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Military in Uniform at Airport


M2

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Guest Johann

Rainmain,

That was an awesome post.

Brabus:

I think you're the tool in that situation. You had no idea what that Marine had done prior to your sighting of him. Its quite obvious you know jack about the Corps or you'd know that a "two-striper" in the Marine Corps is an NCO, and very respected at that (unlike a SrA in the AF).

You should have just STFU, bought him a beer and given him a thank-you, since he's probably done more in his few years in the Corps than you'll EVER do in the AF.

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Guest Rainman A-10
I'm at Bagram right now sitting CAS Alert, and your words could not ring more true. Thanks...

Get some.

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Guest Safe&Clear
He was a 2 stripe...whatever that is in the marines. So yeah younger, but he had enough ribbons and shit that I'm pretty sure he was further than just out of basic. He just didn't have that "new guy" look. Seemed like maybe he's been in 1.5 yrs, went and did 6 months in Iraq and now is billy badass. At least that's my guess. Either way, what a tool.

Don't know who you are Brabus, but why don't you go do 6 months in Iraq as a ground-troop *Marine* and see if you aren't "billy bad-ass". If you survive.

We're in the Air Force because we don't have the balls to be Marines. I'll admit it. I'd love to kill as many motherfvckers in a day as a Marine gets to.... but I couldn't hack it. Could you?

Don't call your brothers-in-arms "tools". We're in a war here...

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Got it S&C...at least you realized that. I have a ton of respect for what those guys do, but I joined the AF to fly b/c that's how I wanted to help fight. If I couldn't fly, I'd be out of the AF in a second and on the ground. In a way I do envy my classmates who are in the Marines/Navy...at least they're in a military service that acts like it's the military. I love the small part of the flying world I've been introduced to, but it's unfortunate that so much of the rest of the AF, and all the PC/BS rules and regs that go along w/ it, make me wish I had just wanted to fly for the Marines/Navy in the beginning. We all have our own reasons for joining one service or the other, but as you said, it's all one team in the end.

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Guest momann

Come on guys, brabus made a mistake and he admitted it. So lay it to rest. It takes a very big and humble man to admit he's wrong, I applaud you brabus.

I joined the AF because I love the way the treat and respected their airmen, period. Yes, I want to serve my country, but living as the Army and Marines does as if they're at war every day year round, to me is silly. Now I know there're other opinions out there, but that's mine. I want to train hard for war and dish it to the bad guys big time during war, but that doesn't mean I shouldn’t live as a decently in peace time without losing my battle edge or war sprit. These people do have to live a tough live all in the name of conditioning them for war. I don’t buy that philosophy. They can still be a bas ass living as the Navy or AF. Love or hate the AF. It's better at training, mentoring, motivating and performing its mission. To top that, the AF was not design to perform similar duties as the Army, Marine or Navy. Remember, we all have different missions and capabilities and each service was uniquely design to achieve it role in the enforcement of this country's will. That said, respect our differences and realize together, we're a formidable force to reckon with.

I've said my peace. Have at it if you'll.

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  • 4 months later...
Guest davalt10
To be honest, it reeks of that beer commercial a while back, where everyone in the airport terminal starts clapping when some troops walk through it…

do you mean this one?

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Guest DDerrick51

The Army actually has a DOD memo out that all personnel traveling on official DOD business will travel in ACU's. I went TDY a lot on the airlines and actually looked up the letter to see if it was true (I still didn't wear them). Sure enough. Also, when coming back on leave, you (I mean by that Army guys) are not allowed to fly out on the leave dedicated aircraft in civilian clothes. Don't ask me to explain why the Army is doing this. On the bright side, it is almost a guaranteed first class upgrade.

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Guest JorryFright21
On the bright side, it is almost a guaranteed first class upgrade.

Nothing wrong with that! Anyone who sees that as being improper, really should keep it to themselves. With the sacrifices (15 month tours) these guys are making, I'd say they deserve an upgrade.

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Nothing wrong with that! Anyone who sees that as being improper, really should keep it to themselves. With the sacrifices (15 month tours) these guys are making, I'd say they deserve an upgrade.

Two

Take a minute to welcome them home as well. 15 months is a long time. Hell, 45 days is a long time.

Check out the DFW USO as well if you are so inclined. Nice folks there.

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On the subject, if you are deploying or re-deploying via commercial airline, you can get your family past the security checkpoint to the gate to see you off or meet you when you return. ACC sent the message below to the Family Support Centers.

According to TSA Security Directive 1544-01-10w (Access to Sterile Concourse for Non-traveling Individuals), Military Passenger Family Members may be given a pass to escort the military passenger to the gate or to meet a military passenger's inbound arrival at the gate.

According to a TSA spokesperson, family members who want to escort the service member to the departure gate need to process through the airline ticket line when the service member checks in or checks their baggage. The airline will at that point issue the special access pass(es) and the family member(s) will need to proceed through the security station at the same time and the military member.

Family members who want to meet their service member at the arrival gate should first check to see if the airport has a USO Office. The USO is working with TSA and the airlines to secure the special access passes. If the airport does not have a USO Office, family members should go to the ticket counter of the airline that the military member is flying on and request the passes.

