I really have lost hope for airport security
 

I had planned to make the 30 hour drive back to base this last weekend, but changed my mind when I got home, I needed to spend more time at home to clear my head. So I now had to fly back to base, and a day before I had to leave, I had no ticket, and no way back to base. Not the best idea I've ever had.

Well me and a buddy get to the Twin Cities International Airport, and we get security exempt because we're military. I enjoy being exempt from searches, but it really doesn't make much sense. Who went to be a clan leader in Somalia after the Mogadishu incident? Former Marine. Who shot JFK? Former Marine. Who went on a shooting spree from a tower in Texas? Former Marine. Who were the "snipers" in DC? Former Army. Who was a radical muslim who threw a grenade on his own troops? Army Airborne. But let's forget about that ;)

Not only were we exempt, the security personnel even comes up to my buddy and tells him that he has a torch lighter in his bag (which is not allowed), and if we were to have a layover somewhere, they would probably take it. What's next, "Sir, you have a sub machine-gun in your bag, I'm only telling you because another airport may take it from you."

Anyway, the way luck works when we fly into San Diego (2.5 hours away), no one with a car was answering their cell phone. We ended up being in line for a Greyhound ticket 20 minutes before the last bus takes off to Palm Springs, and the line is moving slow. We actually had to have the driver hold the bus so we could get a ticket and get on. Then all our rides from Palm Springs backed out, so we ended up having to get a $150 cab back to base, at midnight. To top it off, I didn't have a haircut for 2.5 weeks, and we're required to have one every Monday when we show up to work. So now I'm going out in town at 1am to find a barber shop open. Not a good trip back.

But things will get better as the day go on, right? NO! Of course not! The store on base does not have Full Spectrum Warrior, the only game I've cared about since E3 2003! Quick trip to my local Gamestop? Not an option, it's 1.5 hours away, next to the nearest Best Buy. And of course, I'm leaving Saturday morning to go to Ft. Irwin, CA for a training exercise lasting until the 22nd. I'm never going to get to play!

Reply with sympathy posts please :)

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

I'm glad to hear your enjoying your stay in my beloved state :)

1. On a second note, that's pretty peculiar that you have to get a haircut every Monday. Does hair really grow that much in a week's time?

2. Also, is your training rigourous and hard? If so, do you feel you've benefited from it?

3. When and where do you play video games when you're in the ARMY?

4. Is the word 'ARMY' an acronym? If so, can you decode it for me?

5. Do you wear a standard camalflouge uniform with black boots?

6. Have you ever been punished by a superior? If so, what did the punishment entail? Have you ever witnessed someone else being punished?

7. Do you communicate with friends and family through standard mail or e-mail?

8. Do you have a recent picture you'd care to upload for my viewing?

9. Do you miss being a good ol' fashioned student?

10. When fully dressed, how many weapons and gadgets are on you? What are they?

11. Have you been in a fight with anyone yet?

12. Do you sleep in bunk beds? If yes, do you normally use the top or bottom bunk?

13. Do you sleep in pajamas?

14. Do you have any pictures or sentimental keepsakes with you?

15. Have you made any close friends?

16. What time do you wake up? Do you have a curfew?

17. When a soldier isn't training, what are they usually found doing?

18. What's your ranking?

19. Is the miitary going to be a lifeling career for you?

20. How is military food? Yay or nay?

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

**** California.

No, however, that's the way the military does things. Pays you next to nothing, expects you to pay $260 a year on haircuts. Hair cannot exceed 1/8 inch on the sides.

Yes. Have I benefited? Yes. Does that mean I enjoy it? Hell no.

I'm not in the Army, I'm in the Marine Corps. And you play them back in your barracks room when you're not working.

Aren't Ready for Marines Yet.

The Marine Corps where the desert digital MARPAT cammies with brown boots. We also have woodland, however, we only wear desert out here, because we're in the desert.

Can be anything from keeping you up all night doing stupid stuff, to physical punishment. Running huge hills of soft sand and loose rock, doing painful exercises until you get it right, or cleaning until the early hours of the morning so you don't get any sleep. Whatever they can think of. Trust me, they get creative.

