Pre-academy

In the past, pre-academy was simply a Word document that new import specialists completed and obtained supervisory confirmation for prior to attending the academy. With the information age, a simple Word document is a thing of the past. Mandatory pre-academy training will now be available via the web. The interactive web-based course provides new import specialists with a broad overview of the agency, trade trends and each operational stage of the import process.

The pre-academy web course incorporates the most current information and much, much more. It engages new import specialists with links to international trade and other government agency sites, quizzes, photos, and videos. It also includes a geography section that will help new import specialists recognize shipping trends and analyze country information such as export commodities and other information that they can use to identify shipments of concern. “The import specialist pre-academy training is built for today’s work world,” states Art Morgan, Director of the CBP Field Operations Academy. “Import specialists can complete pre-academy while they are observing and learning on-the-job and can even use it as a reference after they graduate basic training.”

Academy

In addition to pre-academy, the basic import specialist course has been updated and revamped to meet the changing needs of CBP. In the past, import specialists attended two basic courses, in some cases, attending one course at the beginning of their career and the second a year later. Now, new import specialists attend a single basic course for seven weeks.

Another change is the way the course is structured and delivered. The new basic import specialist course has been redesigned to provide import specialists more hands-on opportunities. The course begins with an overview of the technology and innovative programs CBP uses to extend supply chain security beyond our borders. As students progress through the complete import process, they learn each step from the release of entries to samples being examined at a CBP laboratory to conducting importer interviews to liquidation and re-liquidation of the entry to possible referral for trade enforcement purposes.

“The course places great emphasis on CBP’s anti-terrorism mission and the vital role import specialists have supporting that mission,” explains Vera Adams, Executive Director for the Office of Field Operations Trade Programs. “The import specialist basic course requires students to think beyond the traditional import process by exposing them to scenarios where shipments with potential weapons of mass effect have been mis-manifested, trans-shipped or concealed to avoid detection.” Import specialists are also introduced to enforcement tools and techniques through practical training at the warehouse.

The classroom environment has also changed, providing information in a logical trade progression. Students receive realistic classification and appraisement training in the classroom through simulated invoices, packing lists, bills of lading and entry documents.

To graduate, students must pass four cumulative written exams and three graded practical exercises. In addition, the tests incorporate scenario-based analytical questions that require the students to apply classification and appraisement principles to determine the proper answer.

“When import specialists graduate from the CBP Field Operations Academy, they are more prepared than ever to return to their ports and hit the ground running,” concludes Vera Adams.

Post-academy

Photo Credit: Christiana Halsey

Import specialists inspect textiles during the trade lab

The CBP Field Operations Academy, Office of Training and Development, and Field Operations are currently reviewing the development of post-academy training that will provide continued career development for import specialists. This training will enable all import specialists to be informed on changing trade trends, new regulations and terrorist threats.

CBP intercepts “cool” counterfeit shoes worth more than $1 million Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Norfolk port of entry made a significant seizure of shoes bearing the counterfeit trademark for Nike. CBP officers and import specialists discovered the Nike, Air Force 1 shoes in two overseas-refrigerated containers manifested as salt kelp and jellyfish. During the inspection a total of 1,061 cartons of the counterfeit items were found concealed behind the salt kelp and jellyfish. The counterfeit shoes were valued at more than $1 million retail. CBP maintains an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program which devotes substantial resources to target, intercept, detain, seize and forfeit shipments of IPR-violative goods. Our enforcement is accomplished through the cooperative efforts of our trained enforcement personnel, other government agencies, and the trade community. CBP Port Director Mark Laria states, “Once we have selected a shipment for examination, we first rule out any nexus with terrorists or terrorist weapons. Once that is done, we look for any violations of other laws that CBP is responsible for enforcing. The protection of intellectual property rights is one of those important laws.”