foresee," said one marshal, a two-year veteran. "Two of us get on the plane and we’ve been under surveillance the whole time. There’s a minimum of four bad guys. ... My partner goes to the bathroom and they come after me with a sharp pen, stab me in the neck or in the brain and take my weapon," he continued. "When my partner comes out, they shoot him. Then they’ve got 80 rounds of ammunition and two weapons." Adams called such a scenario "highly unlikely." Yet a congressional General Accounting Office study of a two-year period from 2001 to 2003 found an average of about one case a week in which marshals reported their cover was blown. The passenger on American Flight 1438 told the marshals "he picked them out because of their attire and the fact that they were on board before the other passengers," an agency report on the Nov. 15, 2003, incident said. The report did not say whether the government took action against the man, although others who have outed air marshals have been prosecuted. One marshal with previous military and law-enforcement experience said that "a bad guy on a plane can quickly narrow the pool of potential marshals. They’re not wearing jeans, they’re not wearing cargo pants. ... There will not be an air marshal who is unshaven. You eliminate the unknown element." Additional clues to their identity can be gleaned by observing airport check-in and boarding, several marshals said. At the ticket counter, marshals must present an official leather credential case that is much bigger than a driver’s license and looks different than a passport. "You can stand 20 feet away from the ticket counter and see it," said the marshal with military experience. Ticket agents sometimes hold it up to the light to study the hologram on the picture, he added. After they get their tickets, marshals go to the boarding gate. At their home airports, they can use a special access card to bypass the security checkpoint. But at other airports, they must go through the passenger exit lane. "Everybody sees you standing there," one marshal said. "Everybody sees you show your ID. They see you are being escorted through an exit lane, bypassing security." At the boarding gate, the marshals must again show their credentials to the airline agent. Then, because marshals have to brief flight crews in person, at least one team member has to board before the other passengers. That often takes place in full view. "You see physically fit men in their mid-30s getting on an airplane early, and you know they’re not doing that because they need more time to get down the jet way," said Patricia Friend, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. In the meantime, some air marshals have found ways to adapt. The marshal with military experience said he deliberately acts as the more visible member of his team. He walks down the jet way before the passengers. If someone stares at him, he stares back. By becoming the focus of attention, he figures he’s helping protect his partner’s anonymity. "If they come after me first, he might be able to save my bacon," the marshal. "At least one guy may be able to do something to defend the aircraft." |
| Posted by:Phil B |
| #16 Actually, the solution is pretty easy: relax the dress code. Polo shirt, workout shoes (tacticals), dockers trousers, ball cap, and a tweed or light weave sport coat. Carry a laptop bag for stowing under the seat in front of you (and keep the hardware there). Comfy, operable, and doesnt stand out - about as generic as you are going to get. As for the gates - there is no reason for them to go thru security. They should be coming in the entrances to the airport used by employees and their badges and credentials checked there. They come in by way of the cargo spaces, and enter from one of the "pilot lounge" restricted areas. Thats also how they leave when they get off the plane. As for boarding, have them board when the "1K" or platinum club flyers board. pretty simple. Too bad we are dealing with govt b-crats more concerned with appearance than function. As for being mistaken or makred out as an op - well, you got me there. I never really thought about that since I got out of that end of the business. But years of posture, standing a certain way and in certain locations especialy aroudn windows and doors, keeping SA, good angles, etc... well I guess I am probably painting myself pretty well. Since I've lost my extra "quit smoking" (and desk-jockey) weight and been in the weight room and on the track (and doing oblique and straight v-ups, dive-bombers and hindu squats), I've been pegged as "military" (I was once upon a time) and been asked if I was an AM. I was pretty proud in that I was thinking it was my regained phsyique, But looking at it realistically, it must be the high and tight, and a grey suit with a plain white shirt and dark tie. Never considered it before - when I was "working" I wore my hair pretty long at times, but now that I am not "working", I keep it short. Good points. Maybe I'll grow a moustache and dress a little messier next time I fly. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-06-01 10:27:36 PM |
| #15 Get Dennis Hopper in there, he'll take care of the problem. "Are you lookin' at me?... ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT ME??!" |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-06-01 5:55:41 PM |
