Similar story to dogmush.
My memories are hazy due to Shannon, but when I got back to the States, I got hassled by Customs for the receipts of duty-free booze I picked up in Ireland. I made the guy hold my SAW while I dug out the receipts. I loved when they lectured me as well. "Anything ELSE to declare?" "Besides automatic weapons, classified material and signal gear? No, not really."
TSA didn't search us, but only because we landed at our final destination. Otherwise I'm sure TSA would have been very diligent in harassing returning veterans.
Oh, and there's the time I threatened to have the entire TSA shift arrested. I was couriering a laptop. With classified data relating to the invasion of Iraq. And they wanted to "look at it". I told 'em, it goes out of my sight and control, I'm calling the cops over to detain them until the FBI and Army CID can show up to properly arrest them. Ended up with me removing the battery and showing them that externally, it looked like a battery. Refused to power it on. With very few exceptions, every time I've flown since since I've been "randomly selected" for an extra special search.
Let's see. One of my sergeants (now long retired), who was DRAFTED into the US Army, made some passing comment relating to the fact that this sort of thing (TSA inspections) reminded him more of communism than the United States. They literally tore apart everything in his bags and dumped it in a pile. Twice.
Oh, and it's not a wise idea for a TSA agent to commit sexual assault on a young lady when her boyfriend (and his entire squad) is within LOS, has an M16 and is rapidly approaching. This was very early on in TSA. They'd kick the metal detector when an attractive well-endowed young lady went through, and thus need to do a hands-on check. Well, not all of the NG's were yet removed. Someone radioed the boyfriend that his lady was coming through so he could keep her company until her flight took off. I've never seen a more perfect "Buttstroke to the Head series" movement. It was so beautiful, I'd swear it should be used for the manual. The whole thing got dropped, as you're not supposed to drop a federal employee, even if they are sexually assaulting your woman. Buddy got screamed at by his CO, TSA guy got allegedly "reprimanded".
If this story is true, the only explanation is that the apocalypse is upon us.
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/11/18/another-tsa-outrage/
Is there a "The Stupid, it burns." smiley?
Dude? This happens regularly. TSA regularly harasses troops during routine movements as well as going to or returning from OCONUS, if it's not directly from a US military airport. Well, I haven't heard of the TSA sexually assaulting soldiers yet. Mostly just stealing stuff (and not just potential weapons unless watches, jewelry and MP3 players count). I'm sure that will be next.