Heitkamp Announces New Air and Marine Operations Pilot Training Program for UND Students

Press Release

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) will spearhead its new pilot training initative to replenish the agency's shortage of pilots at the University of North Dakota (UND).

During a meeting today with AMO leaders, Heitkamp's staff learned that the agency plans to begin a unique pilot training program for up to 16 UND John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences undergraduate students beginning in November. The program will allow students to begin working as part-time AMO employees at Grand Forks Air Force Base while still pursuing their education at UND, and will give them the ability to transition into full-time AMO agents upon graduation. AMO plans to begin similar programs at four other universities down the road to help address the agency's shortage of nearly 300 pilots nationwide.

AMO operates a National Air Security Operations Center at Grand Forks Air Force Base, which serves as CBP's primary training ground for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilots and crews. From Grand Forks, AMO also conducts border enforcement efforts at the Northern, Southwestern, and Coastal Borders, assists federal, state, local and tribal partners, and has been critical in addressing flooding in the Red River Valley. AMO plans to host a career fair at UND on October 17 which will feature more information about the program, which will open up to students on October 18.

"We know the critical role Air and Marine Operations plays in keeping North Dakota communities safe by keeping our nation's borders secure -- that's why it's great news the agency is launching a creative initiative to develop new pilots with the help of UND," said Heitkamp. "For years, Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base have been a hub of innovation and border security efforts. That's why it's no surprise that our state has been chosen to lead the nation in spearheading this program. I've long fought for a long-term presence for AMO in Grand Forks because of the critical role it plays in keeping our Northern Border protected, and I'll keep fighting for opportunities that both help students launch their careers and keep our communities strong and safe."

Long a strong supporter of AMO agents and advocate for a lasting AMO presence at Grand Forks Air Force Base, Heitkamp announced earlier this month that DHS' Customs and Border Protection (CBP) heeded her call to take concrete steps toward a renovated AMO facility at the base. Heitkamp has long underscored the need for a strong AMO presence in North Dakota to keep the Northern Border safe, a position that was reinforced last month by DHS' recent Northern Border security and threat analysis, which was initiated by Heitkamp's bipartisan Northern Border Security Review Act, which is now law. The bill aimed to address critical gaps in border security, including improving technology, and recruiting and retaining CBP and border security personnel.

As Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee that oversees the federal workforce, Heitkamp has been committed to addressing challenges border security officials face in recruiting and retaining quality officers to help keep communities safe. In July 2016, Heitkamp introduced her Flexible HIRE (Hiring and Improving Recruitment, Retention, and Education) Act which was inspired in part by an October 2015 U.S. Senate hearing Heitkamp led to develop solutions to recruit and retain federal workers in regions such as the Bakken and the Northern Border. Her bill aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal hiring process so that federal agencies, particularly those located in rural or remote areas, can better attract and maintain personnel.

Together with Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, Heitkamp introduced bipartisan legislation in June to help address chronic challenges Customs and Border Protection (CBP) faces with hiring and retaining a vibrant, quality workforce along our nation's borders to help improve border staffing and security. Heitkamp's CBP Hiring and Retention Bill (CBP HiRe Act) would help strengthen border security and remedy personnel challenges that are common in rural or remote areas. By enabling CBP to use existing hiring and retention authorities with more flexibility, the bill builds on separate legislation of Heitkamp's aimed at improving hiring and retention of federal workers across all federal agencies, including those located in remote geographic locations, and applies it specifically to the CBP -- adding provisions specific to that agency's agents and officers.

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