It's easy....

The result of the dumbing down of America and no one cares to fix it. It goes on and on. I don't get it.

Being a former TSA Officer I challenge everyone to step into the shoes of a TSA Officer and view those images. I'll bet eveen the best of you WILL FAIL!!! The TIPS images are a training tool developed to assist the officer in identifiying images to make them more proficient not to be perfect. The media is so quick to put blame on someboby, why don't you try praising the TSA Officers for a change. If it is so easy why don't YOU apply and see how easy it really is! I started with the agency from the begining and I will tell you this, not even the Federal Security Directors, the senior leadership of TSA nor the contractors who developed the system can get all the images, matter of fact they fail more than not. The one those TSA Officers do not need is the media always ragging them on the job they are doing. Why don't you, the media, pick on someone like let's say the oil companies for price gouging!

When I worked for the airlines I was asked to verify my work history because their paid professionals could not verify my employment with companies clearly listed in the local phone book. Wasn't making all the previously questionable airport security personnel Government and Union employees supposed to improve their skills or was it just to make them harder to fire when they gaffed? I did emergency response work for over five years. When we messed up, people died. Airport security should be a field with only the best, when they mess up the potential is far greater than any threat we ever faced. Then again, I guess we are not supposed to hold people accountable, just as long as they can feel good about themselves knowing they did their best huh?

Hey ABC, that'd be "improved their ability" as opposed to "there".

Here's a good one for you: My husband, a retired Chicago police officer with a college degree, failed the screener test; I went and took it the next week (32 years as a legal secretary, college degree); had an e-mail before I got home saying I had failed. TSA will not tell you why or what you failed; only that you failed. They claim they base their decisions on "physical ability, related work experience and work ethic" -- uh, duh, I think both of us would have met all of those requirements had we been given a chance. They're looking for Stepford-like, do-what-you're told and don't question anything robots. Your government at work, baby.

As someone who flies 1-2 times a week out of ORD, I find it amusing to watch the TSA officers in action. Really now, who would want to do that thankless job everyday to put up with moronic (not all) traveling public. It's all a big facade. It's virtually impossible to stop a determined individual. Why just yesterday I walked through Logan security with my my toothpaste and shaving cream without incident. No wonder Atta and his buddies chose Logan.

TSA screening is just for show with side benefits of bureacracy building and desensitising the American Public to being handled like cattle. First toenail clippers are prohibited, then they aren't. (Toenail clippers end up on Ebay sold in bulk). Any determined terrorist could penetrate TSA with ease. It's just to reassure the public that the Gov "cares" and is "taking action." They fail every test.
Please don't show me bull by-product and try to convince me that it's Shinola.

I'm afraid its much worse than anyone could imagine.

These same baggage screeners are being allowed to apply to be Air Marshals.

Since the Air Marshal program has had a difficult time with both retention and recruiting of experienced law enforcement officers.

Baggage screeners are now known as TSO's (transportation security officers)
This is the TSA's way of fooling the public and Congress that actual law enforcement officers are being attracted to the grossly mismanaged Air Marshal program.

If they can make it through the same training as the original Air Marshals , more power to them.

However, why do I get the feeling that there will be a lower bar to meet?

Personnally, I would rather see an experienced REAL law enforcement officer on my plane in the event of a REAL incident.

Happy flying

Finding fake images on an x-ray monitor is a minor problem for TSA. Recently, at the airport in Tallahassee FL., TSA screeners missed a full size, loaded pistol that was in a woman’s purse. Not only did the x-ray operator miss the gun, a TSA officer during a subsequent hand search of the purse also missed the gun. The woman and gun boarded the aircraft and flew to her destination unchallenged. Luckily for TSA, the woman was a police officer who just forgot to remove her weapon from her purse and not a terrorist.

TSA’s management at Tallahassee reaction to this terrorists dream, “Oh well, no harm done.”

Anonnymous you are wrong. To be an Air Marshall, you must have law enforcement training. To the rest who feel TSO's are a pain to you remember; They are serving this country to protect you at the risk of their own lives and saftey. Thank them for their service instead of complaining about the inconvience you have to endure while they try to make your flight a safe one.

After ten years working along with INS and U.S. Custom Service in the Federal Inspection Area, a high security area at LAX I flunked the job as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) (Screener). Not because I am not qualified for it but because a few candidates knew beforehand what to quick click in the multiple choices test. Now one of them has my job and I am in the blanck.

Personally,after attending the program and failing the bomb x-ray test,I don`t feel as bad as I did.The job is one that puts alot of strain on the individual;people in a hurry to make their flight,impatient that they must be searched(for their protection)by a person trying to make a wage.
How about changing the way we travel.No carry-on luggage allowed on the airplane.Passive screening as someone enters the airport.The way the process works now is reminisent of waiting in the chow line in the military.Stand in line to prove you are who you are so you can eat.
What really surprises me is that the technology is slow to come due to the 2 year wait for testing to approve a new idea needed now.If ideas were allowed to be tried out now we could improve the system and better affect the people who are doing a really difficult job.3D imaging would allow the screener greater ability to detect the hazards present in the baggage.Get rid of the TIPS imaging as it is designed to get harder to detect the threat images the more images that are given.Nice to keep the screener alert but to be fooled around with while having the threats of a real nature possible seems to create unneeded anxiety for the operator.Providing security to the screeners would be something to focus on to start with.Might have a positive effect on their morale.

I am a mom of three and I have passed all the tests to become a tso and i am proud to work for country and all the people that are complaining just arent smart enough to get through that 2 1/2 hour test that only took me an hour.

first of all, let me start off my saying that am a proud TSO. individuals talk and they don't think. first of all passengers should realize that TSO are really nice and professional. passengers come in with attitudes and ruin our day with them, we are there to help you guys and not vice versa. we dont get on that plane with the passengers, when are here to make your flight more safer and a ease of mind. we love our passengers and we hope they love us too. thank you.

I think the test is way too hard as many people have already said and that is keeping many qualified americans from the jobs market in a faling almost recession like economy. Can the government be a little smarter?

Pass a Federal Civil Aviation Security Screener Aptitude test. The test will measure:

o Aptitude necessary to conduct screening;

o Ability to deal effectively with the public; and

o English proficiency.