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NASA
Procedural
Requirements

NPR 1600.1A
Effective Date: August 12, 2013
Expiration Date: December 12, 2028

COMPLIANCE IS MANDATORY FOR NASA EMPLOYEES

Subject: NASA Security Program Procedural Requirements (Updated with Change 1)

Responsible Office: Office of Protective Services

Appendix G. NASA Federal Arrest Authority and Use of Force Training Curriculum

G.1 General

G.1.1 The Administrator is authorized by 51U.S.C. § 20134 and 14 C.F.R. Part 1203b-Security Programs; Arrest Authority and Use of Force by NASA Security Force Personnel to implement an Agency FAA and Use of Force policy to ensure appropriate protection for NASA employees, facilities, information, and missions.

G.1.1.2 The Agency FAA shall be managed in strict compliance with the requirements approved by the Attorney General of the United States and the direction provided in the following paragraphs.

G.1.1.3 Failure to maintain qualification, training, and certification requirements established under this NPR shall result in denial of Center authorization to arm personnel.

G.2 FAA, SOFCC, and FAA Bridge Training Programs

G.2.1 FAA Training Program.

G.2.1.1 FAA training shall not be authorized or implemented at a Center unless the CCPS/CCS has the following assurances:

a. All FAA candidates meet the physical fitness standards prescribed by the NPSTA course curriculum required to graduate.

b. NASA civil service supervisors have ensured that all civil service employees and security contractor personnel nominated for FAA are physically and emotionally stable. FAA training and authorization may be withheld or suspended pending an assessment of an FAA candidate's physical and mental health by a qualified physician.

G.2.2 Attendance at the full FAA basic training course may be waived for civil service candidates only under the following circumstances:

a. The candidate is a retired or former law enforcement officer who has met all imposed hiring criteria and who has graduated from an appropriate Federal Law Enforcement Training Program (including Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, FBI Academy, Military, or other similar programs). Under these circumstances, a waiver detailing the candidates training history will be submitted to the AA, OPS for approval. Upon approval, the candidate must only attend the FAA refresher course; and

b. The candidate must complete required in-service Use of Force Training, to include Intermediate Force to Lethal Force semiannual qualification with assigned firearm, annual judgmental shooting training, and familiarization training related to NASA regulations and Center implementing instructions for FAA; or

c. The candidate is not identified as requiring FAA training and therefore, must attend and graduate from the NASA Security Officer Fundamentals Certification Course (SOFCC).

G.2.3 Selection and Attendance at NASA FAA Training.

G.2.3.1 Attendance at FAA training is required for all civil service personnel tasked with operational control of those performing duties related to:

a. Investigations.

b. Frequent duty-related interactions with outside law enforcement.

c. VIP and special event protection details.

d. Special Response Team (SRT), K-9, and other law enforcement (LE) special response members.

G.2.3.2 Attendance at FAA training for security services contractor personnel shall be determined by the CCPS/CCS. At a minimum, those performing the following duties will attend FAA:

a. Shift Supervisors (e.g., Captain, Lieutenant, or Sergeant).

b. Those conducting investigations.

c. Uniformed personnel performing duties with responsibility for responding to and managing incidents with the potential for involving a lawful arrest (i.e., traffic enforcement, property crimes, crimes against persons, and disturbances).

(Note: Duties with the potential for the lawful detention of a person pending release to proper law enforcement authorities does not meet criteria for attendance at FAA training.)

G.2.3.3 Contractor personnel performing duties solely as security specialists within the personnel, information, SAP/SCI, IT, and physical security areas, and whose responsibilities center around managing and performing traditional security program duties, such as CNSI material management, facility security inspections, or conducting interviews and research for the purpose of adjudicating access or suitability, shall not be armed. Civil service personnel performing these functions will be armed only after the AA, OPS approval.

G.2.3.4 Contractor personnel standing static security posts are not required to attend FAA training. These personnel must complete the SOFCC.

G.2.4 SOFCC Training Program.

G.2.4.1 To ensure consistency Agency wide, the SOFCC shall be developed by the NPSTA and taught by NPSTA-certified trainers. The SOFCC will include adequate training on:

a. Use of force and intermediate use of force.

b. Lawful detaining of persons.

c. Unarmed defensive tactics.

