Shawna Robles 1. Describe two strengths and two weaknesses you’ve discovered about homeland security in your previous studies. One issue within the realm of homeland security that I have found to be both a strength and weakness is border security.  Border security encompasses various aspects within the United States that work together to ensure foreign and domestic terrorism does not occur on American soil.  This also includes land, air and maritime transportation methods in which illegal weapons, drugs and people are entering and being transported throughout the country.  The recent series of Executive Orders in which the President announced were all designed to help protect the country by providing the Department of Homeland Security with “additional resources, tools and personnel to carry out the critical work of securing our borders, enforcing our immigration laws, and ensuring that individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety cannot enter or remain in our country” (DHS, 2017).  Border security remains to be a hot topic due to the amount of illegal drugs and contraband that are trafficked into and throughout the country daily.  This is just a portion of the major issues DHS faces and continues to combat. Another strength and weakness I have found within DHS is the creation of the department itself and its history.  This might seem like a strange point to make, however, prior to 9/11 the United States had very little experience with foreign terrorism on American soil.  The previous attack occurred in 1993 with the first bombings of the world trade centers (WTC) by extremists which caused only six deaths and thousands of injuries.  The buildings had remained standing.  Other than the WTC bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing was the only other one carried out domestically.  Most of the attacks on US personnel occurred overseas in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and East Africa.  9/11 and the consequent investigations exposed the inadequacy in addressing and thwarting further attacks, the inability to coordinate information collection and the integration among various agencies, ultimately leading to the failure of identifying patterns of behavior which might have provided insight to future problems (Chertoff, 2016).  It was not until 9/11 that DHS was created and programs were developed and implemented into normal emergency service operations.  Federal agencies did not look to each other for support but more as competition and were openly hostile towards one another.  The creation of DHS brought about fusion centers which actively collect, analyze and disseminate intelligence information to various agencies in order to deter illegal activities.    2. Create a draft research question and thesis statement about an issue of significant interest to you – perhaps based on the strengths and weaknesses you provide. Research Question: Do US border security practices help protect or hurt the overall security of the nation? Thesis: The US Cus.

1. Shawna Robles
1. Describe two strengths and two weaknesses you’ve
discovered about homeland security in your previous studies.
One issue within the realm of homeland security that I have
found to be both a strength and weakness is border security.
Border security encompasses various aspects within the United
States that work together to ensure foreign and domestic
terrorism does not occur on American soil. This also includes
land, air and maritime transportation methods in which illegal
weapons, drugs and people are entering and being transported
throughout the country. The recent series of Executive Orders
in which the President announced were all designed to help
protect the country by providing the Department of Homeland
Security with “additional resources, tools and personnel to carry
out the critical work of securing our borders, enforcing our
immigration laws, and ensuring that individuals who pose a
threat to national security or public safety cannot enter or
remain in our country” (DHS, 2017). Border security remains
to be a hot topic due to the amount of illegal drugs and
contraband that are trafficked into and throughout the country
daily. This is just a portion of the major issues DHS faces and
continues to combat.
Another strength and weakness I have found within DHS is the
creation of the department itself and its history. This might
seem like a strange point to make, however, prior to 9/11 the
United States had very little experience with foreign terrorism
on American soil. The previous attack occurred in 1993 with
the first bombings of the world trade centers (WTC) by
extremists which caused only six deaths and thousands of
injuries. The buildings had remained standing. Other than the
WTC bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing was the only other
one carried out domestically. Most of the attacks on US
personnel occurred overseas in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and East
Africa. 9/11 and the consequent investigations exposed the

