Transportation Security - Personal Statement Example

Transport security Transport security is a very crucial factor in the life of people. Through this, citizens of a certain country can travel guaranteed of reaching their destinies in good condition. The main threat in the transportation sector more do in United States of America is the terrorism. Over the past decade, terrorist have shown that they dont attack public places only, but they can attack the transport system too. It is where they hijack planes and end up miss-directing the pilots to the unexpected destinies just with the aim of torturing innocent people. One of the most lethal attacks that Americans will never forget is the terrorist attack that occurred on the morning of September 11th, 2001. An airliner was traveling at hundreds of mile per hour plowed into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in lower Manhattan. At about 9:03 am in the same morning; a second airliner hit the South Tower. It leads to the collapse of the twin towers 90 minutes later where more than 50000 people worked a day. 33 minutes later, a third airline crashed into the western face of the Pentagon. At 10:03 am that same morning, a fourth airliner crashed in a field in southern Pennsylvania. These strikes aiming at the United States Capital or the White House brought about tension to people and over 2600 people died at the World Trade Center, 256 people died on the four planes and 125 died at the Pentagon. 19 Arabs who acted as the Behest of Islamist extremists located in Afghanistan inflicted all this pain in the hearts of Americans. The tragedy on the other hand also brought the thought of something new, "The transformation of a new nation." Establishment of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to respond to the September 11th attacks is the body in charge of ensuring national and aviation security for the nation. This step was very crucial with the aim of preventing a similar incident occurring again. The body is guidance by their mission that is to civil aviation areas and developing recommendations for the improvement of security methods, procedures, and equipment. One of the TSA remedies was the introduction of the secure flight program. This program enhances the safety of both domestic and international commercial air travel by the use of advanced watch listing matching. The body introduced the idea of collecting passenger details. This step is of great advantage since it increases the passengers travel experience including all those who previously misidentified. All this helps the travel crew in knowing the identity of each passenger. This step is of a positive effect on the transport security. When passengers are traveling, its a requirement for them to provide the "Secure Flight passenger data.” It has to include the name of the passenger (as it appears on the ID), gender, date of birth, Redress number and a Known Traveler Number. The airline crew submits this to the secure flight where watch list matching performance takes place. The operation prevents individuals on the no-fly list from boarding an aircraft. It also identifies individuals on the list for enhanced screening. After matching information to the government lists, forwarding the matching results takes place so that the boarding passes issuing by the airline can take place. The programs goals towards the transport security of the nation are of significant positive effect. Preventing individuals on the No flight list from boarding the planes helps in preventing "unwanted" people from traveling in both domestic and international flights thus reduce any sad incidents. The program also minimizes misidentification of individuals as threats to aviation security. Another critical goal is to identify the high-risk passengers and thus take the appropriate actions. By that, the transport security of the country increases on a high level. Protecting the passengers personal information from any disclosure, and unauthorized use also plays a great role in improving the transport security of the country. The 9/11 Commission report suggested, that TSA should conduct watch list matching and the intelligence reform and terrorism prevention act of 2004 approved this recommendation to a law. It requires TSA implemented the program to meet this mandate. TSA also came up with the Hazardous Material endorsement threat program. This program conducts a threat assessment test to any driver whos seeking to obtain or transfer any hazardous materials on a state commercial drivers license. This program put in place to meet the specifications of the USA PATRIOT ACT that is; regulating the states from issuing any licenses to transport hazardous materials in determination, unless an assessment has been made that the driver doesnt pose any security risk. It also requires the risk assessment including checking criminal records, international databases, and legal status. Therefore, if any driver wills to obtain or renew an HME one must apply for a security threat assessment. To get this license, one must b a U.S Citizen and a lawful permanent resident, asylee, a citizen by naturalization or a refugee who is in legal status and unrestricted documentation showing qualification for employment. All these measures are of significant positive effects and helps in preventing drivers or individuals from transporting materials that may cause damages to the citizens. To carry some of these material one needs a lot of experience and caution, and this is what TSA is implementing in the minds of the people. Through this, the security in the transportation system will increase and thus minimize all the accidents in the nation. Another means of reducing tragedies in the transportation system is the use of transportation worker identification credential. TSC implemented this as a security measure that ensures no individuals who pose an enormous threat get unescorted access to the secure areas of the nations transportation system. These people may include terrorist, suspected individuals in the country and those persons with a severe criminal record. Escorting these people helps in limiting their movements and actions that may be a disaster to the public. Through this order, the security in the transportation system will increase positively. Another step in securing Americas transportation system is by sharing the sensitive information safely. It is the information that if revealed to the public, it would pose a threat to the transportation security. TSA chose to balance the information sharing by keeping the programs transparent to the public and protecting that information that may endanger lives of the Americans. This information may include when and where the government officials are traveling to either within or outside the country. Limiting this information to the public helps reduce the chance of enemies plotting attacks. In most cases, the government officials travel to meet the public and if any attack planned on them succeeds, the public suffers. After the September 11th saga, the need to conduct a screening exercise rose. It is where an evaluation tests as a method of survey to access suitability for a certain purpose. In the year 2007, Congress approved implementing recommendations of the 9/11 commission act. The law mandates that all cargo in transport by the passenger plane to undergo screening for explosives. TSA continues to emphasize businesses to examine their shipping of cargos on passenger aircraft. TSA will incorporate unpredicted security measure throughout the airports and ensure that no individual has the guarantee of expedited part of this activity in order to retain an element of randomness and thus prevent the terrorist from gaming and hijacking the system. Currently over 20 airport have been awarded the contact and are participating in the program. The directors may also submit their application of the screening partnership program (SPP) to TSA at any given time. The private contract companies must meet the TSA security standards while contract screeners must meet the (ATSA) act requirements applicable to federally screeners. If the pilots prove the system successful, the changes could allow the screening officers to focus their activity on other passengers with higher chances of posing the risk to the transportation. The Act specifically authorizes the type of screening ranging from physical to various technologies inspection. The process may cause delays and shipments damages as well as cargo on the passengers plane. This should not be in approach from a negative point of view since the process will be of citizens benefit. TSA is still working with the companies in examining all their cargo. The organization assists people in accessing the possible impact in their supply chain both from the suppliers and to their customers. TSA continues to implement and analyze the best methods to security and additional changes to the screening process may be made in the future (Bichou, 2014). From the 9/11 Commission report, long-term success requires the use of all elements of nation power; covert action, economic policy, public diplomacy, law enforcement and intelligence. The quantitative members will not defeat the enemy (terrorism) in our transportation system; the objectives must be good enough so that the citizens can determine whether these goals are achievable. The Commission emphasizes the issue of public diplomacy. Defeating terrorists not only basing on war tactics, but it encompasses a nation strategic effort and includes all elements of power. Citizens need to realize that the negative opinion about U.S directly relate on how countries in the Middle East will respond to the war on terrorism (Bichou, 2014). The nations greatest transportation system enemy is terrorism. Again, to a nation like the USA, which is both a developed and developing country, the issue can bring down the nation. Remembering how we felt on the 9/11, we need to come together as a nation. No agency can solve the problems alone and build the work of transport security it requires an effort. The aim of solving legal issues that can help officials what they can and what they cannot. America needs unity of effort to achievement. References National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Exec.htm Transportation Security Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tsa.gov/ Homeland Security. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/ Bichou, K., & Szyliowicz, J. (2014). Maritime Transport Security Issues, Challenges and National Policies. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Transport Security Manual. (2011). Neenah: J.J. Keller & Associates Read More