Wearing CAP Blues in Airport

Started by capsr, June 23, 2011, 11:40:01 PM

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capsr

I was flying out from Dallas Fort-Worth airport over the weekend and ran into a CAP Major who was wearing his Blues uniform walking around the airport for a departing flight I assume (since he was in the secure area). Is there a new policy allowing members to wear their uniform in this fashion at airports? I always thought you could only wear it on a military base or within an hour or two after a meeting of course minor exceptions depending on the situation. I just found it interesting.

nesagsar

Members are usually encouraged to wear a uniform (usually blues with the lightweight blue jacket) when on travel to or from CAP activities.

AdAstra

See CAP Knowledgebase #1051:
Yes you have that option. Members who choose to wear a military-style uniform when traveling by commercial means (other than to and from local CAP activities) will wear the service dress uniform or light blue, short or long sleeve shirt/blouse with tie/tab.

I've seen a number of members do this. Personally, I find it more comfortable to wear civvies.
Charles Wiest

Major Lord

It could be a false impression, but it always looks to me like the TSA gives special attention to service members in uniform. Maybe they just love to watch people struggle with re-blousing their trousers after having to take off their boots. At least in service dress, you don't have to completely disgrace yourself by being the half-naked CAP guy....
I liked the HBO film ( Taking Chance) with Kevin Bacon when he told the TSA to pound sand ( or words to that effect) when they told him to take off his jacket while on a KIA return mission. Its not the same with us, admittedly, but I bet you that many more of us have shed blood sweat and occasionally tears ( well, the former Navy guys at least) in our uniforms than those Nazis in TSA.

Major Lord
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

HGjunkie

Taking Chance was a really good movie. That's the epitome of discipline wearing the uniform right there.
••• retired
2d Lt USAF

SABRE17

He refused to take off his jacket because the service member escorting the killed service member must remain in uniform at all times... right?

If not what was the reasoning for him refusing?
I saw the movie, a great one at that, but that bit always puzzled me.

HGjunkie

Quote from: SABRE17 on June 24, 2011, 01:40:18 AM
He refused to take off his jacket because the service member escorting the killed service member must remain in uniform at all times... right?

If not what was the reasoning for him refusing?
I saw the movie, a great one at that, but that bit always puzzled me.

It's respect for the Nation's uniform.
••• retired
2d Lt USAF

Major Lord

Think of an Honor Guard being asked to take off their uniforms while carrying the Colors of the United States of America or add the Rainbow flag ahead of the National Colors, or a funeral hearse being stopped so that the Highway Patrol could check their commercial vehicle permit. Multiply that X 10. The Major was carrying out not just a normal duty, but a Sacred duty,  and no TSA welfare-job punk is going to tell an Officer of the United States Marine Corp how to do that or be allowed to interfere with it.

Major Lord
"Why does the muskrat guard his musk, In the misty mist and the dusky dusk? I'll tell you why; Courage" The Cowardly Lion
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

capsr

Good to know. Thank you for the information.  :clap: Looking at the regulations BDU's and Corporate's in the airport traveling are a No-No.

Speaking on the TSA, the Marine below looks like he just came out of a TSA checkpoint like Major Lord was referring to.


Fubar

Quote from: nesagsar on June 24, 2011, 12:16:58 AMMembers are usually encouraged to wear a uniform (usually blues with the lightweight blue jacket) when on travel to or from CAP activities.

Encouraged? Must be a local thing, because it's not encouraged around here. Even the cadets have been traveling in civvies as ordered by the NCSAs they are attending.

PA Guy

Quote from: capsr on June 24, 2011, 04:51:03 AM
Good to know. Thank you for the information.  :clap: Looking at the regulations BDU's and Corporate's in the airport traveling are a No-No.

Speaking on the TSA, the Marine below looks like he just came out of a TSA checkpoint like Major Lord was referring to.



That is a photo of a poser not a Marine.  Look at the shoes.  The trousers are way too long and the white belt isn't secured properly.  No marksmanship bling or NDSM and wearing PFC stripes, it doesn't work that way.  Plus look at the link for the photo. 

PA Guy

I never travel in uniform.  I find it uncomfortable and have concerns re: personal security/safety.  I don't even wear clothing with logos etc. that might connect me with the govt/military.  I try to blend in the best I can.

NIN

#12
Quote from: Major Lord on June 24, 2011, 12:48:21 AM
It could be a false impression, but it always looks to me like the TSA gives special attention to service members in uniform. Maybe they just love to watch people struggle with re-blousing their trousers after having to take off their boots. At least in service dress, you don't have to completely disgrace yourself by being the half-naked CAP guy....
I liked the HBO film ( Taking Chance) with Kevin Bacon when he told the TSA to pound sand ( or words to that effect) when they told him to take off his jacket while on a KIA return mission. Its not the same with us, admittedly, but I bet you that many more of us have shed blood sweat and occasionally tears ( well, the former Navy guys at least) in our uniforms than those Nazis in TSA.

Its a false impression on your part.  Don't attempt to form an opinion of the security posture of the TSA and/or their treatment of service members solely from an HBO movie.  Hollywood, as we know, will manipulate that message to fit its political agenda.

I have actually been thru TSA checkpoints in multiple airports over the last 5 years or so in uniform. (let me think: Manchester, BWI, Reagan, Detroit, Indy, Lexington, Cincinnati, Philly, Chicago Midway, Minneapolis..).

