Because the early CET teams were so proficient in accomplishing their goal-raising seizure statistics for a variety of illegal drugs and other contraband-Customs Headquarters quickly saw the potential for a uniform, national inspection program emphasizing CET techniques. In the early 1980s, the Customs Academy developed courses on the how-tos of making CET seizures and dealing with their aftermath. CET team members taught other inspectors how to detect narcotics in ocean freight and other techniques like surveillance, driving and handling. Similar courses were developed at the Hidalgo-Pharr (Texas) port of entry to address CET skills needed at land borders.

Rising to the challenge of a new millennium
Before 2000, CET training was largely local, port-specific, and conducted by inspectors who had acquired their experience on the job. Training emphasized the surprise element of cargo inspection by using unpredictable, unexpected search techniques instead of "routine," "regular," or "normal" inspection methods.

Yet until the millennium, there was no national CET training for the airport environment. That changed in 2000, however, when CET training went formal, offering a standardized curriculum strictly for airport inspectors. The new national training program, called AIR-CET for Air Cargo Contraband Enforcement Team training, arrived not a moment too soon.

AIR-CET's first year of operation saw five classes conducted in Miami for inspectors who already had CET experience. Today, the program supplements the existing proficiencies of airport inspectors with instruction in anti-terrorism countermeasures. These AIR-CET classes include instruction in recognizing, defeating, and preventing internal conspiracies-airport or airline employees who actively plot, plan, or participate in contraband smuggling on airport property using a company's aircraft or facilities for personal gain. They also include identifying current trends in smuggling, making safe high-risk vehicle stops, leveraging the abilities of canine detector dog teams, handling hazardous materials, and utilizing C-TPAT, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Students also receive instruction in using the latest tools and technologies, including proficiency with state-of-the-art, non-intrusive inspection equipment, evaluating manifest information, and applying risk-management and aircraft-search techniques.

Less than a year after 9/11, which happened during AIR-CET's second year of operation, the program was conducted for CET inspectors at LAX (Los Angeles) and JFK (New York). Offering the curriculum at LAX allowed the former Customs Service to increase the number of attendees by 200 percent (10 inspectors in the first year, 30 in the third year), by saving on travel and lodging expenses. More important, these on-site classes demonstrated that AIR-CET training was portable and would benefit from the merger of agencies under the Department of Homeland Security.

In 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection added the U.S. Border Patrol's expertise to the curriculum. Border Patrol agents conduct training in handling high-risk stops, which includes the skills that come into play when CBP officers assigned to AIR-CET teams see suspicious vehicles lurking in an airport's cargo-handling or operations areas. A worst-case scenario is that a suspicious car might be involved in terrorism. Border Patrol agents also offer refresher training in handcuffing and other apprehension techniques.

CET got a new name in October 2003; it is now known as AT-CET, for anti-terrorism CET. Recognizing the significance of that name change, the AIR-CET course has increased its emphasis on anti-terrorism and incorporates more role-playing over traditional, passive classroom instruction. Designed to simulate real-world scenarios, AIR-CET training is intended to raise students' stress levels so they won't face uncomfortable situations. The training capitalizes on employees' heightened, post-9/11 motivation to catch terrorists, and students have responded enthusiastically to the realistic, hands-on reenactments.

CBP will continue AT-CET training throughout 2004 at Miami International Airport, LAX, and JFK. At least five AIR-CET sessions are planned for the coming fiscal year to train more than 100 AIR-CET inspectors.