G.2.5 SOFCC to FAA Bridge Course.

G.2.5.1 The SOs certified under the SOFCC and Use of Force Training Program may be authorized to have Federal Arrest Authority after completing the FAA Bridge Course Training program.

G.2.5.2 The SOs' eligibility to attend 80 hour SOFCC to FAA Bridge Course Training is dependent on the following:

a. The SOs applying for FAA shall have successfully completed SOFCC within the last two FAA curriculum training cycles.

b. Before participating in the bridge course, the SO shall pass the most current FAA Legal Written Exam with a minimal score of 80 percent on the first attempt.

c. The SO shall meet the criteria for FAA candidacy outlined in this NPR.

G.2.6 SOFCC and FAA Program Mandatory Standards and Testing.

G.2.6.1 SOFCC candidates may be authorized by the CCPS/CCS to carry firearms upon successfully achieving the following standards:

a. All individuals must pass all portions of the designated program with minimum 80 percent passing grade.

b. In case of a failure, candidates shall be provided the opportunity to retake the section failed only one time after initial testing. A repeat failure after retaking the course of instruction will result in the nominee being dropped from SOFCC. CCPS/CCS are NOT authorized to reduce any training standards established under this NPR.

c. An individual failing to demonstrate proficiency during a practical evaluation will be disqualified from the SOFCC.

G.2.6.2 FAA candidates may be authorized by the CCPS/CCS to carry firearms upon successfully achieving the following standards:

a. All individuals must pass all portions of the designated program with minimum 80 percent passing grade.

b. In case of a failure, candidates shall be provided the opportunity to retake the section failed only one time after initial testing. A repeat failure after retaking the course of instruction will result in the nominee being dropped from the FAA program. CCPS/CCS are NOT authorized to reduce any training standards established by the NPSTA.

c. An individual failing to demonstrate proficiency during a practical evaluation will be disqualified from the FAA course.

G.2.7 Authorized FAA individuals shall carry the appropriate Miranda Advisement of Rights cards.

G.3 Use of Force

G.3.1 SPOs/SOs and civil service personnel performing security duties may find themselves in a situation where they are required to detain, take a person into custody, or defend themselves or someone else.

G.3.2 CCPS/CCS shall ensure that NASA Use of Force training is conducted at least semiannually concurrent with required weapons qualification. Established training must include complete and current Use of Force theory and currently recognized practices to ensure an appropriate level of understanding and practical application is present among security force personnel.

G.3.2.1 The application of force during an officer/subject encounter should be based on the perceived action(s) of the suspect within the totality of the circumstances. An officer's response to a subject's perceived actions must be guided by objective reasonableness when effecting lawful control.

G.3.2.2 If at any time a subject becomes injured while under detention or arrest, immediately request medical personnel to respond to the scene.

G.3.3 If it becomes necessary to use a firearm as authorized in 14 C.F.R. § 1203b.107, NASA CCPS/CCS shall comply with the following procedures:

a. The incident shall be reported to the CCPS/CCS, who in turn, will report it to the appropriate supporting law enforcement agency and then to the AA, OPS as expeditiously as possible with as many details supplied as are available.

b. The CCPS/CCS shall ensure compliance with Appendix H, Discharge of Firearms of this NPR.

c. The officer shall be promptly suspended from duty with pay or reassigned to other duties not involving the use of a firearm, as the Center Director or as the AA, OPS deems appropriate, pending investigation of the incident.

d. The respective Center Director or the AA, OPS shall appoint an investigating officer to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. Additional personnel will also be appointed as needed to assist the investigating officer. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the investigating officer will submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the appropriate Center Director or the AA, OPS.

e. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Center Director and/or the AA, OPS, with the advice of the OGC or Office of Chief Counsel, shall determine the appropriate disposition of the case. If the investigation determines that the officer committed a crime, the information will be promptly reported to the supporting law enforcement agency.

G.3.4 Prohibitions.

G.3.4.1 Unreasonable use of force is considered misconduct. Such misconduct may result in administrative, civil, and/or criminal action.

G.3.4.2 Verbal abuse, verbal threats of violence, nonphysical threats, cannot alone be the justifiable basis for the use of force.

