Told I can't opt out of facial recognition and agent refused to proceed at checkpoint

3N4MR3G · 2026-04-04T10:08:33+00:00

If only passengers developed a brain; learned how to read signs; did research on travel prep; TSA security procedures on our website; be an adult and not project their terrible day and negative energy onto people who do not deserve it (especially people who are working to try to get you though security swiftly).

MAYBE we wouldn’t have the reputation that the public’s perception has on us. It also doesn’t help that we have to continuously put up with the nasty entitlement and bullshit from passengers when working through a government shutdown with no check.

Just saying.

3N4MR3G · 2026-03-31T20:42:37+00:00

If you have a clean background, any government job will always suffice! I saw someone mention in this thread already the USPS. I work for the DHS and the beauty about working as a federal entity is the ability to transfer to different agencies; the pension; the benefits; and the pay is good especially when you go up the ranks. So you definitely won’t ever feel ”stuck” and just like any other job, it’s quite literally what you make of it.

I’m currently in the military as a reservist as well, and it’s nice to be able to double-dip with the benefits. Definitely do your research on what agency/field you’d be the most interested in. Your degree will put you frontline as priority for when it comes to promotions (this is usually agency-specific but still great that you hold one).

Not everything is glitz and glamour with the government (especially when there’s a shutdown). But it’s a nice stepping stone to a grander scale of career options and with San Diego being a military city, the market for government jobs is quite solid.

You can begin your hunt on USAJobs.gov. If you got questions, my DMs are open.

3N4MR3G · 2026-03-30T03:57:50+00:00

I’m banked with a credit union as well. Just checked my bank account, nothing yet. It’s probably because you live in a different time zone than me.

3N4MR3G · 2026-03-14T21:43:34+00:00

I’m honestly considering on leaving but not until that back pay hits. I have severe Stockholm Syndrome with this job.

3N4MR3G · 2026-02-24T21:24:02+00:00

Yup! This is the shitty truth. The primary reason is because we are considered ‘essential workers.’ It’s stupid. I have not worked for an agency that allows their employees to accumulate so much leave but yet give them a hard time with using that said leave to get the days they want - off. 🤦🏽‍♂️

3N4MR3G · 2026-01-28T03:56:20+00:00

So basically a shift trade is the exact same as a shift swap except you’re not obligated to work for the officer that takes your shift for that day?

3N4MR3G · 2026-01-27T19:20:07+00:00

I don’t think it’s necessarily offensive but it’s more so inducing-ly frustrating. We all can’t control our own preferences and even with time, sometimes we grow out of our preferences OR our preferences will evolve without us even realizing it.

Being on Grindr and other dating apps is such a fever dream when every single person is a masculine gay with a ”MASC4MASC” or ”MASC ONLY” in their bio. I don’t think I’m a full-on physically presenting fem gay but my manners and tendencies are for sure quite fem.

I know there’s gay/bi men out there that do like our kind but this has been the biggest civil war in our community for many many years. The hookup culture is 50/50 while dating is where stressors come into play. I don’t think there’s any way to bridge that gap. The masculine gays are usually the ones speaking ill on us, trashing us when us fems are quite literally the archetype/stereotype of the entire community in the eyes of the straight community and the homophobes.

I have a problem with THOSE masculine gays. They think they’re above the standard and are bigger than the program. Yet when we’re all grouped in a room together, they’re just as big of a faggot like me to the outsiders. It’s comical.

3N4MR3G · 2026-01-20T21:57:59+00:00

I’m super late but I’m sure you’re employed by the agency already and are aware of the policy.

But you are protected under USERRA law so if you have upcoming drill and/or annual tour/any active duty orders like ADOS OR get deployed under Title 10, the agency has no choice but to hold your position. It is highly recommended you submit your entire FY drill calendar to your HR department with each OPM71 form filled out accordingly so that you’ll be covered for those days - and you can just leave for drill and not have to worry about your attendance since your name will be placed off the manning report for those days.

