The goal of the mock port is to provide students with knowledge and skills that will enable them to become effective members of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) workforce. Students participate in real-life training and role-playing exercises that they could encounter at their duty stations.

Construction of Port 1702 began on March 19, 2002, and occupancy took place about one year later. The building lies on almost four acres of land and is more than 22,500 square feet, with almost 18,000 square feet as the actual work area.

All-in-one facility
Port 1702 is a state-of-the-art facility. The only tell-tale sign that it might be different from other CBP facilities is that this port contains land, air, and seaport all in one facility.

The land port section includes three primary lanes for vehicle processing. One of these lanes contains a license plate reader (LPR). The secondary vehicle area has two merchandise inspection tables and space to inspect two vehicles simultaneously. There are also three pedestrian lanes for processing travelers arriving on foot, and a warehouse for processing cargo and merchandise entries and for conducting inspections associated with merchandise processing.

Photo Credit: courtesy of CBP Academy

Inside and outside views of Port 1702 at FLETC.

Photo Credit: courtesy of CBP Academy

Inside and outside views of Port 1702 at FLETC.

The airport/seaport section contains six passport control processing booths, a baggage carousel, rover command center, and secondary checkpoint/inspection area.

The facility has many amenities: two search rooms, two video-monitored holding cells, and a seizure processing area with 25 computers. There are also six interview rooms, a large alien processing area and a secondary Immigration inspection and processing area. The facility boasts a sally port area for receiving contraband and violators. It also houses a role-player lounge, muster areas, and a Resident Agent in Charge (RAIC) office for agent training.

Training environment
The port is a realistic, real-time training environment for the students. The emphasis of these exercises is on the apprehension of terrorists and stopping weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) from entering the United States.

Tools and technology play an important role in the training. Students get hands-on experience on how to properly use specific equipment, which includes:

• mobile VACIS
• 101 X-ray van
• personal radiation detectors (PRDs)
• radiation isotope identifier device (RIID)
• itemiser
• vapor tracer
• buster (radiation detector)
• fiber-optic scope
• portal monitor
• laser range finder
• other commonly used inspection tools

Realism and safety are extremely important. Staff are trained and certified to handle the radiation sources. Actual weapons, including automatic weapons, are used with the Mobile VACIS and 101 X-ray van in training exercises so that students will experience a realistic "signature" image. Training in the use of itemisers and vapor tracers requires samples of explosives that were obtained from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) National Academy. Students get real-life experience from positive "hits" triggered by the presence of explosives residue - as they inspect baggage and merchandise.

Props are also part of role-playing. The Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures office in Washington, D.C., donated a vault that contains shelving, file safes, electronic scales, an alarm system, and video monitoring devices. The office also provided seized vehicles and merchandise for use in processing exercises. Actual shipments of seized merchandise guarantees merchandise and cargo processing scenarios.

Long-term enhancements
The plan for the next five years includes the construction of a 20,000-square-foot concrete pad and canopy next to the Port 1702. The pad and canopy will house about eight 20-foot shipping containers and several 40-foot trailers loaded with false compartments. Some of these containers will also include seized merchandise for use in cargo and merchandise processing exercises.

A team effort The monumental task of bringing Port 1702 from a vision to a reality required the assistance and support of many people and organizations. A special thanks to the staff of the Office of Field Operations; the Office of Investigations (now a part of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement); National Enforcement Equipment Maintenance and Repair Program; the Office of Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures; the Safety and Occupational Health Branch in Human Resources Management; ATF; and FLETC.