U.S.-Algerian Workshop on Airport Security Management

December 5-15, 2010

Workshop on Airport Security Management ( U.S. Embassy Photo)

Within the framework of the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program, U.S. experts Betty Butzko and Corey Looper are conducting an eight-day training program on Airport Security Management for 24 Algerian customs officers. The training is held from December 5 through 15 at the School of Customs in Ben Aknoun.

The U.S. Government is honored to continue bilateral training partnership through the ATA with the brave men and women of the Algerian security forces. The U.S. and Algeria face similar challenges, and both nations greatly benefit from these exchanges of methodologies, lessons learned, and best practices in the management of airport security.

This innovative and dynamic training uses lectures, discussions, field trips, and practical exercises to examine airport security, compliance methods, and best practices as they apply to Algeria’s aviation concerns.
U.S.-Algerian ATA partnership was launched in 2000. At least 322 Algerian law enforcement officers received training in Algeria or the U.S. between 2000 and 2005. The Training classes included: VIP Protection training (2000); Explosive Incident Countermeasures (2001); Post Blast Investigations (2002); Crisis Response Team Training and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Awareness Seminar (2003); Police Academy Team Consultation, Protective Intelligence Management Consultation (2004); Instructor Development Training and Hostage Negotiation/Incident Management Training (2005). Moreover, in 2010, Algerian Customs officers received training on Border Control Management and Fraudulent Travel Document Recognition.

The ATA Training Program is a vehicle by which the United States is afforded the opportunity of sharing expertise and providing significant resources to a country that has been plagued by terrorist atrocities since 1991.
Since ATA was authorized by Congress in 1983, the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security has trained and assisted more than 61,000 security and law enforcement officials from 154 friendly nations in procedures to prevent, respond to, and investigate terrorism