G.4 Training Curriculum

G.4.1 The NASA Protective Services Training Academy (NPSTA) Program curriculum is developed, managed, and approved by the AA, OPS. Training shall consist of the following topics:

a. Legal studies.

b. General law enforcement studies and exercises.

c. Weapons familiarization and defensive tactics.

G.4.2 All applicants for training must be qualified with the designated handgun from the AFL prior to attendance of any NPSTA program (FAA and SOFCC).

G.4.3 Additional standards are required to qualify for SRT and K9 training and positions.

a. Selection criteria for SRT and K9:

(1) Physical fitness test.

(2) Task specific physical fitness test.

(3) Weapons qualification.

(4) Written test.

(5) Oral interview.

b. All Task Specific Physical Fitness Tests (Pass or Fail) must be approved by the NPSTA. Each demonstration must be completed consecutively within a designated time to be determined based on the course developed and to meet the objectives as designated. Demonstrations include:

(1) Demonstrate overall physical fitness (e.g., run, push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups).

(2) Demonstrate defensive tactics.

(3) Demonstrate the ability to maneuver on the ground.

(4) Demonstrate the ability to run stairs.

(5) Demonstrate the ability to maneuver with designated equipment (e.g., vest, gas mask, helmet).

(6) Demonstrate the ability to operate in confined space.

(7) Demonstrate the ability to reason under physical stress.

(8) Demonstrate the ability to manipulate handgun with gas mask still on and under physical stress.

(9) Conduct function check with handgun in a safe direction down range (ERT only).

(10) Complete an obstacle/agility course, including a K-9 Handler task specific test (K9 only).

c. Upon selection, all SRT candidates must attend and pass an NPSTA-approved tactical officer certification course for SRT.

d. Upon selection, all K-9 candidates must pass an NPSTA-approved canine training program.

e. Reoccurring training and certification requirements will be established by the NPSTA.

G.5 FAA and Use of Force Refresher/Certification Training

G.5.1 Personnel trained and certified under the NASA FAA and Use of Force Training Program will attend and complete a 40-hour refresher training every training cycle.

G.5.2 Training cycles start every odd calendar year, January 1 and ends on the even numbered years, December 31.

G.5.3 All applicants requesting certification or recertification must meet the standards outlined by NPSTA.

G.6 SOFCC and Use of Force Refresher/Certification Training

G.6.1 Personnel trained and certified under the NASA SOFCC and Use of Force Training Program will attend and complete 24-hour refresher training every training cycle.

G.6.2 Training cycles start every odd calendar year, January 1 and end on the even numbered years, December 31.

G.6.3 All applicants requesting certification or refresher certification must meet the standards outlined by NPSTA.

G.7 NPSTA Instructor Approval, Certification, and Training

G.7.1 Instructor Certification.

G.7.1.1 NPSTA instructor candidates shall complete a general instructor course and be certified by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or an NPSTA-approved equivalent.

G.7.1.2 NPSTA instructors shall successfully complete the NPSTA FAA basic course of instruction.

G.7.1.3 High liability course instructors will complete use of force, defensive tactics, and/or firearms instructor certification course (as applicable) and be certified by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or an NPSTA-approved equivalent.

G.7.2 Instructor Approval.

G.7.2.1 NPSTA instructor candidates shall attend a one-week instructor development course. They will participate as a student instructor.

G.7.2.2 New instructors will be evaluated by a designated instructor on their abilities as an instructor, based on the NPSTA Initial Instructor Checklist.

G.7.2.3 The NPSTA Academy Director will send recommendations for instructors to NASA OPS.

G.7.2.4 The NASA OPS shall evaluate the recommendations of the new NPSTA instructor and forward an acceptance or rejection letter to the Academy Director.

G.7.2.5 Failure to meet and maintain minimum standards will result in the instructor candidate being released from the program.

G.7.3 Instructor Annual Training.

G.7.3.1 The OPS will coordinate an annual instructor workshop. Workshops shall be used as a tool to keep instructors updated on new policies, procedures, laws, instructor techniques, etc.

G.7.3.2 Instructors shall attend and participate in annual instructor workshops.