Marine Recruit Darts Across San Diego Airport Runway

[MikeL]

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Man-Darts-Across-San-Diego-Airport-Runway-187287931.html

Marine Recruit Darts Across San Diego Airport Runway
Suspect had reported to nearby MCRD just three days earlier
By R. Stickney |  Thursday, Jan 17, 2013  |  Updated 11:06 AM PST

A U.S. Marine recruit faces felony and misdemeanor chargers for jumping over two barbed-wire fences and running on the tarmac of San Diego’s airport.
San Diego harbor police got word from the Lindbergh Tower that a man had run on the tarmac by Gate 6 in Terminal 1 at 6:20 a.m. Thursday.
He attempted to hide in a service vehicle that belongs to the janitorial department.
"He had quite a few cuts on him and at the time that we found him he had actually taken his pants off so he was in his boxer shorts and his Marine Corps T-shirt," said Harbor Police Lt John Forsythe.
In aerials from NBC 7 San Diego news helicopter, the white van could be seen parked in front of a Southwest airliner connected to the gate. The vehicle was surrounded by airport maintenance vehicles.
Military police were called because the suspect was a 22-year-old Marine recruit from the nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot. The unidentified man arrived to the training center from San Rafael Jan. 14 officials said.
"Everything we said to him it was: 'Yes sir! Yes sir! 'That was all he pretty much said to us," Forsythe said. "It took us a while to get his name and everything else like that."
Flights were not affected according to airport officials.
The incident posed no threat to passengers or the public officials said.
But the breach of security was on a topic of conversation for many passengers inside the terminal.
"What are you running out there for?! What is calling you to the actual runway to make you want to go out there? And it's terrifying just knowing somebody would want to do that," said air traveler Mo Owens.


"I think that probably the security at the airport is very good," passenger Tom Solari said. "I feel comfortable. I'm not worried at all."
The suspect was transported to the Naval Medical Center San Diego in Balboa Park via ambulance with a military police vehicle following close behind.
The unidentified recruit reported to MCRD just three days ago and was in the initial processing phase. He had not begun recruit training military officials said.
Refresh this page for new details in this developing story.

 

[IBX.Lee]

I think the interesting part is:

"Everything we said to him it was: 'Yes sir! Yes sir! 'That was all he pretty much said to us,"

and

He had not begun recruit training military officials said.

Although I think it's probable he's not entirely mentally stable, so trying to find reason behind that is questionable I guess. How was he processed in the first place if he was this unstable so as to run onto a tarmac?

Must be something in the water at MCRD :

 

[MikeL]

IBX.Lee,  perhaps he was saying the Yes Sir because it was drilled into them from the moment the bus arrives at MCRD and the DI starts screaming at them.

Hard to tell if he is mentally unstable or not;  you have a short news article just saying he ran across a tarmac during his escape from the depot.  Looking at google maps,  MCRD and the airport border.  So in the early morning when he started his escape(more or less) and wasn't entirely sure where to go,  so he just picked a direction and started running.  I doubt he would stop and ask for directions; under stress in the dark,  and on the run he probably wasn't making the best decisions in regards of where to go.

I doubt he's the first person to decide military life wasn't for them at basic training and decided to go AWOL/UA.


https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Marine+Corps+Recruit+Depot,+San+Diego,+CA&hl=en&ll=32.73842,-117.19304&spn=0.015432,0.033023&sll=40.556658,-105.067652&sspn=0.446042,1.056747&oq=Marine+Corps+Recruit+Depot&t=w&hq=Marine+Corps+Recruit+Depot,+San+Diego,+CA&radius=15000&z=16

 

[IBX.Lee]

Oh wow, I guess I was a little quick to judge on that, I just kind of figured it seemed a little (read: very) odd for that kind of reaction from someone who's spent a few days as a recruit. I also didn't really get why he didn't VR (I know it's something else in the US but I can't remember), unless he couldn't for some reason?

 

[daftandbarmy]

I suggest we send a letter of congratulaitons to the CG of the USMC commending him on the levels of commitment demonstrated by even their newest Marines... Can you imagine how many typres of field defences they can get through when they're fully trained?  ;D

 

[GAP]

The runners....there used to be a couple each rotation, are easy to catch.

Stick a bald kid with bright yellow sweatshirt, khaki colored pants, running shoes in the middle of a community that is aware there is a reward for turning him in and what do you get.......ta da!!

check out the utube videos of MCRD.....that's why he's only saying "yes sir".  (if it moves salute it and if it makes a noise, say yes sir!!)

 

[PanaEng]

I think he just heard about the Darwin Awards and didn't want to miss them...

 

[daftandbarmy]

The runners....there used to be a couple each rotation, are easy to catch.

Stick a bald kid with bright yellow sweatshirt, khaki colored pants, running shoes in the middle of a community that is aware there is a reward for turning him in and what do you get.......ta da!!

check out the utube videos of MCRD.....that's why he's only saying "yes sir".  (if it moves salute it and if it makes a noise, say yes sir!!)

This is pretty good:

Making Marines: A Drill Instructor Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s72Ln9pzKA


I'm off to see 'Zero Double Dark and Dirty' tonight. My 'date' is a former USMC Officer with recent expereince in central Asia. He helps point out all the new technology that's come out and what it can do.  I'll have to remember to count the 'HUA!'s....