Air marshals' secrecy ruined by dress code

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The Homeland Security Department's sense of fashion is endangering the lives of federal air marshals by making them conspicuous to terrorists, says the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

Marshals, they say, must follow a strict dress code and military grooming that is enforced by the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS).

According to memos obtained by The Washington Times, marshals must wear a suit, or a coat and tie, when flying from all cities, even traditionally casual locations such as Orlando, Fla. Their hair must be worn in a conservative style. No beards are allowed, and dress shoes are required for both men and women.

Marshals have nicknamed their neckties the "hangman's noose" because they say it allows an attacker from behind to incapacitate them.

"The bottom line is these guys are supposed to blend in a crowd on a plane, and no one should be able to pick these guys out from the rest of the people on a flight," said John Amat, spokesman for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). "There have been many instances where air marshals have been picked out by travelers; people give them the thumbs up and thank them."

The strict dress code is a response to complaints from the airline industry that marshals were inappropriately dressed in jeans and T-shirts or sweat shirts, said Dave Adams, spokesman for FAMS in the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Homeland Security Department.

"We deem it appropriate when traveling on mission status to be dressed appropriately," he said.

A federal air marshal who spoke on the condition of anonymity called the dress code "ridiculous." Managers wait for marshals to deplane to check whether they are cleanshaven and wearing proper attire.

"We are not asking to wear shorts and flip-flops and look like beach bums," the marshal said.

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) said air marshals "look like FBI or Secret Service agents straight out of central casting," and the Allied Pilots Association said changes are needed immediately to protect the officials' identities.