Family members will need to present the pass and photo ID (i.e., Drivers License) to get through the security checkpoint.

The TSA spokesperson stated that "Not all Airports or Airlines" are able to issue the special access pass(es) to meet returning service members at the gate due to local security situations. The same Spokesperson also stated that "one way to make this process easier, is for the traveling service member to inform the ticket agent at check in, that family members will be contacting the ticket office at the arrival destination to request the special pass(es)."

Note 1 - This TSA Security Directive primarily affects military personnel who are on leave from Afghanistan or Iraq. It will offer a better "welcome home" for those service members as they exit the airplane to see their family at the gate. As well as provide service members more time with their families before leaving. This policy is in effect at U.S. airports only.

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Guest TheBurt

Guess I missed this thread earlier in the year, interesting comments, any Herk driver knows why they are in ACU's in the airport because you've done the double turns hauling them in and out on their way to/from leave........ I've had a lot of opportunity to walk around airports deadheading for work over the last few years, take the time to go and buy them beers when you see them at the watering holes in the terminal, tell them you appreciate what they are doing, you just may be impressed by what they have to say...... I bet more than a few folks have done the same for you. Not directed at anyone, just a thought.

TheBurt

Edited by TheBurt
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On the subject, if you are deploying or re-deploying via commercial airline, you can get your family past the security checkpoint to the gate to see you off or meet you when you return. ACC sent the message below to the Family Support Centers.

They let my friend's family do that when he went back on leave before he was deployed for Iraq. They even let his girlfriend go past the security checkpoint with him. I thought that was pretty cool.

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They let my friend's family do that when he went back on leave before he was deployed for Iraq. They even let his girlfriend go past the security checkpoint with him. I thought that was pretty cool.

Normal leave paperwork will get 3 family members past security with you.

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  • 4 months later...
Guest rivet_doobie
I am sitting in Atlanta-Hartsfield during a six-hour layover, and I am amazed at all the Army bubbas running around here in their ACUs. There has to be at least a dozen of them in the food court where I am sitting.

I know the USAF policy was blues-only if flying commercially, with exceptions of course. But if I had to guess I would say the Army seems to be encouraging its troops to travel on commercial air in ACUs. Is this the result of yet another clever Army recruiting campaign? Or is the Army so anal that it doesn’t allow its troops one set of civilian clothes to wear while traveling on commercial flights? To be honest, it reeks of that beer commercial a while back, where everyone in the airport terminal starts clapping when some troops walk through it…

Well, back to my $4 cup of coffee!

Cheers! M2

If you're going to/from a deployment you gotta do it in uniform (at least on the flight into/out of the AOR). You could carry extra clothes and change in one of the connecting airports, but who wants to carry extra clothes! I'm getting ready to leave the AOR in a few days and I'm going back in my DFCUs. Why would I want to carry more crap in my hands for the long trip home? I don't care what I wear. I just wanna get home and take a long, hot shower til the hot water runs out. <TMI deleted>

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Normal leave paperwork will get 3 family members past security with you.

I was returning from x-mas leave back to Randolph and my wife and kids took me to the airport. I had to use my military ID to check in since I had the gov fare and the lady at the counter gave me passes for the family. I thought that was pretty cool since I didn't even ask for one.

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when my group was returning home from OEF in Jan 07, the Delta ticket agents at BWI gave us the 1st class upgrade. They made an announcement in the gate, thanking us for our service and here's your upgrade. All the taxpayers knew it was Delta's dime on that one. And it was a pretty awesome gesture.

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I was returning from x-mas leave back to Randolph and my wife and kids took me to the airport. I had to use my military ID to check in since I had the gov fare and the lady at the counter gave me passes for the family. I thought that was pretty cool since I didn't even ask for one.

If you're travelling on orders you can get passes for the family to escort you to the gate of your departure. If you land at an airport with a USO, the USO people can escort your family to the gate to greet you when you arrive.

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Speaking of the topic title, I just came back from OIF via the BWI rotator. I've never taken the rotator home on previous deployment(s). After landing and getting my bags from a 36 hour ordeal coming home, I was a little unprepared for the clapping and cheering receiving line from the USO. Even though I was totally exhausted, it was awesome to shake hands and hear THANK YOU 50x from people I've never met. I really appreciated it.

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Speaking of the topic title, I just came back from OIF via the BWI rotator. I've never taken the rotator home on previous deployment(s). After landing and getting my bags from a 36 hour ordeal coming home, I was a little unprepared for the clapping and cheering receiving line from the USO. Even though I was totally exhausted, it was awesome to shake hands and hear THANK YOU 50x from people I've never met. I really appreciated it.

Welcome back, dude!

Cheers! M2

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We were told that you were required to deny the upgrade so that the GP didn't think you were flying around in luxury on the tax payers dime. Is that just USAF thing?

From a technical standpoint this is correct. I think what the other posters were saying is that the Army guys who've been gone for such a long time deserve it. Bumping them up to 1st class for their flight home is a pretty small thank you and one they technically can't accept but I don't know many people who would blame them for doing it.

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