Last spring, the Congress passed legislation calling for a Risk-based Security Initiative.  This requires TSA to focus their energies on those more likely to commit a crime and less on those who can be trusted more.  This applies to many frequent flyers of high status with the assumtion that they travel a lot and are less likely to be a terrorist.  For those of us in uniform, it also means that we can be trusted regardless of status since we are sworn to defend our country and do so every day.  This means we are allowed to go through a screening similar to what we experienced before 9/11.  Keep your belt, shoes, and jacket on and your laptop inside its case.  Pass through a regular metal detector and you are on your way. This program has only been rolled out at Monterey, Reagan (Term. B Gates 10-22), and Sea-Tac (Checkpoint 5 North) Airports with more to follow.  I…

Disney announced a renewal of their popular Armed Forces Salute Program that will run 1 OCT 12 through 28 SEP 13.  This program gives a significant discount to all military members, including Guard, Reserve, retired, and spouses.  Tickets are about 50% off and a discount of 30-40% is available on rooms at thier resorts.  There is even a discount rate for Disney cruises.  The details can be viewed at Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Steve Bell’s website http://www.militarydisneytips.com/.  Note that the program has changed slightly, such as only allowing six tickets – not 12, and blackout dates.  So if you have used it in the past, you better check it out before assuming anything.  Here are the details: Disney Theme Ticket Discounts for Military Members Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida Four-Day      Park Hopper Tickets or Four-Day Water Park and More…

Just a reminder that the Great Getaways Vacation Sweepstakes in heading into its last week to win an all expense paid stay at any of the four Armed Forces Resorts.  Go to www.AFRCresorts.com to enter daily.  You could win a vacation for four to Shades of Green at Disneyworld or a vacation for two to…

A contest is being held here for military members and their families.  For those of you who do not know, ArmyMWR.com runs a promotional site to feature the Armed Forces Recreation Centers (AFRC) and is holding a contest until the end of August to increase attendence.  Thanks to my fellow officer, LTC Mike for finding…

Greek2me and Charlie Sheen donated a combined total of over $1,000,000 to the USO, so I want to say thanks to both of them!  I couldn’t upgrade Charlie, since he is already as high as possible, but greek2me will be receiving the 2 GPUs for travel on United.  Thanks for participating and look for more…

At the beginning of the year, I blogged about setting up a plan for the year in each of your FF programs that were important to you and setting a realistic goal of the status that you could achieve.  Here is a link.  Establishing a plan helps you get the status you want by projecting…

As a July 4th event, I am donating two United SWUs (new name GPU) to the person who donates the most to my favorite charity the USO.  I will run this contest for two weeks and see who can send me a reciept for donating the most to this worthy charity. For those of you who missed my blog from last November on donating to the USO, the link for the USO is here.  As a reminder, you can get a consolation prize of American Airlines miles even if you do not win the contest, not to mention a tax deduction.  The link for donating to the USO and getting 10 miles per dollar is http://joinus.aa.com/uso-care-packages. To enter please send your reciept for the donation to my email address shown on the About Me page.  As a reminder, United only let’s a SWU be used on a W fare and higher.  Be sure and check before asking for me to upgrade you. Happy Fourth of July to…

Here is the follow-up post I promised concerning flying while in uniform.  The last one focused on the actual rules for doing so while this one I want to talk about the moral issues with doing so.  To me, we always struggle with correcting someone when they are wearing the uniform incorrectly.  No one enjoys…

Do you do it?  Why or why not?  We are past the years when we were required to travel in uniform in order to remind the public that we were a nation at war.  Now it is optional for most military members and dependend primarily on mission and commander’s descretion.  I am going to address the legal aspects of traveling in uniform in this column and next time discuss the moral issues. Legally, a commander is at his or her descretion as to whether to require you to travel in uniform or even forbid you to do so.  In the 90’s it was thought to be a counter-terrorism measure to forbid the wearing of the uniform on a plane.  I never bought this argument as it is pretty easy to pick out a military guy or gal even when they are not in uniform – the…