Used to get asked to take off my boots, now they just ask "Do your boots have a steel shank?" (Answer: "I have no idea.." but after multiple trips thru the mag detector in boots without it going off, my guess is "no") Everything metal goes into the bin, however: watch, dog tags, pens, change, etc.  Strangely, the pin-on insignia doesn't set it off, nor does the buckle on my rigger belt.

CAP's uniform wear during travel to/from CAP activities is documented in CAPM 39-1, as I recall.  I will admit: in 28 years in CAP, I only ever flew to one activity, so flying in uniform was not something I was ever worried about.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

NIN

Quote from: capsr on June 23, 2011, 11:40:01 PM
I was flying out from Dallas Fort-Worth airport over the weekend and ran into a CAP Major who was wearing his Blues uniform walking around the airport for a departing flight I assume (since he was in the secure area). Is there a new policy allowing members to wear their uniform in this fashion at airports? I always thought you could only wear it on a military base or within an hour or two after a meeting of course minor exceptions depending on the situation. I just found it interesting.

Wait, DFW?  CAP Major?

Wasn't this guy, was it?


(teee heee.. sorry, Joe, couldn't resist)

[EDIT: @#$% Tripod image hosting redirect.. had to change the image]
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

Major Lord

Nin,

My impression was not based on the movie. Until last year, I flew commercially approximately 75 times per year. The TSA may be improving, or just moving on to searching babies and teenage hotties instead of soldiers.

Major Lord
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

NIN

Quote from: Major Lord on June 24, 2011, 06:01:44 PM
Nin,

My impression was not based on the movie. Until last year, I flew commercially approximately 75 times per year. The TSA may be improving, or just moving on to searching babies and teenage hotties instead of soldiers.

Good point. You fly more than I do, but I've had _nothing_ but courtesy from the TSA.  Even when not in uniform.

Then again, I'm not a teenage hottie.   :'(
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

SansGroove

#16
Security at the airports annoys me as much as the next guy.  However, the "politically correct" have forced the hand of the beurocracy not to show any signs of favoritism or discrimination based on anyone's personal attributes.  In turn the poor guys and gals at TSA are forced to search the way they are instructed to or risk discipline.   Do you really think they WANT to search the 6 year old girl just because she is the (insert number here) person to cross a line.  It some of the rules that are ludicrous...  not the folks that are tasked to carry it out. 

Calling someone a welfare job punk because the job they do may not pay so well or because you don't like it is really not so cool..  not as bad as referring to them as Nazis - but uncalled for all the same.  Fact is the vast majority of the TSA folks are just hard working types happy to score a steady job with benefits.  As members of the CAP we really should show more respect.  The job does have a valid mission for our countries security.  When its all said and done I am glad they are there.

...but I still hate taking my shoes off and putting all my stuff in the plastic bins. 

DBlair

Quote from: PA Guy on June 24, 2011, 06:24:44 AM
Quote from: capsr on June 24, 2011, 04:51:03 AM
Good to know. Thank you for the information.  :clap: Looking at the regulations BDU's and Corporate's in the airport traveling are a No-No.

Speaking on the TSA, the Marine below looks like he just came out of a TSA checkpoint like Major Lord was referring to.



That is a photo of a poser not a Marine.  Look at the shoes.  The trousers are way too long and the white belt isn't secured properly.  No marksmanship bling or NDSM and wearing PFC stripes, it doesn't work that way.  Plus look at the link for the photo.

The photo posted here is actually from a few years ago when (to summarize) some wannabe kid decided to dress up in a Marine uniform and walk around the Reno airport trolling for attention. Fortunately (unfortunately for him), he picked a bad day to do this as it turned out the airport had a number of Marines returning from somewhere (can't remember if for training or overseas), including 3 Marine Drill Instructors-- as are seen on the side of this photo as they 'discuss' the situation with him.



As for the topic of this thread...

I have heard of a number of CAP members (both Cadet and SM) who admitted (from their own lips, not rumors) to regularly dressing in uniform whenever traveling (personal travel, not to/from activity) in order to get special attention, free upgrades, and free/discounted checked luggage. Behavior such as this really bothers me, but unfortunately it seems to be somewhat common from what I've heard.
DANIEL BLAIR, Lt Col, CAP
C/Lt Col (Ret) (1990s Era)
Wing Staff / Legislative Squadron Commander

Thrashed

I avoid wearing my uniform at all costs. I wear it when I have to. I change ASAP.  I even change in my car in the parking lot.

True story: about a week ago I was giving F5 checkrides in the polo shirt uniform.  After I was done, I hit Wendy's as I was starving. I was in line and a guy asked me if I was in the airforce. I was surprised, since I was in the polo shirt, which doesn't really stand out. I told him I was in the Civil Air Patrol, and he said, "Thanks for serving."  I don't think he knew what CAP was.

As for the kid in the Marine uniform: I think that should be a crime. At least some kind of fine for impersonating an armed forces member in that way.

Save the triangle thingy

ol'fido

I suppose that TSA is like any large organization. They have the good ones and the goobers. Also, even the good ones have their bad days.

However, some days there is just no excuse. I remember a couple of years ago Joe Foss ran afoul of the TSA for carrying his MOH.
Lt. Col. Randy L. Mitchell
Historian, Group 1, IL-006