A top newspaper for the U.S. military community is shining the spotlight on TSA this month.
Stars and Stripes, which provides news and information to our active-duty military and veterans, devoted an entire special insert in its March 28 edition to TSA, with the insert available online.
In a front-page letter to Stars and Stripes readers, Administrator David Pekoske said the goal of the TSA travel guide is to provide a deeper and broader understanding of TSA and the people who make our agency who we are. The special edition includes traveling tips, such as how to prepare, pack and declare a firearm, checkpoint dos and don’ts, and an inside look at some of TSA’s programs and employees with a special military emphasis.
“Since coming to TSA in August 2017, after 33 years serving our country in the Coast Guard, I have been continually inspired by the similarities between the mission and values at TSA and those of our armed forces,” said Pekoske. “Since our inception after the attacks of September 11, veterans have been called to serve in TSA, and I am honored to say that today almost 20% of our workforce are veterans.”
The Administrator noted veterans and the leadership skills and patriotism they bring to the table are a foundational part of TSA’s success.
“That’s why we have made it a priority to increase the number of veterans and disabled veterans we hire at TSA,” Pekoske emphasized.
Stars and Stripes is distributing the TSA travel guide to 51 bases in the U.S., 10 overseas bases and TSA headquarters in Springfield, Virginia, and has an e-version which is free for all of us to see. On any given day, readers and visitors to the Stars and Stripes website number about 1.4 million.
The special Stars and Stripes TSA edition was the brainchild of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Deputy Assistant Administrator Amee Roberson.
“I wanted to use a vehicle to help us reach more service members, veterans, Department of Defense (DoD) federal employees and their families, and Stars and Stripes was the perfect choice given their focus on this audience,” said Roberson, a military veteran and former Stars and Stripes reporter. “I am very fond of the paper, and it was my trusted news source while in the service.”
Given its reputation in the military, Roberson felt having a special TSA edition would be a great way to share more about our agency, culture, values, benefits and career opportunities.
“TSA, much like the military, is all about public service and dedication,” Roberson added. “For military news and information, Stars and Stripes is the go-to resource. For transportation security, it’s TSA. Creating a travel guide felt like the perfect marriage of both while offering a service to this special and unique audience.”
She hopes it will propel some members of the military community to seek opportunities to join the TSA team and learn about their free TSA PreCheck® benefits, which are available to active service members and DoD civilians.
Roberson said members of the military and veterans are a terrific fit for TSA, infusing their love of country, dedication to mission and desire to serve into their work and making significant impacts every day.
“Veterans bring leadership, self-discipline, can-do attitudes and commitment to their TSA roles,” she said. “Plus, most veterans are very agile and versatile, quickly learning new skills and trades. They enrich and deepen our culture and make me proud to serve with them.”
By Don Wagner, TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs