Helping to make air travel safer is the job of federal airport screeners. These are federal employees who staff security checkpoints at aviation facilities across the country. They make sure that all airport personnel and travelers are carefully checked before they are allowed access to the concourse areas. Some screeners guards monitor those entering the metal detectors. If a person trips the alarm, he or she will be more closely examined. Other screeners watch hi-tech video cameras that can see inside luggage, looking for telltale signs of potential threats. If they come across something suspicious, the bag may be searched manually…or tested for the presence of certain chemicals, such as those used in explosives. The work requires tremendous concentration, attention to detail, knowledge of illegal substances and the ability to identify contraband. The Federal Transportation Security Administration has a rigorous job training and assessment program for airport screeners. You need at least a high school diploma or GED to qualify. These workers must be alert to questionable behavior, stray packages and anything else that might threaten people, planes, or the facility itself. Federal airport screeners are the first line of defense against an attack on our air transportation system… and their conscientious work helps to ensure our continued safety in the skies.