This TSA screener - good or bad judgment
Soldiers from Fort Lewis were escorting the remains of a colleague home to Virginia earlier this month.
At Seattle-Tacoma International airport, an honor guard consisting of Port of Seattle Police, airport fire and rescue, and military personnel helped placed the body on the plane.
A police officer then took the escort soldiers up to security.
The TSA screener checked everyone's ID, including the police officer, and then had the soldiers go through the metal detectors.
Their combat ribbons and medals set off the alarms.
The TSA screener then instructed the soldiers to strip off their uniforms, down to their tee shirts, pants, and socks.
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Clearly, were the actions of the screener inappropriate? Was there a supervisor at the checkpoint? Should the soldiers be waved through security since everyone knew that the combat ribbons and medals sounded the alarm?
Most of us would probably feel that the honor guard should not have been subjected to this. Some may feel that no one should be accorded special treatment. Would it be just courteous to take the soldiers through the crew-only line or some sort of special line, do a check on the medals and ribbons, and allow them through? It would only take a few minutes longer.
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