How does it work going through airport security with your service uniform?

2021-05-07T09:47:54-04:00

So i've been wondering how does it work when you go through airport security with your dress uniform on, because you have some medal on your uniform do they make you take everything off or just like your uniform coat off?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 7 at 2021 9:53 AM

2021-05-07T09:53:22-04:00

The generally have you go through the full scan then use the wand in areas that may yet be masked. If they are not satisfied you world be taken the the secondary screening area. Not a big deal.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 9:55 AM

2021-05-07T09:55:09-04:00

Normally you don’t for security reasons. Don’t make yourself a target. Go in civilian clothes whenever you travel especially if you PCS to Korea or Japan.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 7 at 2021 10:16 AM

2021-05-07T10:16:37-04:00

It's fine. Most of the metals used in the creation of awards are copper and brass, which doesn't set of passive metal detection, only active metal detectors.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 10:37 AM

2021-05-07T10:37:00-04:00

Just do what TSA tells you. Flying international: wear civvies (and that doesn't mean 9line, grunt style, or "i went to basic at Ft ____")

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made May 7 at 2021 10:41 AM

2021-05-07T10:41:12-04:00

Don't overthink this. If you go through you will go through the body scanner. They may ask you to remove your coat, they might not. They will most likely ask you to take it off at some point and they will most likely wand you as well. They may even do the frisk search. They will follow their protocols as normal and just follow their lead and instructions as you would any other time.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 7 at 2021 11:20 AM

2021-05-07T11:20:18-04:00

Knowing the brilliance of the TSA people they will ask you for your ID card and ask if you are in the army. Of course you will say yes, then they will proceed search you. Some of them are not mental giants.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 11:27 AM

2021-05-07T11:27:27-04:00

If for some reason you do fly in class a's, just ask for tsa pre-check at the ticket counter. This will allow you to skip taking off your shoes and you'll just have to go through a metal detector. Take off your coat and belt. Everything else shouldn't be metal. If it is, just explain to tsa what it is. This works for non-uniform travel as well. All active duty mitary qualify for tsa pre-check. Just show them your military ID and they will put it on your ticket. Makes life so much easier. Also if you didn't know, you can often check your green duffle for free if you're willing to travel with them outside of work.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 12:27 PM

2021-05-07T12:27:55-04:00

Having flown in duty uniform in the past due to not having enough time to change....take all items out of the pockets. Take belt off (just in case). Take your ID tags off. If your boarding pass has TSA Pre Check written on it, you won't need to take your boots off. Most won't really bother you.

But, I implore you to NOT fly in uniform unless you absolutely can't change into civilians.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 12:34 PM

2021-05-07T12:34:19-04:00

The last time I did it was maybe 2004 so the system has probably changed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 12:35 PM

2021-05-07T12:35:23-04:00

You really do not want to fly in ASUs unless you have to. They are very uncomfortable to sit around in, and the badges have this habit of popping grommets off at inopportune times. You'll be walking through the airport missing half your stuff. One time my mom asked me to wear my dress uniform for a family photo. This was back when I only had one award, an AAM. The ribbon slid off minutes before the picture was taken. Now my mom has a picture of me in my uniform with just a brass bar on my chest.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 12:58 PM

2021-05-07T12:58:16-04:00

Wear Civilians, you'll avoid the groups of "thank you for your service" as well as any potential threats.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 1:55 PM

2021-05-07T13:55:32-04:00

Don't fly in uniform unless you are required to do so. The only time I have is when I went from basic to AIT and then AIT to my first duty station. In (then) class A's. I think I had to just take my whole jacket off, belt and shoes. One of those times. Then on R&R from Iraq and back I was in ACUs. I had to empty all my pockets.

