Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(October 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Fly the not so friendly skies.
It has been reported that the Air Marshal program is so
beset with problems to the extent that at least 80 marshals
have quit the program in recent months.
 Sources
say that hiring standards have been lowered dramatically
in order to recruit agents and it has been reported that
applicants are no longer required to pass a difficult marksmanship
course.
In addition, new hires have been given badges and put on
board flights before extensive background checks had been
completed. Officials have also implemented dress code regulations,
which the Marshals worry will identify them to potential
terrorists.
Apparently some marshals have not flown in weeks, whilst
others have flown for weeks on end and have worked 12 to
16 hour days. Marshals say that the boredom and fatigue
has caused them to fall asleep on the job.
Having spent a great deal of time flying on Commercial airlines
I can relate to that.
 At
least three known incidents involving the conduct of individual
marshals have come under investigation.
One marshal was removed from a flight due to a strong smell
of alcohol, and two other incidents involved the accidental
discharge of firearms in a hotel room in Las Vegas.
To make matters worse, one marshal was suspended for leaving
his firearm in a lavatory aboard a flight from Washington
to Las Vegas.
It’s a boring and potentially dangerous job, but
I suppose in this day and age someone has to do it. Good
luck to the protectors of the skies, for possibly one day
you may have to use those guns---but please do not let it
be on any flight that my wife and I are being transported
on.
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