Originally Posted by
gsoltso
There will always be situations that require an STSO on the checkpoint to make a call, whether it is covered by SOP or something that was not necessarily taken into account by the SOP - and (at least in my experience) common sense rules that situation.
I have the same wishes you do in the case of a specific TSO having complaints, at a minimum, they need to be counselled on proper procedure and that can actually be done tactfully at the start. I am certain that there are some of us (the woman tells me I am "heavy handed", so I have to take great care in dealing with folks that fall into the category we have been discussing, and passengers in general for that matter) that could benefit from what you mention. The thing I hope everyone (TSOs included) gets is that just because someone has an injury or a disability or something that requires extra screening of any kind - is not extra work or a problem or something to be upset about, it is one of the reasons we are here and get the training we do. They have just as much right to travel as I do, and should be afforded the same courtesy and professionalism that I would get. In the case that any passenger doesn't get professional service, they should forward complaints up the chain.
The training I have recieved has been hands on, book training, lecture (over and over and over). One good aspect of that practicing with other TSOs is it gives you the chance to physically do what is expected of you repeatedly away from the checkpoint, it also allows automatic critique of the method by someone else that knows what is going on. Our training started my first day, and has been ongoing since then. We have some of the best training, and MOST training I have had since I left the Army (and anyone that has been in the military understands how constant that is).
I will admit that I have a more vested interest in folks with disabilities because of family members that had them, but that is personal. I also am "too nice" according to most of the people that are important in my life, there opinion is that I am something of an anomoly in that respect (I take the "more flies with honey" adage a bit too far I guess).
Actually, I was particularly wondering about the hands-on frisk training. It seems to me that if you frisk each other, that could be uncomfortable (it would be for me). I can't imagine any situation where I'd feel comfortable cupping the genitals or breasts of a co-worker. And presumably Rolando Negrin hadn't been frisked by his own co-workers or they would already have known how he is built.
I know someone (forced early retirement) who had always assumed she would work for TSA post-retirement. She believes in the fundamental mission, has personally had bad encounters, wanted to try to make a small difference from within. This has been a deal-breaker for her, she's just not comfortable with touching women and children's privates. She understands the threat, just feels she's not the person who can perform these functions.
I also wonder if the training includes hands-on frisking of someone in a wheelchair or hands-on handling of someone with post-surgical bandages or a colostomy bag. Or does it include the full-on frisk of an infant? If you've ever tried to help someone in a wheelchair. I certainly hope the training includes hands-on practice, not just for the pax, but also because if you don't know what you're doing (and even if you do), you can really mess up your back trying to reach all parts of a wheelchair person's body while they are still in the chair.
Videos and demos are great, but there's no substitute for hands-on training. Even if you're accustomed to intimately handling folks of the same gender because of your sexual preferences, handling them in that manner isn't the same as handling them professionally.