But if you aren't on official orders, you shouldn't be traveling in uniform anyway.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made May 7 at 2021 3:56 PM

2021-05-07T15:56:18-04:00

Usually, you only have to take off your coat. In the movie, "Bringing Chase Home," (or similar title), the Marine LTC REFUSED to take off his uniform coat. Loved that ... and they did let him through when they found out he was escorting a Marine's remains back home.
My son, when returning to Afghanistan from mid-tour leave, was required to remove his boots! Meanwhile, his Mom was searched with a pat-down. Funny thing, I REFUSED to go through the X-ray machine because I'd recently had so many CAT Scans/MRI's and X-rays. So they let me walk through the metal detector and NO search. I will say that, the lady searching my wife was VERY professional and courteous. While my son was having to take his boots of, I rather loudly said, "Yeah Mike, you look just like some Middle Eastern terrorist!
Years ago (after TSA started), my Dad was flying from Pittsburgh to Memphis to visit my sister. He forgot to take his belt off and tripped the metal detector. Some woman TSA idiot put her hand up in a "stop" motion and screamed, "STOP!" She did that three times when he realized his belt was still on. He tried to take it off and go through again ... and they stopped him and STRIP SEARCHED HIM - then a 78 y/o WW2 Veteran.
A TSA guy happened to be walking towards me - his uniform had black epulets so I stopped him and asked, "Are you a supervisor?" He gleefully proclaimed, "I am a 'Team Leater,' sir." I asked him, pointedly, WHY they were strip searching an elderly, WW2 Veteran - as I also watched a group of Muslims - including women in full burka attire, go through without a second glance! His reply was, "Well sir, how do we know his family isn't being held captive, and he could be smuggling a bomb."
That REALLY pissed me off. I very loudly said, "You guys are searching a WW2 VETERAN who has had his ticket for over a MONTH! He was literally smiling with excitement about his trip!" He told me to calm down; and I reppeated my self and added, "Yeah? But LOOK - you guys are letting those Muslims through, INCLUDING women who MIGHT be MEN in disguise and not even checking them!"
People in the crowded lines began to APPLAUD. The "Team Leader" began to stammer ... and then I saw a County Police Officer slowly approaching. I acknowledged him and gave him an "OK" sign and thumbs up as people continued to applaud. I walked away from the TSA guy and got as close to where they had my Dad in the strip search room and waited until he came out, all flustered. Then I left. The police officer gave me a friendly nod - he apparently got why I was so pissed.

Response by SPC Cathy Goessman made May 7 at 2021 9:11 PM

2021-05-07T21:11:38-04:00

Avoid wearing it unless you absolutely have to. Those things are uncomfortable and you will get tired of the "let me force myself on a soldier who probably does not want to touch my hand for public brownie points" type very quickly.

As far as TSA goes I nearly always have to get a secondary check because my socks are sliding down and forming a bulge that sets the scanner off. I've started pulling them up immediately before going through and no longer set the body scanner off.

TSA themselves changes their procedures so often that the people working for them just make it up as they go along. Just follow instructions and realize they hate their job too.

Response by Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr made May 8 at 2021 12:58 PM

2021-05-08T12:58:53-04:00

Probably???

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2021 1:18 PM

2021-05-09T13:18:25-04:00

I wouldn't wear any military uniform or advertising apparel at an airport. It's just asking for too much attention in my opinion. In some situations it could even be a safety risk. But alas, I imagine it'd be the same as civilians. Take off your coat and get screened. Follow TSA instructions and you'll be fine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2021 6:57 PM

2021-05-10T18:57:09-04:00

If you have TSA precheck on your ticket then no need to remove boots, belts, watch etc. It's a 2 mins deal...walk thru the scanner and have your small bags scanned. No fuss.

Response by PO3 Kenneth Suvanto made May 30 at 2021 11:19 AM

2021-05-30T11:19:03-04:00

I wouldn't want anyone to know I was in the Military today while flying. I'd wear civies... In the early seventies, '72 thru '75...winding down in Vietnam, I wore dress Blues while Flying home sometimes. I flew stand-by and in those days, there was always room on the plane. Most times the stewardess would come back to where I was sitting in coach and move me up to First Class! I've flown First Class several times because there were more seats empty up there than there were in Coach! Airport security is not anything like it is today...I even had the pleasure of taking a smoke break in the restroom and flew HIGH lol. I don't desire to fly in any airplane today...it scares me too much. Take Care and God Bless. Sincerely, Ken

Response by PVT Ted Rodosovich made Dec 22 at 2022 8:03 AM

2022-12-22T08:03:42-05:00

Manchurian Candidate