The TSA Agent
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mherlick — 17 years ago(March 31, 2009 11:31 AM)
Hey brother, I had the exact same problem when I came home on my mid-tour leave from our last deployment. I wasnt as lucky as you to have a person with authority show up and stop the insanity. Although I did get out of it when I said "why am I having to do this but 4 lines over you are letting the people of Middle Eastern decent through the line. The last time I looked, people in military uniforms arent the ones conducting the jihad on our country." That got me out of having to take my boots off.
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joshphs — 16 years ago(May 07, 2009 01:30 AM)
Think about this: TSA deal with PEOPLE all day, they don't have time to deal with B.S. A terrorist could easily dress as military and get through screening. TSA is there to protect the American people just as the Marines are there to protect the American people. Unfortunatley, the world we live in today doesn't even give men and women that serve our country the benefit of the doubt, even in airports. So much for what our nation was built upon.
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Doodlebuger — 15 years ago(December 30, 2010 06:17 PM)
Think about this: TSA deal with PEOPLE all day,
And they treat everybody, not just men in uniforms (which is plain revolting!), as would-be criminals.
They do very little to protect us, this all means terrorists have won since nowadays everybody gets scanned, searched, humiliated every time they travel.
We need to protect ourselves, yes, but there must be better ways of doing it. -
j-jordan321 — 17 years ago(March 15, 2009 02:32 PM)
I agree. It was upsetting for me. I'd hate to see or know if someone treated my fiance like that. He has also done a 15 month deployment in Iraq. It really sucks when people disrespect him.
And THANK YOU TOO! = )
"Difficult times lie ahead, Harry." ~Dumbledore, Goblet of Fire -
ClareyCotter — 17 years ago(March 21, 2009 11:02 AM)
It bothered me very much, made me angry, actually. Give some people a little authority and they become asses I didn't feel that the TSA was 'just doing his job' but that he was attempting to send a silent message to Mike that he didn't respect what he or his uniform represented. Mike handled him with great dignity, but I am saddened to think that this really happened. I know that airport security is necessary, but the TSA went about conducting the screening all wrong.
As far as one poster's comment about the younger generation and their lack of respect - I have to agree that I see this quite frequently. However, it's a parent's job to teach their children to respect others and many parents have neglected to do this. After all, they might hurt little Junior's feelings by encouraging him to defer to others. I've also been told that it's not PC for a man to give a woman his seat, etc. So very sad. -
CGSailor — 16 years ago(June 14, 2009 11:28 AM)
Having both served in the US Navy as well as having worked as an airport screener (pre-911), I have to weigh in on this one.
Screeners do have regulations and guidelines to follow for special circumstances (such as a Military Escort or a Law Enforcement officer travelling armed.) The methods that Col Strobl suggested having the bagg hand searched and being wanded down, are perfectly acceptable and the screener was wrong to argue.
In point of fact, when Strobl first stated that the bag cannot go through the scanner, the screener should have immediatly accepted that and called for a bag check. without argument and without Strobl having to suggest it. That is what he is SUPPOSED to do.
IMHO the screener was completely in the wrong. This is based not only on my knowledge of what should have happened but also on the attitude the screener took with the Col. I have worked with idiots like that before both as a screener as well as during my years as a security officer (AKA Rentacops). I have had to work with individuals who act as a real life Paul Blart, Mall Cop (Without the comedy)
That being said, I find I must now defend the TSA screeners.
While this particular screener was in the wrong, There are many MANY such circumstances where the screeners are spoke of in this same way when in fact they ARE just doing their job.
As an above poster pointed out, a terrorist could easily get a military uniform and attempt to pass through security. TSA is doing a job to keep us safe when we fly. And it is true as well that they don't have time to deal with the BS.
That is why again, Screeners have regulations and guidelines to follow. It is a simple matter to determine if the Military or Law Enforcement Offiers is who they claim to be, they dont EVER just accept the word of the Military or LEO. there is paperwork and Identification. Remember back at the ticket counter, Strobl was telling the agent that he has some paperwork.
Many times however the screener is being put upon by some traveller that does not understand security and thinks that the screener is just harrassing him/her when in fact the screener is in the right.
You see this most often in Law Enforcement when people accuse cops of being bullies when in fact the cop is doing his job.
During Christmas time the local NEWS stations often report about holiday travelling to NOT wrap Christmas presents, but to wrap them at your destination.
What people often fail to realize is that no matter what time of year. NEVER wrap ANY presents, be it Birthdays or Weddings or whatever. If we (the screeners) cannot determine what is in the package via Xray, the package WILL BE OPENED no matter how much time, effort, loving care, or money you put into the giftwrapping.
TRUE STORY:
I had a giftwrapped package for a wedding come through the Xray and on the screen you can clearly see the outline of a lage fancy vase. It was a lead Crystal vase and this material shows up on Xray the same as if it had been made of solid steel. DENSE BLACK, because of the lead Crystal. Visually it is crystal clear, but not on Xray.
Even though we screeners knew it was a lead crystal vase, the package had to be opened as we could not determine by Xray what else may have been in the package due to the density of the crystal. anything could have been inside the vase and we would not know it.
