How to become a Federal Air Marshal
A federal air marshal holds an extremely important role in National Security. Federal Air Marshals are vested with the responsibility of serving as armed federal law enforcement agencies on passenger flights. Their role is to fight terrorism and protect airline passengers and crew.
What Do Federal Air Marshals Do?
According to the Transportation Security Authority, federal air marshals “detect, deter, and defeat” any hostile action that terrorists may attempt to commit against carriers, crew or US passenger flights. Federal marshals travel on flights in order to serve as law enforcement official, carrying a gun in order to prevent any terrorist action from occurring.
Federal air marshals also engage in investigative work and work with task forces and other government agencies to help fight against terrorism in the skies. This may involve participating in land base investigations or other work to help ensure that terrorism does not hit American planes again. As a result, you will help keep people safe and you will help create confidence in the American aviation system.
Examples of Work Places
Federal marshals may work in TSA offices throughout the United States. Although federal marshals may be headquartered in these offices, a great deal of travel is often required. Marshals must travel when necessary to fly on planes in order to at as the law enforcement official on board. Marshals may also travel to meet with other agencies at local or national levels to plan and engage in antiterrorist initiatives.
What to Expect from a Career as a Federal Air Marshal
Your day-to-day work will vary greatly as a federal marshal, depending on your specific environment. If you are asked to fly, you will simply board a plane and maintain a position of law enforcement on the plane, acting as a security presence and intervening if any terrorist action is taken.
Your work may also involve other duties as assigned and as necessary to investigate terrorist activity and to help keep the skies safe. In addition, it is important that no one on board know you are a federal air marshal, so you must be discrete.
Requirements to Become a Federal Air Marshal
The minimum educational requirements for a federal air marshal are a high school diploma and experience. However, obtaining a criminal justice degree can help you to get hired for the position. Becoming a federal air marshal is one of the most competitive jobs in law enforcement, and an associates, bachelors or masters in criminal justice can help you to secure the position.
You also have to be under the age of 40, pass an extensive background check, and have normal hearing, vision and a normal EKG. Once hired, you will undergo training through the Federal Marshal Air Service to learn how to perform your tasks and duties.
Federal Air Marshal Salary
Employment for federal air marshals expanded considerably after September 11, and is expected to continue to grow at or slightly below the average job growth through 2018. Air marshals earn between $36,764 and $84,739 depending on their level of experience and length of service.
