Text 27265, 84 rader
Skriven 2012-03-26 10:49:25 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
Ärende: Soldiers going home ... copied from a Facebook post ...
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As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the
followinng:
 
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
 
**********************************************************************
 
Just to add my 2 cents worth ... Last year I was stopped by security because I
had bought a 125cc jar of Huckleberry jam ... inside the terminal secure-area
...
 
Using Huckleberry jam as a weapon ... wowww ...
 
 \%/@rd 

--- D'Bridge 3.59
 * Origin: Many Glacier / Protect - Preserve - Conserve (2:292/854)