Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deserve respect from the TSA
Posted on August 15, 2006
The “hyper concerns” of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to avoid the appearance of “profiling” has created a condition where valuable resources are being wasted and American Servicemembers are being publicly humiliated. In the Orlando Sentinal, Steven Alvarez, a US Army Reserve Officer, writes of his experience upon returning from Southwest Asia while he is in uniform, in possession of his DOD ID Card and traveling on an airline ticket that shows it was purchased by the US Government:
A little-known fact about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that the U.S. military requires soldiers to travel in uniform from theater. An even lesser known fact is that the Transportation Security Administration aggressively targets war veterans as they travel home to their loved ones.
At Baltimore’s airport on my way back to Orlando from Iraq, there were about 50 soldiers in line, waiting to be cleared by TSA. I noticed soldiers taking off clothing, and then they assumed the position so commonly seen in police-chase videos, arms and legs spread wide as a screener passed a wand close to their bodies. Soldiers were asked to remove belts, boots and shirts, and their carry-on bags were ransacked.
The TSA has been planning a program called the Registered Traveler Program which has already been rolled out in Orlando under the name “Clear.”
Registered Traveler would have allowed certain airline passengers to quickly go through a separate airport security lane if they paid a fee, passed a government background check and submitted fingerprints.
The TSA beauracrats do not realize that every member of the US Military is already a member of a “registered traveler program.” Every single one of them has “passed a background check and submitted fingerprints” along with being eligible for or having some form of active current security clearances allowing them access to the security “secrets” of the United States. Members of the US Military have gone through background checks far more stringent then the TSA Screeners that are humiliating them.
Every member of the US Military carries an identification card that is the same regardless of service. It is a tamper proof card, easy to identify and can be easily verified in a DOD database.
It is time for Congress to step in and require that the TSA take steps to ensure that members of the US Military, with their Department of Defense issued ID Card are treated no differently than a traveler with a Registered Traveler Card. Members of the US Military deserve nothing less.
» Filed Under News, War On Terror
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14 Responses to “Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deserve respect from the TSA”
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Syndicate Me
Are you aware that members of Congress do not have to go through security? They passed that little law several years ago and kept it very quite. Meanwhile the rest of us have to put up with the theater security and other bull.
When the SGM came home on leave from Afghanistan, the plane – completely full of nothing but military in their uniforms – had to go through 2 hours of customs because they got off their plane in Ireland for refueling purposes. They were kept in one area of the airport in Ireland, not allowed to leave that area and reboarded the plane. They even made them take off their combat boots!! They had flown from Kuwait, to Ireland to Atlanta and were treated like terrorists.
Ireland doesn’t want any filthy Americans dropping any ammunition in Ireland… some otherwise innocent person might get hold of it and decide to pursue a criminal end based on a single round.
And yes, I know that soldiers don’t carry ammunition with them. Too bad that airport security doesn’t know it.
Only one problem. How easy would it be for a terrorist get a US Military uniform and a fake ID card. They have even killed american service men to get their ID card. This was done by the Baden-Manhoff gang in Germany.
Cuz people with military uniforms on never do anything wrong. Righto!
gfactor, “Cuz people with military uniforms on never do anything wrong. Righto!”
Read the post. The premise of the post is that Military members that have a tamper proof ID Card issued by DOD have been vetted equal to or better than individuals with a “Registered Traveler Card.”
It makes no sense to subject these individuals to EXTRA security.
They should be treated EQUAL to those that spend the $90 and have a quickee background check.
Dethaniel, “How easy would it be for a terrorist get a US Military uniform and a fake ID card.”
The DOD ID card is tamper proof, contains biometrics and can be swiped to check it with a DOD database.
If the card is stolen and reported it will show as such. If the thumb print is a mismatch it will show.
It is at least as secure as the “Clear” card that is currently in use.
IF it makes “sense” for the Department of Defense to allow soldiers to access “secret” databases with the use of this card, access to all military facilities with this card, access to parts of Air Force bases that would be “off limits” at a civilian airport does it not make sense to allow the one million plus card carrying members to join the “Registered Traveler” line?
Don’t get me wrong, they will STILL go through security, it will be at the level pre 9/11.
We can search Military personnel in Uniform, people in wheel chairs, but we can’t pay attention to Muslims with a one-way ticket?
“Read the post. The premise of the post is that Military members that have a tamper proof ID Card issued by DOD have been vetted equal to or better than individuals with a “Registered Traveler Card.””
Oh you didn’t mention that it was tamper proof. Why don’t we have everyone have tamper proof IDs?
gfactor, “Oh you didn’t mention that it was tamper proof.”
Read the last two paragraphs. But hey, I scan blogs myself!!
Arggh. It’s “Nietzsche Redux”. It’s spelled correctly at The Clash. I was just trying to get your attention. (and you did, so I corrected it) Lobo
Very interesting site – I plan to visit often!
Keep it up!
If you people think any ID is tamper proof you are badly mistaken.
Dethanial, “If you people think any ID is tamper proof you are badly mistaken.”
You are clearly not familiar with the DOD ID cards currently issued.
The premise of the post is that a Military ID card is “equal” to the “Clear Card” issued to those in the “Registered Traveler Program.”
Ergo, all soldiers presenting a Military ID card at an airport should be treated IAW the “Registered Traveler Program.”
This would help shrink the lines and allow TSA to concentrate on more likely threats.
“The premise of the post is that a Military ID card is “equal” to the “Clear Card” issued to those in the “Registered Traveler Program.””
And those are ‘tamper proof’? why aren’t all IDs?