Learning to hate soldiers...one by one

As much as I didn't want to have my second post about work, this is going to be about work. For those who don't know I manage American Eagle Airlines for Alexandria and Monroe Louisiana. Since becoming a manager I have gotten away little by little from having to deal with the flying public, that's what I have lead agents for. These last couple of days have been somewhat different, with all the bad weather and the fact that there is a new brigade moving into Ft. Polk we have been slammed more than usual, and while this does not necessarily require that I go help, I hate to see my people suffer.

First let me state in unequivocal terms that I fully support the military and all their efforts to make the world a safer place. I served 8 years in the Louisiana National Guard and while I can't say I know what it is like to have to go to Iraq or Afghanistan I can still support the military as a whole. That being said...I hate soldiers, singular, each and every one. At least the 60 or so that I have dealt with in the last two days for sure. I have never met a group of whiny, sad, lost, hopeless group of individuals in my life, and I once checked in the Dallas Cowboys football team.

These last two days it has been going home time for the men and women of Ft. Polk. They are heading home for a week or two for the holidays so they are not on orders, this is important because it means that they are not exempt from the bag charges that now accompany travel on most airlines.

Ok time for role-play. Lets say that you are part of an organization where your place in the organization is determined by, hmm I don't know let's go with rank. You are not working per-se but the organization you are part of is kind of a 24 hour a day 365 days a year thing. You and a whole bunch of folks from your organization are flying home for the holidays and you just happen to have the highest rank in the whole airport and you are first in line. If you are still playing along, now imagine that deep down you are an asshole, trust me this will help you get into character.

You are checking three bags and they are all overweight. The very kind and friendly agent behind the counter tells you how much the charge is going to be for the bags and you freak the hell out. You actually call the very charming bearded man behind the counter an ungrateful asshole and proceed to explain to him that if it wasn't for men like him the world would be a worse place. You can see that the devilishly handsome agent behind the counter has heard this all before so you reach for your wallet and produce a military credit card. Ok role-play done.

A military credit card, which for travel extras the charges are reimbursed to the user. My taxes were paying for his bags and I'm the ungrateful bastard? One shitty soldier would have been enough, I mean its not every day you get dressed out by a full bird colonel when you aren't even in the Army, but then we went through the same scenario with every other soldier who walked up to the counter until just now when the flight left. I even pulled a first-sergeant out of the line and asked him if he would explain to the guys that without orders we were going to be charging them the bag fees. His response "These aren't my men, sorry." and guess what five minutes later he was arguing with my agent about having to pay for his bags!

I'm not saying that all soldiers are this way, let's hope not. I'm just saying that the small group that flew out today and yesterday from Alexandria are a prime example of why Humvee accidents happen.

Until next time.
Tobin