chollie

I disagree. It is not incompetence.

That screener was not operating alone. She has had two weeks 'academy' training within the last year. If she's a new employee, she's had weeks of OJT before being turned loose to make up her own rules. If she's an old-timer, she had her initial training, her experience, and her 'refresher' two-week vacay at the 'academy'.

She is surrounded by other TSOs, LTSOs and STSOs, all highly-trained graduates of the 'academy'. If she did anything unacceptable, one or more of these eagle-eyed co-workers would have been quick to point it out, particularly one of the LTSOs or STSOs who are responsible for what goes on at their checkpoint.

If the screener truly was incompetent, it would mean that two weeks of intense training at the 'academy', weeks of OJT, and a crowd of always focused and alert TSOs, LTSOs and STSOs all failed to notice anything.

I believe she actually followed her training: if the pax declares a 'sensitive area', assume the pax is a liar and a te**orist and double down on the 'sensitive spot'.