My wife is an employee of a large west coast fire dept.
She was traveling via commercial airline to Southern Calif. for fires last summer in uniform, when she was required to remove her badge, collar brass and metal name tag as well as her 10" tall wildland boots for the TSA mouth breathers.
I suppose evil doers
could disguise themselves as a burned out somewhat cranky fire captain going to sabotage the efforts of fire control folks on a big 'ol brush fire.
Her laptop computer and small Leatherman tool on her belt were passed without a glance.
Ah, yes...post 9-11 travel and all of the special little joys.
I agree with others that the labor pool is murkey at best, which would explain
much of the little mrs. experence.