| #14 About 6-8 mos. after 911, I was standing in Orlando Airport waving goodbye to my in-laws (no comments,please) as they weaved their way through the switchback system they were using when all of sudden came a group of lean, mean, tanned, close cropped hair types in dark business suits. Now, at first I thought they were secret service since I have seen them collect at BWI in transit (same motif)but they turned out to be AMs. How do I know because that is how THEY introduced themselves to the security people in front of at least 200 passengers in the weaving line!!! They were late (traffic situation) and had to make their flights (there were 4 of them), they showed their ordanance, IDs and asked for a golf cart to take them to the plane. All of this was fine by me - I prefer letting everyone know, even the potential terrorist in the crowd, that this flight is protected. Of course, it puts the AMs in a pretty vulnerable position having their cover blown but how nuts would you have to be (or how smart would you have to be) to still go ahead with whatever plan you may have? Do you speed up when you see a police car sitting on the shoulder knowing it can't outrun you? Or do you slow down and become a good boy? |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2004-06-01 2:53:29 PM |
| #13 Tu - no, you do *not* want the drunken assholes sitting behind you to have weapons or even a fork. And as I recall there are somethings on an airliner which 'do not react well to bullets.' |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-06-01 12:12:40 PM |
| #12 I telling you, Archie Bunker had it right. Give everybody on the plane a gun. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-06-01 10:36:25 AM |
| #11 How 'bout we just let them wear the uniform of the airline they're flying? "Nothing to see here, just a pilot and a flight attendant dead-heading back to the home hub..." Or: jeans, t-shirt, ballcap, gym shoes. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-06-01 10:23:36 AM |
| #10 DanM, Deacon Blues, the feds tend to react extremely negatively to the idea that the populace is capable of defending itself. We require federals to defend us...you must understand we're not qualified to protect ourselves. We haven't the proper certifications, nor have we passed the confidence course at Quantico. Why, if the idea got around that the American public didn't need the feds, what kind of negotiating position would they have come next fiscal year's budget? |
| Posted by: gromky 2004-06-01 9:57:27 AM |
| #9 I sympathize with their dilemma. My own physique and appearance often attracts much attention whenever I fly. I have the tight shave and a similar haircut to your average Marine. In fact, before a flight overseas I now let my hair grow out and do not shave the morning of the flight. It is unnerving for people to ask what branch of the military I serve in (especially since I have never served in any such capacity). The Air Marshals do stand out. I can often narrow down who they are as well (though I would never be an ass-munch and say something). Even some operators stand out in the airport. Note to special operators flying commercial airlines to and from your theater of operations: Lose the Rolex and tactical watches. |
| Posted by: Dragon Fly 2004-06-01 9:05:10 AM |
| #8 I think the air marshall ought to be openly carrying a street-sweeper loaded with slugs |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-01 8:02:48 AM |
| #7 How about everyone on the plane gets a stun gun, ala the Simpson's family therapy clinic episode? It will cut down on the dude next to you hogging the arm rest. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-06-01 7:31:47 AM |
| #6 How about letting me carry my 45? If the U. S. Army says I'm competant enough to carry one why not the TSA? |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2004-06-01 7:27:07 AM |
| #5 How about just arming the air crews and let them protect the aircraft and passengers? Dismantle the TSA road blocks and let the people in the crosshairs defend themselves. |
| Posted by: DanM 2004-06-01 6:07:27 AM |
| #4 How about making the undercover officers ACTUALLY UNDERCOVER? I think that works better than arresting otherwise law-abiding citizens. Remember, the terrorists are the bad guys who need to go to jail, not us. |
| Posted by: gromky 2004-06-01 3:47:53 AM |
| #3 There are rules, which are enforced, against joking about bombs on airliners. There ought to be similar rules against commenting aloud about the presence of air marshals. Works for me. If I'm flying with them, I want their cover to be intact. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-06-01 2:55:59 AM |
| #2 There are rules, which are enforced, against joking about bombs on airliners. There ought to be similar rules against commenting aloud about the presence of air marshals. |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-06-01 2:35:20 AM |
| #1 Forgive me for stating the obvious, but isn't it possible for these guys to check their weapons with a screened staff member who will transport the firearms undercover into the aircraft and reunite them with their proper owners once they've undergone regular boarding procedures? I know, too logical. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-06-01 1:48:21 AM |