Comprehensive Solution for Border Patrol Agents Training

Comprehensive Solution for Border Patrol Agents Training

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US border patrol teams need training and instruction from time to time. A new training solution will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of border patrol agents in executing tracking along US borders. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) worked with the Border Patrol (USBP) and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) to research and develop training content and methods to enable USBP agents to leverage knowledge, skills, and abilities of the expert trackers in their workforces.

This new training solution is called Signcutting and Tracking (signcutting is a process for tracking border crossers, based on the fact that a person cannot traverse ground without leaving some sort of telltale sign). It has been tested at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy and will be deployed to locations along the U.S. southern border in 2019 to allow the capability to be utilized by both new hire agents and those already on the front lines in national security.

The new training package is a three-part solution combining 2D and 3D training videos, a computer-based training course, and innovative commercial off the shelf augmented reality technologies.

The training content was also transitioned to FLETC to be leveraged in their backcountry tactics and tracking course for those federal, state, and local organizations developing skills for search and rescue, crime scene investigation, and fugitive capture operations.

The 2D and 3D video component breaks down the visual signs of human activity across various terrains and explains how to identify those signs. “Signcutting” identifies telltale indicators of movement through the southern border’s desert or northern border’s wooded areas, according to newswise.com.