Of course the traveller had all sorts of comments for us screeners, most of which had a lot to do with our lineage, ancestors, lack of braincells, egos, etc
But we had a job to do.
TRUE STORY #2:
Some people think that due to their position, that they are above submitting to security. Quite often this involves the flight crew.
I had a pilot for Northwest come through my checkpoint while I was on. he could not pass the metal detectors due to the metal on his uniform. So he had to be hand checked with the wand. I did not argue with him nor suggest he take his uniform jacket off as the idiot in the movie did. Mearly told the pilot that he needs to be wanded as he cannot pass the walk-thru detector.
At this the pilot started balking. telling me that he is the pilot and does not need to be checked (YES, He does).
After much arguement, also involving his carry-on as well, and the getting of a supervisor involved who was going to call Airport police on the pilot if he did not submit, the Pilot finally waivered.
now at this airport, the flooring is a raised floor with metal understructure. During the wanding process, the detector will ALWAYS go off when you get within a few inches of the floor. What this means is that the ankles of a traveller MUST ALWAYS be hand patted.
As I attempted to complete the search and hand pat the pilots ankles, he stepped back and refused. stating " No where in your security manuals are you required to touch me!"
Now I must admit I did get a leeetle unprofessional back at him at this point as I (and my Sup) were fed up with this idiot. I told him, " When you pull back on the yoke, the plane climbs, whe -
suzannamc — 13 years ago(May 28, 2012 07:49 PM)
I like you. You consider all sides where things are concerned. When I saw this film, I wanted to jump through the screen and wring the TSA guy's neck. If people would just let go of their egos, recognize and share with others that they aren't perfect and work with each other, the world would be a better place.
Thanks for your service!
Sincerely,
Suzanna McMahan -
sherry_daugherty — 12 years ago(September 11, 2013 09:34 PM)
Thank you so much for such an informative post!
I also wanted to throttle the TSA person in the show. I enjoyed the movie very much. I was saddened often throughout the movie. My son died at 19yrs old a few years ago and many parts of the movie were easy to identify with, so I kept a tissue box handy.
I am very thankful for the men and women who serve our country, even if I do not agree with the why's and the how's of things. I will make sure to remember that when I see my military family members and friends.and strangers. -
q90560 — 17 years ago(March 22, 2009 12:56 PM)
You are one-hundred percent correct. As someone who travels several times a month, the TSA and its parent HSD are insulting the travelers of this country. The screeners and staffers are mostly incompetent personnel who got their job with nothing more than a G.E.D, and successful drug test. I am utterly disgusted with the way travelers are treated, and even more disgusted in the way a military escort is treated. We need to keep in mind that screeners do not have a successful track record, so they are in no position to be arrogant, or act as if we owe them something for their p poor service to the country. Just because one is given a badge, blue latex gloves, and a few days of X-ray training does not mean that one knows what they are doing.
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todd_miller — 16 years ago(May 19, 2009 05:04 AM)
I am in the United States Air Force. When I was in training I was allowed to go home to be with my family for Thanksgiving. Because I was in a training status, I had to wear blues when off-base. Leaving from Gulfport, MS I had no problem, but coming back was a different story. I was not in Class A but just normal blues. I asked to go to a screening room, but was refused. I was made to remove my ribbons, remove my occupation badge, remove my name tag, remove my belt buckle, remove my shoes, then asked to unzip my pants and show the TSA the straps that kept my shirt tucked in. When it was all said and done he handed me my ribbons, badge, nametag, and belt buckle in a plastic bowl. Then laughed and said, "I bet they investigated you more than me." As I stood there and put my uniform back together no less than fifteen passengers who were behind me in line came up to me and apologized and thanked me for my service. This was my first time out since joining the military and I learned then that there are people that support our all-volunteer force, and there are people that hate it. I serve so that both can have their freedom.
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Leonidas808 — 17 years ago(March 24, 2009 02:32 PM)
When my father retired from the Philadelphia Police department he worked for TSA for about a year. We are both veterans and had decided to watch Taking Chance together, so I stopped by my parents house to watch it one of the nights it was on. During the scene with TSA agent my mother asked, "Do you think that really happened?" My father replied, "Probably, most of the people I worked with there were morons."
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Phillycop19046 — 17 years ago(March 26, 2009 02:54 PM)
As a Police Officer myself I see people enjoy having "authority" over Police or Military uniformed personnel. For those 5 minutes they are in charge.
For example the Phila Parking Authority "meter attendants" love writing tickets to Police Officers with "FOP" tags knowing the Officer is in court (many Officers will leave a copy of the court notice in the car dash)or at work in a Police station.
Not all PPA have this sadistic side to them but a few ruin it for the rest. The same way a few bad cops (or any authority profession) slip through the cracks and make it bad for every one else. -
jstain3710 — 17 years ago(March 27, 2009 08:15 AM)
Still going on as of this month. My sons a Lt. USMC and gets screened each and every flight he comes in and out of. So far no exceptions.
I'm retired US NAVY and I have flown all over the globe, and I can say the only place my son and I have been treated poorly has been right here in the USA.