Did Neffenger clip the wings of the BDO program?
Oct 12, 2016, 10:18 am
#16
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No, and I suspect that was because they were trying some sort of 'quota' position to justify the BDOs, even if the folks they were 'catching' posed no threat to aviation security and were, therefore, not TSA's concern.
It kind of made sense to have the BDOs do TDC functions. After all, TSA tells us all the time that their mandate doesn't start until the checkpoint, so there's no reason for the BDO's to be strolling around the landside areas and parking lots harassing people in between playing on their cellphones and chatting with their co-workers. Putting a BDO as TDC ensured that every pax who entered the sterile area had been 'vetted' by another layer of security.
When a BDO strolls around the airport, s/he doesn't stop and interrogate and observe the micro-expressions of every single person - far from it. Unfortunately, when TSA tried to implement a combined BDO/TDC 'layer', the TDC was trying to 'vet' every single pax. Why? That isn't the goal when BDOs wander the terminal.
It kind of made sense to have the BDOs do TDC functions. After all, TSA tells us all the time that their mandate doesn't start until the checkpoint, so there's no reason for the BDO's to be strolling around the landside areas and parking lots harassing people in between playing on their cellphones and chatting with their co-workers. Putting a BDO as TDC ensured that every pax who entered the sterile area had been 'vetted' by another layer of security.
When a BDO strolls around the airport, s/he doesn't stop and interrogate and observe the micro-expressions of every single person - far from it. Unfortunately, when TSA tried to implement a combined BDO/TDC 'layer', the TDC was trying to 'vet' every single pax. Why? That isn't the goal when BDOs wander the terminal.
BDO's can do the TDC function but why Pre Check. Wouldn't the non-Pre lanes be the more appropriate place for that?
Oct 12, 2016, 10:41 am
#17
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Staffing.
If an FSD told Neffy he didn't have enough staff to open a dedicated Pre lane that people had paid for, Neffy could tell the FSD to use the BDOs to staff the lane (note the reference is to pax and baggage screening, not just TDC). That wouldn't impact staffing levels at regular checkpoints and I suspect even Neffy realizes that the BDOs are overpaid and non-working.
If an FSD told Neffy he didn't have enough staff to open a dedicated Pre lane that people had paid for, Neffy could tell the FSD to use the BDOs to staff the lane (note the reference is to pax and baggage screening, not just TDC). That wouldn't impact staffing levels at regular checkpoints and I suspect even Neffy realizes that the BDOs are overpaid and non-working.
Oct 12, 2016, 11:50 am
#18
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Staffing.
If an FSD told Neffy he didn't have enough staff to open a dedicated Pre lane that people had paid for, Neffy could tell the FSD to use the BDOs to staff the lane (note the reference is to pax and baggage screening, not just TDC). That wouldn't impact staffing levels at regular checkpoints and I suspect even Neffy realizes that the BDOs are overpaid and non-working.
If an FSD told Neffy he didn't have enough staff to open a dedicated Pre lane that people had paid for, Neffy could tell the FSD to use the BDOs to staff the lane (note the reference is to pax and baggage screening, not just TDC). That wouldn't impact staffing levels at regular checkpoints and I suspect even Neffy realizes that the BDOs are overpaid and non-working.
Oct 13, 2016, 7:04 pm
#19
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I've suspected that is already the case, though not with TDCs. That is, I've met some extremely inquisitive <deleted>.
Last edited by TWA884; Oct 13, 2016 at 7:22 pm Reason: Term not used in this forum; please refer to the sticky post.
Oct 14, 2016, 12:51 am
#20
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June 7, Neffenger stated "those people" were conducting checkpoint duties...next time you see a 2 or 3 stripe at TDC ask if he/she is a BDO.
Oct 14, 2016, 6:00 am
#21
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It made perfect sense to have the BDOs do the TDC function as well as their 'voodoo'.
The problem was, when they're in 'voodoo' mode, they don't chat with every single pax. They look for suspicious pax first - then observe or chat them up.
When the TDCs were doing 'voodoo', they were doing it with every single pax, whether or not that pax had exhibited a suspicious behavior. That was unnecessary and caused slowdowns.
The problem was, when they're in 'voodoo' mode, they don't chat with every single pax. They look for suspicious pax first - then observe or chat them up.
When the TDCs were doing 'voodoo', they were doing it with every single pax, whether or not that pax had exhibited a suspicious behavior. That was unnecessary and caused slowdowns.
Oct 14, 2016, 7:56 am
#22
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It made perfect sense to have the BDOs do the TDC function as well as their 'voodoo'.
