Posted on 07/15/2004 1:34:41 PM PDT by Archangelsk
WASHINGTON, July 15 — Beards are out. So are jeans and athletic shoes. Suit coats are in, even on the steamiest summer days.
That dress code, imposed by the Department of Homeland Security, makes federal air marshals uneasy — and not just because casual clothes are more comfortable in cramped airline seats. The marshals fear that their appearance makes it easier for terrorists to identify them, according to a professional group representing more than 1,300 air marshals.
"If a 12-year-old can pick them out, a trained terrorist has no problem picking them out," said John D. Amat, a spokesman for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Documents and memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security and field offices of the Federal Air Marshal Service say marshals must "present a professional image" and "blend unnoticed into their environment." Some air marshals have argued that the two requirements are contradictory.
Federal air marshals must have neatly trimmed hair, and men must be clean-shaven, the documents say. Some of the service's 21 field offices have mandated that male officers wear suits, ties and dress shoes while on duty, even in summer heat. Women are required to wear blouses and skirts or dress slacks. Jeans, athletic shoes and non-collared shirts are prohibited.
In April, the officers' group sent a letter to members of Congress saying that the "military-style grooming standards and a blanket `sports coat' dress policy," along with conspicuous boarding procedures, jeopardize the safety of federal air marshals.
At least two airline industry unions, the Allied Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants, have publicly backed the assertions of the officers' group.
Lynn Becker, a spokeswoman for Senator Herb Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin, said the senator was made aware of the issue after a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contacted his office after spotting several air marshals in the Milwaukee airport. The spokeswoman said the senator was working with the director of the Federal Air Marshal Service, Thomas D. Quinn, to address the boarding procedures and dress code issues.
Since May, the Federal Air Marshal Service has changed the check-in procedure for its air marshals, no longer requiring them to sign a logbook when they board. According to Senator Kohl's office, the air marshals' service is also considering a waiver that would allows its officers to request a relaxation of the dress code for certain flights.
The Federal Air Marshal Service acknowledges that a dress code for its marshals does exist, but it will not elaborate, saying that the specifics are "security sensitive information."
Dave Adams, a spokesman for the service, said that groups who have publicized the dress code are "endangering the lives of our general workforce." Mr. Adams said a dress code was put in place in April 2002, after the airline industry complained that air marshals' attire was too casual. He said some marshals had worn shorts, blue jeans, sandals and T-shirts while on duty.
"In order to gain respect in a situation, you must be attired to gain respect," Mr. Adams said in an interview. If air marshals were allowed to be too casual in their dress, he added, "they probably would not gain the respect of passengers if a situation were to occur."
One air marshal, who said he is frequently spotted by passengers, and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "Professionalism isn't deemed by your dress; it's by your attitude and demeanor.
"We just want the opportunity to dress different every day," he added.
He said the current dress policy allows potential terrorists to identify federal air marshals on flights. "They'll just pick out what flights we're on and what flights we're not on," he said.
Andrea Houck, 52, who was traveling through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to visit her son in San Diego this week, said that she thought federal air marshals should be "totally undercover."
Ms. Houck, pointing to other passengers waiting in the terminal's food court, said: "Look around you. Most people are traveling in T-shirts, sweatshirts and khakis.
"If I was a terrorist and I spotted someone dressed like an air marshal in a suit, I wouldn't get on that flight. I would get on another one."
Jason Pesick contributed reporting from Washington, and Eddy Ramírez from New York.
aruanan wrote:
Well, if they just made them wear a white shirt and tie, with no coat, and put them in pairs, and made sure they looked like they were in their early 20's, they could be disguised as Mormon missionaries.
I was in Europe during the cold war and the first thing I learned about going native was to ditch the GI low quarters.
A lot of tourists visit the area where I live and I can almost always spot a European man by the shoes.
Some things never change.
Mormon missionaries live pretty much at or below the poverty level. I doubt that they fly very often. Probably Greyhound.
I've seen them on bikes.
Wondered if they were FBI til I heard them talk....
What the heck is the airline industry thinking? They should know better. I almost never see anybody dressed up on a plane, unless they're sitting in first class.
Make your flight safer. Dress up!
A much better approach would be for the airlines to simply offer free tickets to any federal agent, local police officer, or CCW holder, to bring their gun and fly armed.
The airlines could even offer to pay them to ensure that on 100% of their flights, they have an armed "good guy".
Not only would this program enhance security, it would save the taxpayers millions of dollars.
Or have them in BDU's/body armor and MP5's on a sling.
Obviously, you don't do a lot of air travel.
I'm surprised that the "strip me, search me, humilitate me" crowd hasn't suggested on this thread yet that all the passengers should simply be gassed (while naked) before the plane leaves the ground, and anyone that makes a joke should be summarily executed, and all their possessions seized by the TZA.
If the TSA grunts want to be slobs let them go play with dope dealers and see how much they like that action. As for the occasional fat, drunk, slob passengers who may show up, tough teet, our national airspace, our rules. Hit the pavement if you don't like it.
Are you honestly saying we should mandate how people dress when flying on planes? That's insane.
Please. These guys are trained to be authoritative in these situations, it's all about a commanding voice and not wearing a friggin' suit. Besides, I'd imagine people who won't "show respect" if they're not weariong suits, will do so when they see the Air Marshall's gun.
No jacket required.
Tank tops? No, but it hardly requires a suit to conceal a firearm. A ful suit not only makes them stick out but would likely hinder free movement.
Bingo!
Unbelievable idiots. These are the same folks looking over our shoulder at what we read, and who knows what else. Real comforting.
>>Don't most marshals sit up front, ie, in business class? And people are wearing sweatsuits and tanktops in business class? Yikes.<<
I fly business to Asia and Europe to the tune of around 100,000 miles a year. Business class is usually skewed to both to extremes. Suits or Fancy dress, or complete opposite.
I've found the biggest slobs seem to be folks who are travelling alone and come from money and expect absolute comfort in whatever they do. They same people in Business class are the biggest pain in the asses to the attendant staff.
William Flax
This sounds like the liberty dress code we had when I was in the Navy. We couldn't wear uniforms because we would stand out, so the captain made us wear long slacks, shirt with a collar, closed toe shoes. And this was in Corfu Greece. We were the only people on the island wearing long pants and collared shirts.
"Look, Achmed! He is attired in a Brooks Bros. suit of the finest worsted wool! He must mean business. Let us lay down our boxcutters a beg for his mercy!"
The person with the gun saving my life gets my respect. I don't give a damn how he/she is dressed. Mr. Adams, you are a idiot.
Secretary Ridge, please fire this moron.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.