It was a very good news segment. It does not make my job any safer but I am glad this FAM let it out. The way the agency is run is not only a danger to myself but also to the flying public. It happens to me almost everyday that a passenger sitting next to me will lean over and thank me for the job I am doing. It seems like everyone in the airport knows who I am.
I hate that I have to follow the rules that the management has written such as the so called dress policy. I was told that there was no dress policy but then I was told that I could not wear the following: (I will not say it here)
I would not be surprised if a "Bad guy" killed a team of FAMS and took over the plane due to the rules that us flying FAMS have to follow.
I wonder what will become of the FAM who was on the news. I hope they do not fire him but us current FAMS no that his days are probably numbered even though we are now permitted to talk to the press.

Is there ANY federal agency working properly under the Bush regime? He is so busy patting himself on the back, saying "mission accomplished" and bragging about being the "war president" that he apparently has no time to do anything actually useful to make sure his appointees can do their jobs. Apparently none of them can. Let's just get this all out on the table: Federal employees...all of you.....survey your work environment and speak up if there are dangers lurking in your agency due to inept leadership. Let's just get it all out there and deal with it. There is one amazing story after another here lately so it is HIGHLY likely there are a lot of other problems. Let's find out.

Amen! Our current politicians all come across as inept. They create more problems than they solve and look down on their constituents.

I am glad to see that someone is still fighting this fight. I applaude you. Most of us FAMs, myself included, are running scared because we know how horrible life can be when your employer decides to go after you. Because you haven't done anything wrong, they can find or invent things that are miniscule and vindictive. We ALL know that the policies that FAMS has instituted are purely political and have no positive effect on our ability to complete our mission successfully. Many were made for vanity and some from ignorance. I wake up every morning wanting to "do the right thing" and I report to work and sheepishly concede to my fear of unemployment, harrassment, and possible prosecution for petty violations of "dress code" or "procedure". Instead of doing the right thing, I do what keeps me employed. I know that if something bad happens, I can blame policy ... If I'm still alive.

I agree with how the FAM's feel in this and any situations where non-disclosure and secrecy to their position has to be upheld at any cause, especially in our times. However, even though the top man, which in this case is President Bush, is where the finger may be pointed, he is not at fault. Just go back, look at how things operated when there was never an over analyzing of priorities. IF these men are active in the field, then by all means, make their improvements and requests one of the top items on the agenda. The lives we save may be our own.

Is there ANY federal agency working properly under ANY "regime"???

I have a question for you guys. (FAMs) Is there something that a civilian activist can do to support you and help you fix this? I totally get why you don't want to list your names, but that is terrible. Of COURSE you want to hold onto your job! But I believe that any work environment in which employees cannot speak their minds, especially to improve effectiveness and safety, is doing it ALL wrong. Intimidating employees to accept any inept practice management cooks up is counterproductive. I, for one, am totally fearless and have some time on my hands at the moment. I spend most of my day on activities calling for change in a variety of areas of our government and would be more than happy to help with your cause if I can. Any ideas?

Congratutations to Spencer Picard for standing up and speaking the truth.

I too am an active flying FAM. I came to this agency post 9/11 with a sense of patriotism and desire to never allow somthing like this to ever happen again.

We were originally hired to be CounterTerrorist Agents, that's why the FAM Service was only hiring SWAT, Military Special Forces and other specialy trained law enforcement personell. When we arrived at training we were told that this service was on the leading edge to fight terrorism and that our training would be high speed, low drag. This was to be the hallmark federal agency and be especially family friendly. All this was quickly watered down when the agency decided that it needed numbers more than talent. Please don't misunderstand me, this agency has the most diversified talent base of any federal agency but none of the talent is being put to use and we are losing the best talent due to our current situation. We were promised a very appealing work week, transfers, 1811 (Criminal Investigator) status, international missions and so much training that you would puke. None of this has happened yet and according to Transportation Director Kip Hawley none of it will and that the FAMS will take a back seat to the TSA Screening Force.

There is no outside training unless one of the good old boy supervisors can get one of his buddies to conduct the training and it usually comes under the banner of USSS or FBI. We do not train or conduct any activities with local police or govt. law enforcement agencies. Any law enforcement skills that we had prior to coming to this agency have beeen lost or terribly deteriorated.

We can't blame everything on the Secret Service goons since many supervisors are Ex-FBI, DEA and ATF. They all know that what they are doing in regard to our boarding, flight schedules, lack of overtime, time away from family, health issues, training and lack of a career path is wrong and in some instances illegal. The air carriers have to take some responsibility as well since they are the ones who refuse to board us outside of public view because of thier union problems and lack of manpower. I have as much trouble with the air carrier gate agents blowing my cover during boarding as I do with the inane FAMS Boarding Policy.

