Merging three agencies under one roof is not an easy task. Because each agency brings different missions and traditions to CBP, the current and future workforce must be trained to effectively present "One Face at the Border." To accomplish this, the Office of Training and Development (OTD) worked with the Office of Field Operations (OFO) and the Transition Management Office (TMO) to define CBPs new training needs.

CBP training goals
The Office of Training and Development created several training principles in order to accomplish the following goals, which were developed by the TMO and OFO:

• Managers and supervisors should receive training prior to employees;
• Training for the existing CBP workforce should emphasize joint learning, so employees can learn from each other's expertise;
• Training should be provided at the location where work is done;
• CBP should use computer-based training; and
• CBP should draw upon subject-matter expertise before training programs are developed.

A CTR process has been put in place in secondary to receive specific referrals from the unified primary. With special training developed by OTD and OFO, officers from the recently integrated passenger rover teams and analysis units conduct secondary examinations of terrorist lookouts and other passengers who could have possible ties to terrorism. They ensure that the secondary examination addresses all CBP requirements, coordinating with the local passenger analysis unit and the National Targeting Center to ensure that the subject is researched fully, conducting a thorough interview and examination, and documenting the results.

True implementation of the "One Face at the Border" concept comes through establishing the CBP officer-announced by Secretary Ridge and Commissioner Bonner in early September. The CBP officer will interact with the traveling public and facilitate the entry of legitimate goods at our nation's ports of entry. A comprehensive training plan-not only for new CBP Officer recruits but also for cross-training our current inspectors-is required.

Another significant step involves combining the basic training courses of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service and the former Customs Service. On October 8, 2003, the CBP Academy, located in Glynco, Ga., will begin training new officers for the combined CBP mission. Graduates of this new 71-day curriculum will be prepared to begin a career in which they will carry out the priority mission-preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the U.S. along with the traditional missions of all three inspection forces that make up CBP.

Recruits will participate in a comprehensive training program covering the skills and knowledge needed to perform in all environments. The CBP Academy staff has worked for months to prepare this new course. Most significant elements of the former Customs and Immigration basic courses have been carried over to the new course. Notably, more agricultural training has been included and, as a result, officers will be better prepared to perform their important duties for the Department of Homeland Security and the American public.

On the right track
There are positive signs that OTD, TMO, and OFO will reach its goals. In March 2003, the first employee work groups helped formulate specific plans to support the unified primary/counter-terrorism secondary efforts. These include:

Counter-Terrorism Response Training: Courses for the PAU and passenger enforcement rover teams (PERT) were updated with new anti-terrorism lessons. Classes were filled in order to support implementation of the counter-terrorism response process. In addition, current PAU and PERT personnel receive the anti-terrorism portion of the training through an OFO-instructed train-the-trainer program. Efforts are currently underway to revitalize the current PAU course material, which will give the teams additional counter-terrorism tools and training.

Counter-Terrorism Airport Primary - Phase I (Supervisor Seminar): was piloted at Dulles International Airport in July 2003, with an additional 12 sites trained to date. Airport supervisors responsible for passenger processing are required to attend this one-day seminar by October 2003. The course, designed to include former Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture supervisors, will be delivered to 19 airport sites across the country to prepare supervisors for their new responsibilities.

Counter-Terrorism Airport Primary - Phase I (Inspector Seminar): is being delivered to airport inspectors after their supervisors are trained. This training segment is for inspectors with primary responsibility for passenger processing. The one-day course covers methods for targeting terrorism and includes a systematic examination process to detect altered, counterfeit, or fraudulent documents. The course also teaches methods for detecting presentation of genuine documents by an imposter, reviewing primary systems data, conducting the primary interview, examining U.S. citizens, and inspecting permanent residents.

Muster Modules (Anti-Terrorism): being developed as part of the anti-terrorism training effort. A muster is an organized meeting to discuss strategies and goals. There will be 20 muster modules-12 modules for delivery at one per month and eight optional modules for advanced training-dealing with methods of combating terrorism. This training will soon be available nationwide.

All of these programs support "One Face at the Border." Additional unified primary/counter-terrorism secondary modules will be developed. Also, training modules are being developed to address CBPs other mission-critical needs.

Commissioner Bonner has consistently stressed the importance of training to accomplish our homeland security mission, as well as our traditional missions. OTD also recognizes that our success depends on our ability to consistently deliver essential training that our current and new CBP officers need. High-level support, hard work, and commitment of CBP personnel to new training are the necessary ingredients that will allow CBP to reach its goal- "One Face at the Border."