Crew Member Self Defense Training Program
Registration Information
The TSA Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (OLE/FAMS) is pleased to announce implementation of the newly revised Crew Member Self Defense Training (CMSDT) Program. Using feedback from crewmembers, air carriers, unions, and professional associations, OLE/FAMS has combined distributed learning technology with hands-on instruction to produce a training program that is effective, less time-consuming, and more accessible to the participants.
The following general information is provided to crewmembers interested in participating in the CMSDT Program. Specific registration details are available from the points of contact listed for each community college location.
Both flight and cabin crewmembers are eligible to participate, but must be actively employed by an eligible U.S. flag air carrier.
Currently scheduled class dates and locations are listed here. Additional dates and locations will be posted as they become available.
You must pre-register before attending the hands-on portion of the CMSDT Program. Please Click here to register or contact one of the individuals listed for the community college at which you would like to attend a class.
Every effort will be made to schedule you for the training date you prefer. If you are seeking to participate for the first time, you should schedule at least two weeks in advance so that your registration can be processed, and you can review the pre-course materials in full.
As part of the registration process, you will be asked to provide certain personally identifying information such as your name, address, and employing air carrier. It is necessary for us to collect this information in order to verify your eligibility to participate in the training. TSA is committed to collecting, maintaining and disclosing this information in accordance with Federal privacy laws and regulations, as outlined in the CMSDT program’s Privacy Act Statement. Depending upon your carrier’s policy, you may be required to submit a signed authorization to release information about your employment status. The POC will be able to tell you whether this is necessary, and provide you with the appropriate form if it is.
The training and training materials are free of charge; however, any travel, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the participant. The on-site portion of the training program lasts 8 - 9 hours.
Enrollment is limited to a maximum of twenty-four (24) participants per class, depending upon location.
You must present your air carrier identification card to the POC at the training site, along with one of the following: valid U.S. Driver's License; valid U.S. Passport, or valid Armed Forces Identification Card. You will not be admitted to the training without presenting both forms of identification.
After you have reviewed the pre-course materials, you should complete the written assessment contained in the back of the Student Manual. You must bring the completed answer sheet to the training site on the day of training. You should also bring the manual and a pen or pencil, as you may find it helpful to take notes while the questions are being reviewed.
Crewmembers that successfully complete the CMSDT program may repeat it as often as they would like. Crewmembers that have successfully completed the previous (three day) version of the training may attend the new version, but must first review the pre-course instructional materials and complete the assessment contained in the Student Manual.
A certificate of completion will be provided to each crewmember that successfully completes the training.
OLE/FAMS recognizes that the demands of air carrier flight operations may create unexpected scheduling conflicts for crew members. There is no penalty for cancelling a scheduled training date. If you must cancel, however, please be sure to notify your POC as soon as possible so that the training slot can be made available to others.
