There were many things to consider as CBP journeyed down this road. One major concern was how to train nearly 20,000 front line, uniformed personnel who had a vast array of authorities, knowledge, responsibilities, experience and scope of duties. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff spoke recently at the Homeland Security Policy Institute and elaborated on how our security levels are being layered and multiple. The same can be said of our training plans.

CBP’s goal was to build a comprehensive and robust training curriculum that would allow us to continue our vigilance in fighting terrorism, address facilitation in the primary passport control areas, increase the use of discretion and officer professionalism, and fulfill our important traditional missions while ensuring that the stream of passengers, cargo and conveyances does not stop.

Focus on priorities
CBP began this effort by focusing on priorities and leveraging the expertise and knowledge of our experienced inspectional personnel. Priorities were the governing factor in determining which courses were developed. Anti-terrorism courses were first, then courses for our new officers, followed by cross-training courses in immigration primary, agriculture, and customs.

Once the order of course development was determined, we entered the next phase―building the courses. CBP conducted pilots, modified materials based on employee responses and created train-the-trainer courses for field delivery of the materials.

Options for course delivery include distance learning such as CD-ROMs or on-line courses to allow for self-paced study, instructor or facilitator-led classroom training, systems training in computer labs, videos, and musters. There are also on-the-job (OJT) courses to apply what was learned in classrooms and computer labs. These structured OJT courses provide learning experiences in controlled situations with oversight, feedback and guidance.

Some programs are required courses for all employees―such as anti-terrorism training. Some of these are basic courses similar to the academy courses for our new officers and agriculture specialists. Some are prerequisite courses such as the Customs Fundamentals and Immigration Law Review courses. Determining which courses you are required to take depends upon what training you have already had, what your current assignment is, and what environment you work in (air/land/sea).

There is an extensive list of courses covering a wide-variety of topics—to see what courses you will be required to attend at some point before being asked to perform the specific job function, please go to http://cbpnet.cbp.dhs.gov/xp/cbpnet/otd/ on CBPnet to locate the training courses required for your particular environment – air, land or sea.

Some of the advanced courses currently being rolled out, such as counter-terrorism response team training and deception detection and eliciting responses are not listed on these matrices but will be offered based upon work assignment. Please keep in mind that the original matrix included only 21 courses. Today, we have 37. Everyday CBP is working toward developing additional quality training programs that give employees the confidence, skills and abilities to be the best at their job.

This is the first in a series of articles related to CBP’s unification efforts. Future articles will include a piece on anti-terrorism, technology and facilities of the future.