What Is The Machine Called When You Put Your Bag Through It To See If You Have Weapons

What is airport security checking for when they wipe your hand with a cotton swab?

Explosives and/or drugs (depends on the machine)I got swabbed once. I was flying alone from HKG to JFK. For all flights to the US from HKG, you have to go through additional security at the gate. Apparently, I was randomly chosen to undergo even more security. They pulled me aside and opened my carry-on backpack to thoroughly check its contents (nothing but a laptop and a hoodie inside).Then without asking, the security officer brushed my arms, hands, and legs with a giant q-tip-looking thing. He then stuck it into a machine nearby for analysis. I thought to myself “What the HECK was THAT?!”Then I calmly asked the officer “Excuse me, out of curiosity, what did you just do to me?”Response: “Our security procedures say that I’m not allowed to tell you.”I looked at the machine which was labeled “Ion Scanner”. Since they won’t tell me what an Ion Scanner was, I just Googled it.

I just bought my épée Fencing gear. How should I care for it?

All you really need to do to keep your equipment in good shape is to wash your whites, keep your blades dry, and frequently test to make sure your electric gear is legal for competition.Depending on how often you fence, once a week should be good for washing your whites. You can wash with detergent, but never put them in the dryer; Fencing whites must be air-dried. Also make sure that you wash your glove as well as your other whites. Nobody likes a stinky glove any more than a stinky jacket. I usually wear my whites for eight hours a week, and in all honestly, I should probably wash them slightly more frequently, but it’s hard when you store your gear somewhere away from home. Once a week everyone should be able to manage though.As for your blades, the most important thing to do is to not store them with your whites. If you have a fencing bag, make sure it has different compartments for whites and blades. Or if it doesn’t get a separate bag for your weapons. They WILL rust if they are exposed to your sweaty whites. Once they rust, you will need to sand off the rust with a pumice stone or a grit block or something. The thing is though that sanding them removes the protective coating on the weapons (the thing that makes them colored). This will make them rust more easily. You absolutely should rub oil into your blades after you sand them to replace some of the lost protective properties, but the most effective treatment is to keep them dry so that you can keep the original protective coating.Finally, you should always test your weapons and ensure that they are legal according to USFA rules. This means you should have a weight, shim and multimeter and you should use them. If you show up to a tournament with illegal weapons, it is nobody’s fault but your own and “it was working before” is never a valid excuse.

Are veterans allowed to keep any equipment from the military?

My first job as a civilian working for the Army was at CIF, so I have first hand experience on this subject as far as TA-50 and OCIE goes. I can’t speak too much on other equipment the Army issues, but it’s a safe bet that nobody gets to keep their weapon or their gas mask. As far as CIF goes the Army says some items you can keep, but the majority have to be turned back in, so that the next soldier coming out of AIT can use it. Here are the general items that are usually retained when a soldier gets out the Army.Uniforms*UndergarmentsGogglesGloves*SocksBoots*Camelbaks*Waterbottles*BalaclavasBeretsPatrol/Boonie hatsFireneck Hoods*- these items do have exceptions where they need to be turned in.Also keep in mind that the powers that be can determine that any items should be turned in or retained at any time they want. I have seen a two week period of time where ISM application that the Army uses to track what gear soldiers have, changed the code on silk and waffle underwear and effectively forced people to turn them in. Camelbaks likewise used to have to be turned in, but many years ago they changed this so that soldiers can keep them.Whatever you do, don’t lose your gear or allow it to be stolen through recklessness. Keep everything in as of a good condition as possible, and don’t go and buy some random knockoff Chinese made gear thinking you are going to fool anyone at CIF into thinking that’s what we issued to you. They don’t like giving you a $1000 Statement of Charges or a FLIPL anymore than you would like getting one.Also if you bought or found a piece of equipment that is the same as CIF issues, and you want to keep it, then leave it at home and keep your mouth shut about it. All gear remains Army property and you are technically “obligated” to turn it back in. CIF usually doesn’t make a big deal about this, and while nobody will bat an eye at you having an extra duffle bag or Poncho, CIF isn’t going to let you walk out with an extra body armor without proof you bought it. No receipt for that item? Well then you won’t be clearing base until it gets turned in…..I have seen this happen with my own two eyes.

Is it possible to sneak a gun through airport security?

Yes, but it’s complicated.As you can guess, just putting the gun in the bag won’t cut it. As soon as your bag will go trough the x-ray scanner, the operator will see something like this:So, the first thought might be like “Hey, why not take the gun apart, and smuggle it inside in pieces?”.Tough luck, airport security is trained to recognize firearm parts. I anything like these (any part) will be seen on the x-ray, you’re in trouble:Surely, metallic object are clearly visible on the x-ray.So, maybe you could hide it in something x-ray opaque? A thick crystal vase would do, or maybe inside a bronze statue. That could do the trick, but it’s extremely likely that such objects will be inspected utilizing hands and Mk.I eyeball, and that will ruin the whole evil plan.Now, how about a non-metallic gun? Like one of those “Liberators”? A 3D printed gun with just one single metallic part. Which is small, and can be hidden anywhere and can be easily procured.It’s possible to see it on the x-ray, and most airport security officers know exactly just how it looks, if you change the shape a bit and hide it really well, there is a chance, albeit a very slim one, of smuggling it trough.But you still need ammunition. What’s the point of the gun if you can’t teally shoot it?Well, bad news is that bullets are clearly visible on the x-ray. And you already know that hiding stuff in x-ray opaque objects is risky.You could attempt to hide them on (or inside) your body, in hopes that you’ll pass them trough the metal detector. If there’s a backscatter x-ray or millimiter wave scanner, then your chances of success are actually better. But if you get caught… You’ll be in well deserved trouble.So, as you can see, attempting to smuggle a gun trough security screening is hard and risky. But if you’re really creative, you can cobble-up a shooting contraption from stuff available at duty-free shops. There are many tutorials on the internet promising to teach how to do it, but such improvised weapons usually lack the power and visual impact to make them actually effective.TL;DR: It’s possible, but it is hard, risky and will get you in trouble. 7/10 not worth it.Disclaimer: this information is provided only for informational and/or entertainment purposes. Author doesn’t take any responsibility should you use it for any illegal acts.