The Transportation Security Administration, which is part of the federal government, oversees the air marshal program in the United States. A marshal’s primary responsibility is to prevent crimes onboard an aircraft, such as terrorism, and to keep passengers and crew safe. Other countries have similar programs to the United States.
The Air Marshal program in the United States began in 1968. Initially, sky marshals were used to refer to marshals. The program evolved over time, but after the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, it was significantly expanded. More money was set aside to hire, train, and employ more air marshals to fly undercover on international and domestic flights.
Many applicants to the air marshal program have a law enforcement background, though it is not required. Physical and psychological screenings, as well as a criminal background check, are all required of potential employees. All air marshals must be citizens of the United States and under the age of 37 at the time of hire.
Classroom work, marksmanship training, and hand-to-hand combat classes are all part of the training to become an air marshal. Marshals must go through two seven-week training sessions. Classes in criminal behavior observation, international terrorism, and laws affecting marshals make up the first segment.
Marshals must become extremely proficient marksmen after completing their classroom work. They also train on retired planes and practice scenarios they might face on the job. An air marshal is assigned to a field office in one of twenty-one locations across the United States after completing the training. Marshals may also be assigned to one of the Joint Terrorism Task Force Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.
Not all information about the air marshal program is made public for national security reasons. Marshals may be placed undercover on random flights as well as flights considered to be at risk of terrorist activity, according to what is known. Because it is impossible to predict which flight a marshal will be on, they may serve as a deterrent to criminal behavior.
Before a marshal leaves the ground, the work begins. A marshal’s job entails watching passengers at the airport. They continue to monitor passengers onboard the plane throughout the flight and, if necessary, intervene in criminal activity.
The job of an air marshal can be thrilling, but it is not for everyone. Air marshals, unlike other law enforcement officers, usually work alone. They only have themselves to rely on because they don’t have an immediate backup officer. Marshals must exercise sound judgment and remain vigilant at all times. They must make split-second decisions that could affect the lives of dozens of passengers on a flight.