TSA uniform perks more expensive than Marine Corps

The Washington Examiner ^ | November 9, 2012 | Joel Gehrke

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Under their new collective bargaining agreement, Transportation Security Administration officers get to spend more taxpayer money on their uniforms every year than a United States Marine Corps lieutenant can spend in a lifetime.

“TSA employees will see their uniform allowances nearly double to $446 per year,” the House Transportation Committee noted in a press release on the TSA’s new collective bargaining agreement. “By comparison, a combat Marine Lieutenant receives a one-time uniform allowance of $400. The cost of the increase in TSA uniform allowance is an estimated $9.63 million annually.”

[pepsionice]

The problem is that we’ve all gone away from cheap appearances and expect gov’t folks to have a certain ‘look’. In the old Air Force days....we had the solid green khaki uniform, which ran around $13 for the shirt and pants. Today? The camo-uniform runs in the $90 range. The khakis were just as functional but it just give the ‘look’ that folks expect.

[DemforBush]

I don’t know if this is still the case or not, but some years ago it came out that, based solely on number of reported illness/injury related absences, being a TSA screener was apparently one of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. 8 times more dangerous than the average for a worker in the U.S. mining industry, in fact.

Of course, I’m sure the fact that a TSA worker starts from *day one* with 13 guaranteed sick pay days has nothing to do with it. No sirree!

/sarc

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[Brad from Tennessee]

Wait until TSA is fully unionized. They’ll look like the Rhode Island State Police.

[Gaffer]

After original uniform issue...I remember getting a buck or two (very small) each month for uniform maintenance.

[silverleaf]

we just got to raise taxes on rich people so they pay their fair share to cover this type of essential government spending

sarc

[BwanaNdege]

And that Marine lieutenant will have to spend far in excess of $1000 for his uniforms. That was my cost 40 years ago.

Anyone know the current total?

Blues, Greens, Whites, utilities, shoes, boots, covers, saber, etc.? It looks like the saber & accoutrements will set you back close to $1000 from The Marine Shop.

[Liaison]

I believe it is around $3000. I was told this a few years ago so with inflation and price hikes it is likely higher.

[A.A. Cunningham]

solid green khaki(sic)

You had both.

[Liaison]

the cost factor of that the TSA clothing, unfortunately, could be right. Tthe author of the article should have used the cost of an enlisted’s uniform costs not the one time officer uniform allowance that DoD gives to an officer in any service. the yearly enlisted replacement is 2 uniforms and boots a year plus the cost of patches (army) is close to 500 dollars. Retail cost for boots is over 100 dollars and around 150 to 160 dollars for a full uniform.
If I was standing around all day I would like good boots or shoes. The TSA shirt and patches are special so you have a government contract on that and the pants—at J.C. Penney? I don’t know if the cost per year is close to reality or not but GSA can be a stingy bunch so the cost is more likely to be reasonable.

[traditional1]

Let them stand naked, like the passengers.....save almost $10 million.

[GnL]

America’s finest.

[Terry L Smith]

In regards to the picture:

They are both fat.
They are both ugly.
They are not cops, so what’s with the ribbon on the badge?
They must be GED recipients, because they obviously cannot read!
Their “uniform” resembles Canadian uniforms, seen in PBS cop shows.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Under their new collective bargaining agreement, Transportation Security Administration officers get to spend more taxpayer money on their uniforms every year than a United States Marine Corps lieutenant can spend in a lifetime."

While my contempt for the TSA is about as low as my esteem for the military is high, this comparison is a bit disingenuous. Commissioned officers in al the armed forces receive a one time uniform allowance at comissioning, and are expected to maintain their uniforms throughout their career. Enlisted personnel receive an initial issue of uniforms, and recurring annual uniform allowances that aren't that different from the TSA.

2012 Military Clothing Allowances

That said, the TSA is a tax dollar sinkhole and should never have been allowed to come into being for a myriad of reasons, but if one is going to base their arguments on uniform allowances, on should at least compare apples to apples.

[762X51]

What losers. They are probably talking to each other on their Obamaphones. Both fat smokers with superb health insurance that we pay for. I know it’s awful to say but I don’t even know these folks and I hate them.

[USMCPOP]

Clothing allowances for enlisted service members:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/projects/money/pay_charts/2012/clothing_allowances/

[tumblindice]

I stopped flying four years ago and my father recently made the same decision.
Starve the beast!

[fini]

Now that is really funny. But we don’t want to scare the horses and make the children cry.

[castlegreyskull]

The enlisted get a yearly uniform allowance. They used the example of a Marine Corp Lieutenant gets a one time issue, or desposit upon commission. Same goes for Navy officers officer, which Marine Corps officers technically are.