During boot camp, standard. When deployed, standard. Any other time, phone, email, whatever.

Don't have anyway to do it here. I could in July.

Sitting on my ass doing nothing, playing games, and then complaining because I have to work for a whole hour doing homework? Yes, I miss it. Didn't then, do now. I miss the lazy civilian life. I would give my left nut to work 40 hours a week, and have a regular schedule. Get off based on the clock, not work all night long until the job is done.

Me? Not much. I drive a LAV-25. I carry a M16A2 (soon to be M16A4), but I don't carry nearly as much ammo and night vision equipment that a straight-leg infantry would.

What type of fight?

No, the beds are separated in my room.

Personally no, but no one is stopping me.

Not really. I'll take pictures of my family with me to Iraq, but memories is enough for me, until I return.

Many.

Depends when we have to go to work the next day. And no curfew. For example, today we had a formation at 1600, where we are turned to liberty (time off) and told to be at formation tomorrow at 0515. So if I want to stay out all night, it doesn't matter, just need to be there on time. Sometimes I'm up at 0330, on good days, 0600.

Classes on different things. Anything from clearing a room, to Arabic culture to the weapon systems. We work on vehicles, doing maintenance.

Private First Class, E-2.

Nope, getting out after 4.

Chow hall can be pretty good. MREs are disgusting.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

I was thinking of joining the army...military..(same thing i think) or navy...but navy is at the bottom, and army is at the top. Im thinkin in a year or two i might join up.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

Odd.. I thought Canada didn't have any troops?

Army is land-based, Navy is marine-based. Neither is better than the other. Military is just the name of a group of armed forces.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

Why wouldnt Canada have troops? And i never said either is better, in the view of killing, they both kill things, but its my personal choice that i want to be in the Army.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

You: Canada doesn't have troops
Me: Yes we do
You: No we dont
Me: (random swear)

Do you not remember this conversation?

Also you said that "Navy was at the bottom, Army was at the top", I had no clue what you were talking about, and still don't.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

Navy at the bottom of my list, army at the top. Its not too diffucult to decode.


And do you not get sarcasm? I know we have an army. Its just viewed as lame in other peoples eyes. Lighten up a little, its not like i hate my own country or anything.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

Argh... Is all I have to say to that gekko .. When the marines get stuck somewhere who do they call the ARMY thats right for extraction just look at most situations. Stupid jarhead bullet catchers. But god loves marines because they keep heaven stocked. With enemy and marine dead alike. Grrr.. M.A.R.I.N.E My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment, Yep your still in the NAVY. Thats why at the bottom of the Marine crest is says department of the Navy.. Now that I'm off that rant, Because I have lots of marine friends. Ie Jim Williams with the 1st Marine Exp.


Typhoid I think you should join Canada's military espically with the Helecopter pilots, They trained with us down on FT.Hood and I would serve with any of them any day of the week good people they are.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

No, Typhpoid, I have no idea what sarcasm is.

I'm sorry that I was not able to read your mind, or could not understand what you were saying over the internet.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

Crono, just think, why would i say that we have no military? It doesnt make sense. Now to back up this argument we look at Chewbacca, he is a wookie. But he lives on the planet with all those little furry creatures. Why would a wookie want to live with all those little furry creatures. It doesnt make sense.



And im not going to join the pilot or helicopter devisions, just the ground troops. But honestly, i have no idea why. Probably because i've never been in a plane before (yes, it is sad) or maybe i just dont feel all to confident in my flying abilities etc.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

You said it, not me. And since I have no idea what you're really like, I believed what you were saying was true.


And on the topic of military, I plan on going to RMC (Royal Military College of Canada). Free education with military training. Not a bad idea... since I'll be able to avoid years of financial debt to student aid loans.

Re: I really have lost hope for airport security
 

uh...wtf

wasn't that the "good idea" we had for about 15 minutes after that presentation last year?

man, screw that.