USVI-On-Line

My nephew just completed his second tour of duty in Iraq.

His unit landed stateside late Sunday in Maine, and then flew back to Georgia on Monday.

The TSA screeners made all 150 or so of these soldiers throw away any gels or liquids that don't meet the current standards ( 3 oz or less, in a quart zip loc bag, etc.). Just coming from overseas that meant that all of them lost their toothpaste, mouthwash, contact solution, and who knows what else.

...But they were allowed to board carrying their M16s with grenade launchers...

So, they were on a commercial flight with their M-16s? I thought they usually took charter flights.

bayer40601 wrote:So, they were on a commercial flight with their M-16s? I thought they usually took charter flights.

Not once they are stateside. I am assuming that augie is referring to the flight from Maine back to the base in Georgia, not the Kuwait to Maine leg (which is sometimes a commercial flight too).

I'm trying to think of something upbeat to say about the TSA people...hmm....

It's really a shame that these guys are over there laying their lives on the line and then they have to go through that crap at the airport. Your going to tell a soldier that may have seen seen his buddy get blown up in Iraq that he can't have 3 1/2 oz. of shampoo in his duffel bag???? B.S. That makes me really angry.

I'm confused. On which flight were they allowed to take their M-16s?

And if they were on a charter flight, even in the states, would they still have to go through TSA?

Finally, even if they did have to go through TSA on a charter flight, why would they be allowed to carry weapons, but not toothpaste? Afraid some soldier would get another down and brush his teeth?

I'm assuming they had their M-16s with them on any and all flights that they took, but the one where the liquids and gels were confiscated was a commercial flight from Maine to Georgia.

And no, it doesn't make one iota of sense...

Were they carrying ammo too but not allowed liquids?

Teresa_Rae wrote:Were they carrying ammo too but now allowed liquids?

I believe so.

Now that is absurd!

I wouldn't think the had ammo that is distibuted in theater and taken away there too. Most of the time you aren't even flying with your magazines. Now I could see them having a 8 inch kabar.

Maybe the TSA decided to try out Archie Bunker's idea of giving every passenger a gun.

Here's some things posted on another board. Just to lighten things up some. Feel so bad for those soldiers

This is the email I sent out to friends/family that are going with ut.

Less then 48 hours and counting down!!! Packed, relaxed and not stressing.

Hope some of you get a laugh out of this.
Hey Ry & Jen, Donna & Craig,

Read to the end...it's so funny. HEY!! It's less then 48 hours, let the fun begin!

You can print out your boarding passes after 9:45 tomorrow morning (24 hours ahead of time). Make sure you don't loose them. I put them in one of those plastic inserts we have in the office.

Also, make sure that everybody has the following. Very important! We will not be able to board without the following:

*Passports
*License
*Original confirmation of the flight
*Boarding passes (you'll print them out)
*Personal insurance information or any other cards, like prescription cards, hospital insurace cars, just in case.
*Proof of car insurance. We have ours, then your Mom's and yours (drivers)

The TSA (Transportation Security Authority) requires that anybody bringing anything on as carry-on have their personal products in a QUART SIZE ziplock baggie. Nothing that you carry on can be more the 3 oz. Medications can be in a separate bag, but must be in the pharmacy container and ready to be inspected at security. If you need bags, I have plenty.

Each person is only allowed one bag (regulation size) and one personal bag to board.


FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE!!!
I can see it now....for the airlines to work in the years to come. No checked baggage, one carry on ONLY big enough to hold a toothbrush, toothpaste and deoderant. They will be selling "space", there will be no seats in the luggage department of the belly of the planes. After all..no luggage will be there. Everyone will be responsbile for making sure you pee before you get on the plane, because bathrooms will not be available once you get on. Then, when exiting the plane, you will have to take your chances and jump to the ground. To further save money, there will be no flight attendants and only one pilot. Food or drinks/water will not be available (bathroom situations). To further lighten the load and save fuel, all passengers will be required to wear ONLY bathing suits and the paper booties you can get at any medical store.

They will have bathrooms on the flights - just bring quarters to get into them. The space in the bottom of the plane will be known as economy class - and will have straps like subway cars. What was formerly economy will be business class. You won't have to jump off the plane to get off - you'll be able to pay a fee to use the rope ladder. I think you are right that they won't serve you drinks or water, but you will be able to bring your own aboard - so long as you pay the corkage fee. You forgot to mention the air system access charge for the excessive cost of pumping air into the cabin and keeping it at a survivable temperature. Finally, don't forget to bring extra dollar bills because I believe I read somewhere the new safety speech will say something like, "in the unlikely event we lose cabin pressure, please insert a dollar bill in the slot in the seatback in front of you so that an oxygen mask will drop from the ceiling. Insert a second dollar to initiate the flow of oxygen." It is always kind to bring extra money as well to leave a little something in the tip jar at the bottom of the rope ladder when you exit - after all it is alot of responsibility for the lone pilot.I was reading the TSA site yesterday...another pain in the neck in flying and I was amazed at what you can and can't bring.

I can't bring more then 3 oz of deoderant, but I can bring knitting needles to poke somebodies eyes out.
I can't bring more then 3 oz of shampoo, but hey!!! I can bring disposable razors for either a quick shave or razor fight with another passenger.
I can bring a lighter now!! But I can't bring matches???
Can't bring spray paint...I'm so upset. Wanted to pass the time doing some graffiti.

I'm glad that I can't bring the following. No brainers I would hope.

Axes and Hatches, Saws, Cattle Prods (that's so funny), Ski Poles, knives, bows and arrows (another one that is hysterical)!

Seriously, I'm sitting here laughing at some of these things.

Have a nice day!

"One who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither." Some say Ben Franklin said that over 200 years ago. Some say that he didn't. Whoever said it was right on. A contemporary folk-rock singer named Greg Brown wrote a song called," I Want My Country Back". He's right on, too. And good old John Prine wrote, "It Don't Make No Sense That Commen Sense Don't Make No Sense No More" Old John hit the nail on the head.
That's All Folks!

I'm sorry, but I can understand enforcing the regulations and not allowing more than 3 oz. of liquids. But, to allow M-16s? I'm sorry, that just does not make any sense to me at all, especially when flying inside the US on a commercial flight. I get it on military charter flights, but on a commercial flight, no way.