2. inadequacy in addressing and thwarting further attacks, the
inability to coordinate information collection and the
integration among various agencies, ultimately leading to the
failure of identifying patterns of behavior which might have
provided insight to future problems (Chertoff, 2016). It was not
until 9/11 that DHS was created and programs were developed
and implemented into normal emergency service operations.
Federal agencies did not look to each other for support but more
as competition and were openly hostile towards one another.
The creation of DHS brought about fusion centers which
actively collect, analyze and disseminate intelligence
information to various agencies in order to deter illegal
activities.
2. Create a draft research question and thesis statement about an
issue of significant interest to you – perhaps based on the
strengths and weaknesses you provide.
Research Question:
Do US border security practices help protect or hurt the overall
security of the nation?
Thesis:
The US Customs and Border Protection Agency is constantly
evolving to remain current and stay ahead of the various
methods used by criminals and organizations who continue to
operate illegally within and around the United States.
References:
Chertoff, Michael. “9/11: Before and After.” Homeland Security
Affairs 7, 10 Years After: The 9/11 Essays (September 2011).
https://www.hsaj.org/articles/584
DHS. Executive Orders on Protecting the Homeland. (2017,
March 06). Retrieved March 07, 2017, from
https://www.dhs.gov/executive-orders-protecting-homeland
Ifeanyi Okpalaejesi
Hello Class,
Since I was a child, in Nigeria, I have always been
fascinated with the idea of being the cop, capturing the bad guy,

3. and saving the day. It was that childhood fascination that has
led me to purse my dream. I came to America in 2014, and since
then I have dedicated myself to the pursuit of a degree in the
field of Criminology. What attracted me to the subject was the
fact that I will be able to use my natural ability to read people.
In the sense that I have for most of my life could identify what
type of person I am dealing with based on their habits,
behaviors, as well as their interaction with people in social
environments.
I am not saying that I am a psych, and feel that I do have the
natural able to read people, or course not with 100% accuracy,
but the challenge of being able to do so it what excites me.
When taking HLSS300 Research Methods in Homeland Security
Studies, I began to realize that I had a knack for being able to
develop research strategies, as well as evaluate data. I also
noticed that I could share my findings, in an organized fashion,
as well as a way that was coherent to those who read my
forums.
I also took PSYC431 Psychology of Disaster to try better
understand thepsychological and physiological human response
to natural and man-made disasters. This was challenging for me
because while I could identify those who suffer from this, I
don’t yet understand how to deal with victims. I am not well
equipped to deal while those that need mental health care.
Another weakness that I have is that I still being able to
understand the psychological aspects of Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WMD). With that said, below is my research
question as well as my thesis statement. Also, I would like to
thank you for taking the time to read my forum this week.
Research Question:
What is the best way to secure the U.S border, while allowing
open borders to continue for those who travel, students, and
commerce alike?
Thesis Statement:
An increase in Border Patrol staffing, as well as construction of
a new infrastructure, with the use of the latest advanced

4. technology, will make for a more secure and more efficient
border control environment.
-Ifeanyi O.
CAREER CONNECTION
MGT/312
TEAM C
March 13, 2017
Facilitator Mohammad Yunus
Career Advancement
SOCIALIZATION AND MENTORING
Good day Fortune 500 companies. We are thrilled to be apart of
an amazing opportunity to present to you today the way
connections are made through a career. We will discuss key
elements in improving ways to use social and mentor skills. We
will also go over Feldman’s three phase model of socialization
and the six socialization tactics. We are honored to be here
today and if we have your full attention, let’s get started!
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How is it used?
Knowledge
Direction for Advancement
Informal and formal relationships
Managing skills to communicate
Mentoring to set yourself high

5. Socialization and mentoring can be used to advance a career in
many aspects. When someone has socialization skills they have
the ability to gain knowledge from respected coworkers or
higher level management. It provides a direction for
advancement by using others advice and relationships that have
been created throughout the company. Having formal and
informal relationships will act after socialization and mentoring
occur between coworkers. It is important to use these skills in
the work field in order for advancement to occur.
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Feldman’s three-phase model
1.Anticipatory socialization
2.Encounter
3.Change and acquisition
Feldman’s model is a representation of the three-phase process
that associates specific effective outcomes. Anticipatory
socialization, Encounter, and Change and Acquisition are the
three-phases. Each phase is different and uses behavioral steps
to judge how well an individual is socialized. This phase is
different for all and depending on the person it can take up to
weeks to a year to complete.
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Anticipatory socialization