The TSA Agent
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lameassemailname — 16 years ago(April 12, 2009 12:56 AM)
I was in the Marines from 2003-2007 active duty (I am currently in the inactive reserves). On two occasions, I was traveling in my Service "A" uniform on government orders and was asked to remove my belt, jacket, shoes, etc. by TSA. Considering how people were still afraid to fly around this time period, I thought it a bit strange that someone in uniform on orders would have to go through such an ordeal. Once, I was even pulled "randomly" out of the screening line for an more thorough screening. It is a bit extreme, but Marines (and other service members) have lost thousands of lives over the course of more than 200 years so that people can have freedom, even if that comes in the form of prejudice to us.
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J. Ryan — 16 years ago(April 21, 2009 12:26 AM)
I can't believe he'd be such a dck. I appreciate the TSA guy has a job to do, but the LtCol was going out of his way to explain why his bag could not go through the X-Ray machine and why he couldn't take off his uniform. The TSA agent should have politely given him the option of a private screening rather than be so curt. He could have done his job without being a dck.
Veni, Vidi, Oh Just Facit!
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shannon-elements — 16 years ago(May 08, 2009 02:39 AM)
I dunno, I personally don't really blame the TSA guy. It's not that hard to obtain military uniforms. I have seen guys get upset when they had to take their boots off, but sometimes people in the military wear steel-toed boots. If that's the case then just take off your damn boots and stop complaining.
I personally always just took off my boots, belt, and blouse/jacket without being prompted, until a couple years ago when a TSA agent told me I didn't have to. -
nonpareilakira — 16 years ago(May 08, 2009 06:15 AM)
If I show my military ID at the airport I ALWAYS get selected for "Random" screening.. If I show my FL license I NEVER once have been checked.. And I've flown a lot.. 70+ flights going to and from places.. no matter what If Im in uniform or show my ID im suddenly picked for random screening.. lol
Seems like its the douche with no high school education getting his rocks off being in charge of a Marine for 5 minutes that makes his day. -
cg11144 — 16 years ago(May 15, 2009 09:22 AM)
Current procedures are here-
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1880.shtm
Screening of Military Personnel
Checkpoint:
When you arrive at the checkpoint, the following tips will assist you in getting through the screening process easily and efficiently:
Keep boarding pass and ID available
Remove class A uniform jacket, metal items in pockets, and metal belt buckle and submit them for X-ray screening
Military personnel in uniform, with a valid military ID are not required to remove their footwear unless it alarms the walk through metal detector
Ensure your carry-on luggage does not contain any prohibited items -
Katya0779 — 16 years ago(June 09, 2009 01:49 PM)
Before my husband deployed, he bought a multi-tool to take with him to Afghanistan. It was optional on the packing list.
He was in uniform with his whole company boarding a civilian plane that I believe had only military personnel onboard. I am not sure if this leg of the trip was from one US city to another or going out of the US.
Anyway, he did not put the multi-tool in his bag but had it on his person. The TSA agent would not let him go through. Meanwhile, other soldiers were having to take off their boots etc. Albeit, he should have packed the multi-tool and it did have a knife blade in it. However, what got me was was that these guys were deploying soldiers in full uniform carrying M16s locked and loaded.
But the agent wouldn't let him carry his dangerous, scary, multi-tool onboard.
The bin next to the agent was chock full of those things. I just hope no soldier found himself in a situation where he needed that tool. -
CGSailor — 16 years ago(June 14, 2009 11:41 AM)
However, what got me was was that these guys were deploying soldiers in full uniform carrying M16s locked and loaded.
Soldiers, even deploying ones in uniform, do not carry their weapons, locked, loaded or otherwise, while travelling on civiian transportation.
I fully believe your hubby had trouble with the multitool. I CAN see that happening, but then the rest of your story seems like embellisment to drive home your point (Unnecessary)
I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water! -
Katya0779 — 16 years ago(June 14, 2009 09:42 PM)
So CG Sailor,
I talked to my husband again about the incident, which happened three years ago, and I erred. His weapon was not "locked and loaded" (katya0779, 2009) as I stated in my previous post. Rather it was that usually when on a civilian plane, soldiers are asked to take out a bolt. No one asked them to take out the bolt or check their bags for rounds. However my husband verified it was NOT "locked and loaded" as I said.
Mea culpa. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa. I was wrong in my statement. However in no way was my error done with the motive and intent for "embellishment" (CG Sailor 2009)as you stated. -
dansig122 — 16 years ago(June 27, 2009 08:03 AM)
I thought it was a pretty accurate depiction of TSA scumbags. They are completely incompetent and some of the most condescending people I have ever met. Everyone at the TSA, from the highest level managers to that fat black bitch at the gate in Greensboro who makes people empty their baby's bottles, are undeserving of anything but contempt. They are why I refuse to ever fly again.
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nickm2 — 16 years ago(June 27, 2009 12:13 PM)
"They are completely incompetent and some of the most condescending people I have ever met. Everyone at the TSA, from the highest level managers to that fat black bitch at the gate in Greensboro who makes people empty their baby's bottles, are undeserving of anything but contempt."
dansig: While I don't fly very much at all AND have never had a bad experience with TSA in recent years, I keep hearing about such thingsand it occurred to me that they are typical 'civil servants-your tax dollars at work-the compassion of the Internal Revenue Service coupled with the competence of the Department of Motor Vehicles';
NM -
redwingjs — 16 years ago(June 27, 2009 03:08 PM)
The typical TSA is scraped from the bottom of the barrel because no one with half a brain wants to the job.
I'm not an actor. I just play one on TV.
www.werepissedoff.net -
razman1983 — 16 years ago(July 28, 2009 12:00 AM)
So wait.you want preferential treatment cuz you wear a special costume? LOL come onthey are doing their job so let them do itthey are here to protect US too ya know.youre not the only ones
-Spoilers are for the weak -
sunnsky — 16 years ago(August 10, 2009 08:19 PM)
I remember flying back from Washington DC just after the 4th of July this year and saw a male Navy officer in his dress whites who had to strip down to his undershirt, socks, and pants to go through security. I think it's stupid, but most people don't realize all of the rules that military people have to abide by just when they dress (ex. x pin must be y inches above the top of the left breast pocket) and by removing the jacket, you risk wrinkling it, which would get you into trouble if a superior saw you in it and reported your appearance (not that many TSA personnel know that). To the officer's credit, even though he went through security after me, he had his clothes back on and his stuff back together before I had finished repacking my items (laptop back in its case, etc).
"I wanna, I gotta be adored."