They wear a different uniform now but consider the mission equally important.
More than 12,000 Transportation Security Administration security officers nationwide are military veterans, about a quarter of the force. That includes more than 300 veterans at South Florida's three main airports.
Many said their military stints prompted them to work for the TSA, while others simply wanted to fight the threat of terrorism.
"I take pride in knowing that I'm doing what I can to keep Americans safe during travel," said Nicole Leroux, a TSA officer who works at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
As a Navy material liaison officer, Leroux, 28, was stationed at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan last year, helping to build barracks huts for Afghani locals, while taking leave from her job with the TSA.
On a daily basis we received incoming fire from the enemy," she said. "Whether it was mortar rounds, AK rounds or improvised explosive device attacks, we were always vigilant and aware of our surroundings."
The TSA said when hiring applicants, it gives preference to veterans, based on their length of service and whether they served in wartime campaigns.
"Additional points are assigned if they were disabled in the line of duty or received a Purple Heart," said Sari Koshetz, TSA spokeswoman.
Many veterans consider working for the TSA an extension of their military service.
"I'm just a person who's always served his country. That's how I was brought up," said Steve Randerson, TSA assistant federal security director for law enforcement at Palm Beach International Airport.
Randerson, 46, enlisted in the Army in 1984 and subsequently worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he decided he wanted to "get in the realm of counter-terrorism" and joined the Federal Air Marshal Service. He landed in his current TSA job in 2008.
He took leave from TSA in 2011 to serve as a military adviser in Afghanistan, experience he said helps him in his job today.
"It complements what I'm doing with the TSA, being able to operate with multi-law enforcement agencies," he said.
He added that he'll be able to spend time with his family over the long holiday weekend.
"Last year, I was in Afghanistan over the Fourth," he said.
Source-South Florida Sun-Sentinel
More than 12,000 Transportation Security Administration security officers nationwide are military veterans, about a quarter of the force. That includes more than 300 veterans at South Florida's three main airports.
Many said their military stints prompted them to work for the TSA, while others simply wanted to fight the threat of terrorism.
"I take pride in knowing that I'm doing what I can to keep Americans safe during travel," said Nicole Leroux, a TSA officer who works at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
As a Navy material liaison officer, Leroux, 28, was stationed at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan last year, helping to build barracks huts for Afghani locals, while taking leave from her job with the TSA.
On a daily basis we received incoming fire from the enemy," she said. "Whether it was mortar rounds, AK rounds or improvised explosive device attacks, we were always vigilant and aware of our surroundings."
The TSA said when hiring applicants, it gives preference to veterans, based on their length of service and whether they served in wartime campaigns.
"Additional points are assigned if they were disabled in the line of duty or received a Purple Heart," said Sari Koshetz, TSA spokeswoman.
Many veterans consider working for the TSA an extension of their military service.
"I'm just a person who's always served his country. That's how I was brought up," said Steve Randerson, TSA assistant federal security director for law enforcement at Palm Beach International Airport.
Randerson, 46, enlisted in the Army in 1984 and subsequently worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he decided he wanted to "get in the realm of counter-terrorism" and joined the Federal Air Marshal Service. He landed in his current TSA job in 2008.
He took leave from TSA in 2011 to serve as a military adviser in Afghanistan, experience he said helps him in his job today.
"It complements what I'm doing with the TSA, being able to operate with multi-law enforcement agencies," he said.
He added that he'll be able to spend time with his family over the long holiday weekend.
"Last year, I was in Afghanistan over the Fourth," he said.
Source-South Florida Sun-Sentinel