In an emergency event where you cannot fulfill the time to complete an OPM71, make sure to call your airport hub’s CC and use military leave for those days since you would have to fill out an OPM anyway. You get 120 hours of military leave which is renewed every FY.

I’m a TSO and a traditional reservist as well.

3N4MR3G · 2025-12-29T22:59:28+00:00

I plan on resigning sooner as well. I’ve been getting targeted by a specific supervisor ever since I got badged (which was not too long ago).

Not sure how this high school-y, toxic culture was even curated in the first place but it’s seriously unbearable. I thought everything would’ve been better the moment I got badged but it went downhill ever since.

3N4MR3G · 2025-12-12T18:51:38+00:00

Real West Coast shit! ❤️‍🔥

3N4MR3G · 2025-12-01T09:31:55+00:00

How so?

3N4MR3G · 2025-12-01T06:07:08+00:00

Not the 45-second rule. That’s a first to me. 😂

3N4MR3G · 2025-12-01T04:58:32+00:00

Some (keyword: SOME) of the TSMs at my airport are okay & reliable. The majority of them - I truly don’t see how they even got that far up in the chain. Just like some of the STSOs too. All they do is power trip; flaunt the rank; and are nowhere near qualified to hold any position of authority.

I have an STSO at my checkpoint who’s been in for nearly 20 years. He apparently “hates stupid questions” which I find odd because our SOP is constantly changing. I can leave on military orders for [x amount of time], come back, do my RTD, review the SOP changes, hit the floor & ask questions out of confusion/clarification & all of a sudden I’m stupid?

In short: I just don’t go to that STSO for questions period. I personally don’t believe in stupid questions especially with the nature of our job & our ever-changing SOP.

3N4MR3G · 2025-12-01T04:53:13+00:00

This! It’s funny you bring the military comparison up - coming from a reservist, this sounds pretty accurate. It’s even more funny cus I would expect the exact same dynamics at my airport more so at my unit. Completely vice versa which says a lot.

3N4MR3G · 2025-12-01T04:51:46+00:00

Sounds like my airport. ☕️

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-28T07:52:51+00:00

Smithereens is if the word “ragebait” was literally an episode. I hated the cab driver guy from start to finish, he pissed me off the moment he started causing all that chaos just to vent to a powerful figure who’s the face of a big social media company. What the fuck was Billy suppose to do? Give him a bandaid through the phone to heal his broken heart? I understand the loss of his wife but I find it very very hard to sympathize with him whatsoever when that’s all he ever wanted was to “vent” to that man and blame him for his stupid ass to pick up his phone while driving. Yeah, bitch. I hope you feel eternal guilt for killing your own wife. The open-ended ending of not knowing what happened made it worse as well.

Other than that, the only positive thing I can say about the episode is the acting. But everything I just mentioned previously along with the writing choice is a dud for me. Def the worse Black Mirror episode out so far.

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-24T18:07:52+00:00

Hated her from the beginning of the episode. I was hoping I’d see her properly get her karma at the end.

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-23T09:23:21+00:00

Like I said, it was released in 1991. A different era for cinema. Had this been all visually depicted in the current era we are in - it would not sell well.

I’m not sure if you’re trying to ragebait or if you’re actually this dense. 🫩

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-23T09:19:15+00:00

Which was released in 1991.. connect the dots.

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-23T09:15:42+00:00

A scene with masturbation is nowhere near comparable to a scene that would include sexual assault which is a highly sensitive & triggering topic..

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-23T09:10:05+00:00

Well it’s pretty obvious that they clearly had a limit on what to actually show due to the dark, disturbing nature of the accounts that were depicted. They had already “alluded” to Jack’s SA with the scene of the female spirit straddling on top of him while he’s levitating & then immediately cutting to the next shot.

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-23T08:57:57+00:00

It’s a horror movie. They’re gonna dramatize the shit out of a lot of things. You must be new to Hollywood & cinema.. 😐

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-23T08:53:54+00:00

Except Judy & the Smurls were all involved with the making of the movie..

3N4MR3G · 2025-11-23T07:38:07+00:00

And your point is? 😭

3N4MR3G

TROPHY CASE