The SQT&F Team

Several times each week, Golden Gate bus drivers are called upon to transport members of the SQT&F team to home bases scattered across the Northern California area.

“That sounds mighty prestigious,” you say, but then realizing you don’t have a clue as to what you’ve just said you ask, “Just what or who is the SQT&F team?”

Well, let me enlighten you. The SQT&F team is an acronym for the San Quentin Track and Field team. You didn’t know San Quentin had such a team did you? Yup they do and their team color is grey with white Converse tennis shoes.

Two to three times a week the SQT&F team’s van, adorned with a California State Department of Corrections logo on the driver door, pulls into the San Rafael Transit Center and off-loads anywhere from six to ten team members, all dressed in grey sweatshirts and grey sweatpants.

The team leaders (guards) dressed in army green utility suits, packing iron and stun guns, dutifully hand out manila envelopes to each team member as they exit the bus. We later discover these packets contain money, personal effects, directions to the nearest parole office and any other lawful pieces of memorabilia the team member was able to collect while in training (prison).

Before boarding our bus, each has to successfully maneuver an obstacle course that would make contestants of the Amazing Race or Survivor Island look sophomoric.

The first test is the 10 meter cigarette dash. For this challenge, each team member must exit the corrections van, gather his manila folder and run to one of two convenience stores located at either end of the main terminal and successfully purchase at least one packet of cigarettes.

The second test of endurance is the treasure hunt. After collecting his cigarettes, each team member must find “a light” from any unsuspecting bus patron waiting for his/her bus. Bonus points are given to the team members who score a Zippo lighter.

The third test involves the team members ability to convince an unsuspecting patron that they "absolutely must" use his or her cell phone to place a call (usually to their homie, drug dealer, girlfriend or other connect that is an obvious violation of their parole).

The fourth test is THE BEER RUN! This test utilizes team members' abilities to carry out clandestine activity without gaining the attention of the team leader.

This test inherently carries with it the most risk because alcohol is a violation of all parole. In this test, the team member must enter the restroom area at the transit center and when the team leader is not looking, sneak out the back door, bolt one and a half blocks to Perry's Deli, purchase two 40-ouncers, run back to the transit center restroom and emerge with the booty discretely wrapped in his sweatshirt.

The fifth phase tests the intelligence level of Team Golden Gate. This test has two parts. In the first part, each SQT&F team member must try to convince the bus driver that they lost their transfer and in their plea successfully board the bus without payment of fare.

In the second part, the team member with the hidden alcohol must go to the back of the bus and successfully drink both 40 ouncers without drawing the Team Golden Gate member's attention.

Sadly this phase is where most team members lose, but the resourceful ones who were able to pull off the beer run and additionally prearranged a set of civilian clothing secreted in the bathroom by their accomplice, make the change to civilian life with flair and panache. These are the SQT&F team members who will rise above and become the Bernard Madoffs of tomorrow.

The others, sadly, will be returned to training, only to be released again to Team Golden Gate.