He calmly watched the aisle in front of him and then took in the spectacle unfolding in the cabin. Two masked men were prowling the aisles as they yelled commands to the passengers. “Nobody move!” cried out of the men in black masks. ‘It’s a hijacking!’ cried out another. He slouched back into his seat to avoid being detected. He watched his partner and waited for his move. One of the two terrorists pushed a flight attendant down while his mate turned to see the action. Within a second, he took out his firearm. Numerous shots rang out. The hijackers dropped from the place where they once were. “Police, don’t move! Police, don’t move!” This is not a thriller. This is a part of the air marshal job, as described by a former U.S. air marshal Clay Biles in his book of memoir Unsecure Skies (Biles par.2). THESIS STATEMENT: Joining the U.S. air marshals is the best career within law enforcement because it ensures the safety on board in the hostile climate of the airline industry, has great promotion opportunities, and brings a lot of diversity into the officer’s life.
First of all, joining the Federal Air Marshal Service promotes the safety on board a plane in the times when the climate of the airline industry is growing more and more hostile. A U.S. air marshal is responsible for the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft. Trained to identify irregular conduct and handle challenging scenarios, air marshals act as the protectors of everyone on board a plane. For example, the passengers who were on a Northwest Airlines flight on their way from Honolulu to Seattle benefited from the help of undercover air marshals as they subdued a twenty-nine-year-old man who charged toward the pilots shouting that he wanted to see one of them. With the history of assault convictions, the man was a threat to the security of the crew and passengers. The two air marshals handled the situation without weapon r any other deadly tools (Ripley par. 3). Thus, sky marshals are instrumental in providing safety on board a plane.
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Besides, becoming a U.S. air marshal opens great opportunities for promotion. Since the threat of terrorism is increasing at the points of the biggest economical and political importance, the role of air marshals within the Homeland Security is growing, too. The U.S. Air Marshal Service is the primary arm of the federal Transportation Security Administration. Sky marshals have good promotion opportunities within their service or may transfer into intelligence, technology, as well as administrative mission support. In particular, ‘qualified and talented individuals can advance into manager and director roles, responsible for hundreds and even thousands of workers’ (Ferguson 55). Salaries grow accordingly. In fact, the pay gets higher as the level of responsibility and experiences rises. Directors can, for instance, top out at a salary over $150, 000.
Finally, choosing a career as a U.S. air marshal means choosing a life full of diversity. Unlike dull office jobs, the job of a sky marshal involves lots of traveling. Prior to 9/11 attacks, there were fewer air marshals and they typically focused on international routes. These days, when the threat of terrorism is rising, air marshals cover many domestic routes as well. It means that air marshals have opportunities to travel to new destinations as they, on average, spend around 4.2 hours a day or 181 days a year in the air (‘How to Become an Air Marshal’ par.5). In additionally, air marshals have to take part in various ground assignments in operations, management, and training (Porter par. 19).
On the other hand, the job is extremely challenging and puts individuals into a lot of stress. The turnover rate is high (Ferguson 55). Likewise, misconduct due to the stressful work environment may occur quite often. The incidents of misconduct involve, among others, falling asleep, having a weapon stolen or lost, and testing positive for alcohol or drugs (Douthat & Poe par.1). While the level of stress is certainly high, it should not be an obstacle for becoming an air marshal because psychological practices should help to go on.
In short, joining the Federal Air Marshal Service is the best career option. It provides the safety on board in the hostile climate of the modern airline industry. It offers good promotion opportunities. It makes one’s life diverse and interesting. Even though stress can be high, relevant psychological training will help overcome the difficulty.
Introduction:
Example from air marshal practice: “Police, don’t move! Police, don’t move!”
Commentary on the example: This is a part of the air marshal job, as described by a former U.S. air marshal Clay Biles in his book of memoir Unsecure Skies (Biles par.2).
Thesis Statement: Joining the U.S. air marshals is the best career within law enforcement because it ensures the safety on board in the hostile climate of the airline industry, has great promotion opportunities, and brings a lot of diversity into the officer’s life.
First argument: First of all, joining the Federal Air Marshal Service promotes the safety on board a plane in the times when the climate of the airline industry is growing more and more hostile.
A U.S. air marshal is responsible for the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft. Trained to identify irregular conduct and handle challenging scenarios, air marshals act as the protectors of everyone on board a plane.
For example, the passengers who were on a Northwest Airlines flight on their way from Honolulu to Seattle benefited from the help of undercover air marshals as they subdued a twenty-nine-year-old man who charged toward the pilots shouting that he wanted to see one of them.
With the history of assault convictions, the man was a threat to the security of the crew and passengers. The two air marshals handled the situation without weapon r any other deadly tools (Ripley par. 3).
Thus, sky marshals are instrumental in providing safety on board a plane.
Second argument: Besides, becoming a U.S. air marshal opens great opportunities for promotion.
Since the threat of terrorism is increasing at the points of the biggest economical and political importance, the role of air marshals within the Homeland Security is growing, too.
The U.S. Air Marshal Service is the primary arm of the federal Transportation Security Administration. Sky marshals have good promotion opportunities within their service or may transfer into intelligence, technology, as well as administrative mission support.
In particular, ‘qualified and talented individuals can advance into manager and director roles, responsible for hundreds and even thousands of workers’ (Ferguson 55).
Salaries grow accordingly. In fact, the pay gets higher as the level of responsibility and experiences rises. Directors can, for instance, top out at a salary over $150, 000.
Finally, choosing a career as a U.S. air marshal means choosing a life full of diversity.
Third argument: Unlike dull office jobs, the job of a sky marshal involves lots of traveling.
Prior to 9/11 attacks, there were fewer air marshals and they typically focused on international routes.
These days, when the threat of terrorism is rising, air marshals cover many domestic routes as well.
It means that air marshals have opportunities to travel to new destinations as they, on average, spend around 4.2 hours a day or 181 days a year in the air (‘How to Become an Air Marshal’ par.5).
In additionally, air marshals have to take part in various ground assignments in operations, management, and training (Porter par. 19).
Opposing point: On the other hand, the job is extremely challenging and puts individuals into a lot of stress.
The turnover rate is high (Ferguson 55).
Likewise, misconduct due to the stressful work environment may occur quite often.
The incidents of misconduct involve, among others, falling asleep, having a weapon stolen or lost, and testing positive for alcohol or drugs (Douthat & Poe par.1).
While the level of stress is certainly high, it should not be an obstacle for becoming an air marshal because psychological practices should help to go on.
Conclusion:
In short, joining the Federal Air Marshal Service is the best career option.
It provides the safety on board in the hostile climate of the modern airline industry.
It offers good promotion opportunities.
It makes one’s life diverse and interesting. Even though stress can be high, relevant psychological training will help overcome the difficulty.
- Biles, Clay. ‘The Secrets behind the Soldiers of our Skies.’ USA Today Magazine, September 2014
- Douthat, Ross & Poe Marshall. ‘Who Marshals the Marshals?’ Atlantic, December 2004, http://eds.b.ebscohost.com
- ‘How to Become an Air Marshal.’ Career Igniter, n.d., http://www.careerigniter.com/careers/air-marshal/. Accessed 31 October 2016.
