Yep, This'll Help

The Transportation Security Administration thinks it has found the answer to some of the agency's biggest problems... including its failure to retain personnel, persistent equipment troubles, missing hard drives containing personal data, and security breaches.

Why, new uniforms, of course.

"As part of TSA's continued efforts to transition the workforce to a cadre of well-trained, professional transportation security officers (this seems to imply those before now were, ah, less than such -- Ed.) uniforms more reflective of the critical nature of their work and of the high standards they must uphold will be introduced in the fall," the agency announced this week.

"TSA's National Advisory Council (NAC) identified TSO uniforms as a major issue among our 43,000 TSOs," the agency continued. "An independent Uniform Board, comprised of TSOs and managers from all three TSA regions, was created to work closely with the Office of Security Operations and recommend changes.

"The board reviewed and developed recommendations on all aspects of the current uniform -- color, appearance, durability, ease of care and professional image -- and presented them to TSA leadership. The initiative was guided by the basic principle that dress and appearance should promote esprit de corps within the workforce while instilling trust and confidence in the public.

"The uniform, in particular, is to stand as a readily identifiable symbol of the security mission and role of the TSO in executing the agency's core values: integrity, innovation, and team spirit," the TSA reports.

"Before being finalized, the new TSO uniform concept was presented on TSA's Idea Factory, an online forum for TSA employees to openly and candidly discuss their ideas with other members of the workforce around the country," the agency concludes. "Prototype uniforms were unveiled on an employee webcast with Administrator Kip Hawley in mid-July."

FMI: www.tsa.gov