The problem was, when they're in 'voodoo' mode, they don't chat with every single pax. They look for suspicious pax first - then observe or chat them up.
When the TDCs were doing 'voodoo', they were doing it with every single pax, whether or not that pax had exhibited a suspicious behavior. That was unnecessary and caused slowdowns.
The problem was, when they're in 'voodoo' mode, they don't chat with every single pax. They look for suspicious pax first - then observe or chat them up.
When the TDCs were doing 'voodoo', they were doing it with every single pax, whether or not that pax had exhibited a suspicious behavior. That was unnecessary and caused slowdowns.
Oct 14, 2016, 12:15 pm
#23
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After all the citizens they harassed and interrogated over the years, they deserve to spend the rest of their natural lives scribbling on boarding passes.
Oct 14, 2016, 3:12 pm
#24
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Oct 15, 2016, 12:09 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2010
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That's:
* Shows unusual interest in security officers and their work routine
* Asks the BDO security-related questions
* Repeating back questions instead of answers
Automatic selectee screening, possible LEO referral.
* Shows unusual interest in security officers and their work routine
* Asks the BDO security-related questions
* Repeating back questions instead of answers
Automatic selectee screening, possible LEO referral.
Oct 16, 2016, 11:31 am
#26
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BDO interviews were still alive and well for every passenger at Tucson International Airport last week. Maybe it's such a remote outpost that they never got the message that the plan had ended. It was very definitely a TSA staff member, prior to reaching the document check, and it was not a CBP employee. I got the "where are you going? Why? Who will you be seeing there?"
Oct 16, 2016, 12:11 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2012
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BDO interviews were still alive and well for every passenger at Tucson International Airport last week. Maybe it's such a remote outpost that they never got the message that the plan had ended. It was very definitely a TSA staff member, prior to reaching the document check, and it was not a CBP employee. I got the "where are you going? Why? Who will you be seeing there?"
Oct 17, 2016, 11:13 am
#28
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A poster on TSA reddit page indicated that behavior detection will become a collateral duty.
Oct 17, 2016, 11:32 am
#29
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Neffy doesn't know or care what is actually going on.
If you'll recall, he had to actually visit ORD in person before he (gasp!) realized that a TSA work slowdown was underway. It was all over the news, but somehow Neffy didn't know about it.
Kind of ironic, really: barker TSOs complain that pax arrive at a checkpoint unprepared, yet their own boss doesn't even have a clue what is going on.
I don't know if he lies or he's delusional, but his FSDs will do as they please, and if an FSD wants to continue to allow his BDOs to wander around playing with their cellphones and chatting with and distracting other TSOs while pax are put at risk in congested hours-long lines, then it's going to continue to happen.
If you'll recall, he had to actually visit ORD in person before he (gasp!) realized that a TSA work slowdown was underway. It was all over the news, but somehow Neffy didn't know about it.
Kind of ironic, really: barker TSOs complain that pax arrive at a checkpoint unprepared, yet their own boss doesn't even have a clue what is going on.
I don't know if he lies or he's delusional, but his FSDs will do as they please, and if an FSD wants to continue to allow his BDOs to wander around playing with their cellphones and chatting with and distracting other TSOs while pax are put at risk in congested hours-long lines, then it's going to continue to happen.
Nov 10, 2016, 10:24 am
#30
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We determined that TSA met the intent of the first recommendation
because it implemented a strategic plan in response to our audit report and
has since updated the plan for fiscal years 2016 through 2018. However, it
still must execute the actions described in its plans to demonstrate the program's effectiveness. As of May 2016, TSA reported that it implemented new performance metrics at all 87 Behavioral Detection and Analysis program (BDA) airports, but it has yet to fully assess them to determine their effectiveness. For the second recommendation, as of the time of our exit conference, TSA has not fully transitioned to a new reporting system that is designed to improve data deficiencies in the Performance Measurement and Information System.
because it implemented a strategic plan in response to our audit report and
has since updated the plan for fiscal years 2016 through 2018. However, it
still must execute the actions described in its plans to demonstrate the program's effectiveness. As of May 2016, TSA reported that it implemented new performance metrics at all 87 Behavioral Detection and Analysis program (BDA) airports, but it has yet to fully assess them to determine their effectiveness. For the second recommendation, as of the time of our exit conference, TSA has not fully transitioned to a new reporting system that is designed to improve data deficiencies in the Performance Measurement and Information System.
Suggestions for changes made by DHS OIG in 2013 and they still aren't fully implemented.