Air travel is back! People are excited to travel again and are turning up at the airport in record numbers. The TSA daily passenger throughput record shows that just on April 28, 2021, TSA officers screened 1,184,326 travelers. Compare that number to 119,629 in 2020 and 2,256,442 in 2019. That 2021 daily number is only going to grow as we move into the vacation season. That means demand for airport security will be increasing as well. If you are currently an airport security officer or are planning a career in airport security, that’s great news for you!
Be Flexible and Patient
Airport security officers must be able to adapt to changing advisement from the CDC and other regulatory bodies. You may have to politely but firmly deal with people who don’t know (or care about) the regulations they are expected to follow and may react with petulance or outrage upon being instructed to comply. Here’s what you need to know as of this writing.
Know the CDC Facts
The CDC’s Updated Information for Travelers states that people who are fully vaccinated with a vaccine authorized by the FDA or WHO are safe for domestic travel within the United States. Those who have not yet been vaccinated should be tested for COVID-19 before traveling.
All travelers should follow CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely, including:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth.
- Stay 6 feet from others and avoid crowds.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
If you’re ready for a career that helps people get safely to your destination, here’s what you need to know.
Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Airport Security Officer?
As an airport security screener, you’ll need to work with people. Sounds obvious, but if you’re not a people person, this is probably not the career for you. You will be interacting with hundreds of people a day who could be unhappy, nervous, stressed, or confused. Some people will be excited; some will be plain mean. Your job is to deal with all of them and identify those who could be a threat.
You will guide passengers through a process that includes:
- Passing through a metal detector
- X-raying carry-on and checked baggage.
- Potentially searching through a bag
- Potentially performing a physical pat-down
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Hold United States citizenship
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
You’ll need to pass extensive pre-employment testing, including a drug and medical screening and a background investigation, including a criminal check/fingerprinting and a credit check. Expect to work when airports are busy, including very early mornings, weekends, and holidays.
Get Started On Your Airport Security Career!
If you’d like to be considered for a job helping keep the nation’s airports safe as Americans return to travel, contact us about joining our team of airport security officers.