Then there's the FBI who does not want to relenquish authority to the FAM Service in the airport environment. Who better to run criminal investigations and prosecution than the people who work there daily?

There is no communication between management and the employees. I find out more about what is going on within the agency and intelligence matters from reading USA Today. The ENTIRE management needs to be replaced and investigated. There need to be leaders put into place not simple managers and protectors of the good old boy network. There needs to be clear vision of our mission, training and career opportunities.

FAMS should be empowered to be able to do the job that they have been trained to do without interference from management, FBI or the private air carriers.

The Federal Air Marshal Serivce is a sinking ship with no lifeboats. The only way to save it is to FIRE all the former Sercret Service "good ole boys" now while there is still a chance.

I thought the show was very informative, but I am very disappointed that 20/20 gave out so much information. You just gave the terrorists all the information they needed to identify the Air Marshalls. You might as well just hang a sign on them now, I am a an Air Marshall! Thanks 20/20 for making us more at risk!!!!

As a very frequent flyer, it is extremely easy to pick out a sky marshall. Two weeks ago, I was seated next to one. How did I know? He introduced himself to me!

Whom ever fires FAM Spencer Pickard should be fired, too.
Is there anything that general puplic can do to help?

Spencer Pickard is a hero to me. It took a lot of courage to do what he did. I applauded him!!! We need more Spencer Pickard to make this world we live in a safer place.

This topic is dead on. As a former flight attendant, you could put me in any airport in the country, and I could point out the air marshalls. If you are going to support this progam, please give your support to do it anonymously. This Air Marshall is absolutely correct. They have to show credentials to agents prior to boarding, allowed to board early--both of which blow their cover to anyone who is showing any interest. Shame on our government for supporting a program with a half-hearted effort. These individuals put their lives on the line and deserve full support from their superiors. The dress code, along with all of the other obvious abuses will only allow future attacks, and further loss of lives when this program feels it protects against the very same. Kudos to this gentleman for speaking out.

It's about time!!!!!! Regardless if you get fired or not, Spencer, you have more integrity and honor than ANY manager in this backwards agency. I applaud you.

I agree with you lori!! Spencer Pickard should not be fired!!! If the US Marshall is smart then they will keep him instead. I hope that there is something the general public can do to help Mr. Pickard!

As a former flight attendant at the time of 9/11 and a resident of New York City, I applaud Spencer for his courage. Myself and many of my colleagues saw and continue to see the weaknesses in our airline security. Airlines, along with many large corporations that play a large part in our economy tend to be retroactive in their policies, demonstrated not only by the policies of the Federal Air Marshal program, but in the way the NTSB operates as well. We have learned this lesson before as we first encountered "guerilla" combat in our US military history. What we face now cannot be defeated by our slow-to-address bureaucratic formalities, but rather a creative, stealth approach that gives our dedicated, capable air marshals the opportunity to protect themselves as well as the rest of our travelling public. Cheers to Spencer for speaking out on something many of us have been thus far unable to change. Let us not fall prey to those who don't follow any rules because of such rules we have created out of economic efficiency. It's inexcusable.

Great report. I have to say I went thru the EXACT same thing in 2002. I was an Air Marshal and was forced to leave for voicing the same very points. Sad to say I was forced to leave a job that I loved just to see that things get corrected for our safety. I would like to speak to Mr. Pickard. NO he should not be fired or forced to leave as I was.

Thank you, Mr. Pickard for pointing out the flaws in the Air Marshall program.
I am a flight attendant for a major U.S. airline and encounter your colleagues on a weekly basis.
I tell them every time what a joke their "covert" operation is; all they do is shrug and agree. We all know that until there is another incident, nothing will be done to improve things.

I have been flying almost every week since May 1998. I was on a flight on 911 and held at DEN for days.
I, as well as most honest citizens see this segment for what it is. A slap at President Bush and his administration as all the liberal press has been doing since President Bush was elected.
I worked for a major airline for 34 years and after retirement worked for a air line contractor. I am extremely familiar with air marshals and procedures as well as aircraft boarding procedures. While traveling by air I never noticed marshals and I never witnessed any other passengers identifying or even mentioning air marshals.
Air travelers want the security that the air marshal program brings but that was shot all to hell by your lousy report exposing details of that program.
I am incensed by your stupidity in trying to descredit the President and his administration.
I intend to never watch you stupid network again. You have jepordized the safety of air travel in the United States by your selfserving interests at getting back at the President.
Shame on you.............I hope NBC goes broke........there are many viewers that do not appreciate you lack of interest in keeping air travel safe to further your petty attempt to "Get Bush".