Rio Dulce Chisme Vindicator

Captain John · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:40 pm Post subject: TSA Story

Excuse me for posting all of this but some may not be able to access it on Facebook. Here's the link for those that can.

http://www.facebook.com/JamesTravisBerry

As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards. Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That's where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane-even though the plane wasn't refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It's probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren't loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it re-inspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to re-inspect our Cargo-just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, re-inspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.

This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we're in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they're going to confiscate his nail clippers.

The conversation went something like this:
TSA Guy: You can't take those on the plane.
Soldier: What? I've had them since we left country.
TSA Guy: You're not suppose to have them.
Soldier: Why?
TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.
Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I'm allowed to take it on.
TSA Guy: Yeah but you can't use it to take over the plane. You don't have bullets.
Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?
TSA Guy: [awkward silence]
Me: Dude, just give him your F**K**G nail clippers so we can get the F**K out of here. I'll buy you a new set.
Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]

To top it off, the TSA demanded we all be swabbed for "explosive residue" detection. Everyone failed, [go figure, we just came home from a war zone], because we tested positive for "Gun Powder Residue". Who the Hell is hiring these people?

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns-but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.

Can someone please tell me What the hell happened to OUR country while we were gone?
Sgt. Mad Dog Tracy
_________________
I have been asked...what do you old folks do now that you're retired? Well..I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch , and margaritas into urine.

Avian · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:55 pm Post subject:

gary already posted this back in Jan.
http://riodulcechisme.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=6246
_________________
#1 Birdbrain on the Rio!
*** Don't take life so seriously - we're only stardust ***

Captain John · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:01 pm Post subject:

I remembered seeing the story before but didn't remember it being here on the Chisme. Looks like more than one birdbrain on the Rio Laughing

_________________
I have been asked...what do you old folks do now that you're retired? Well..I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch , and margaritas into urine.

Avian · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:05 pm Post subject:

markfisher · Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 5:44 pm Post subject:

OMG Capt. John made a mistake a first. Never though that could happen.

Interesting read though!

gary · Junior River Rat Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Posts: 31

Thank you Avian – what a wise bird you are. It’s funny that I posted it in ‘The Pub’ not ‘The Fight Club’ – I must have thought it was funny or of interest not the fodder for fighting over!!!! And Mark – did you not read it the first time it was posted???????? I am disappointed in you! (Joking!!!!!)

markfisher · Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:09 pm Post subject:

Gary

Sure did read it both times how screwy. So often one hand does not know what the other is doing when it come to Government and the same can be said for big business.

Captain John · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 6:54 am Post subject:

markfisher · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:50 am Post subject:

John very funny . So glad to C U have a sense of hummer.
Your one snappy guy. Like I said before when I grow up wish I could be just like you ,good looking and smart.

Avian · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:54 am Post subject: