Defense & Intelligence Policy, Business and Technology

New Training Aims to Improve Operational Security at US Border

Homeland Security Today: Without proper training, tracking people who do not want to be found like narco-smugglers, human traffickers, illegal aliens and even potential terrorists crossing the United States border is a nearly impossible task, and can be extremely difficult even with training. They do their best to, literally, cover their tracks, and it’s the responsibility of the Border Patrol to pursue and apprehend these individuals.

While the Border Patrol “does perform standardized tracking training, proficiency varies based on the individual,” the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate said.

Border Patrol asked the S&T First Responders Group (FRG) to develop training to assist in increasing tracking abilities. Tracking, or “sign cutting,” is identifying telltale indicators of movement through the southern border’s desert or northern border’s wooded areas.

Read article