MD80 FO LAMENTS THE QUALITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE LACK OF TRAINING THEY RECEIVE TO PROPERLY MARSHALL AN AIRLINER INTO PARKING.

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WHILE PULLING INTO GATE WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE 3 BAG CARTS OVER THE L SAFETY LINE BY APPROX 1-2 FT. DESPITE THE MARSHALLER CONTINUING TO COMMAND US FORWARD THE CAPT STOPPED THE ACFT. I THEN OPENED MY WINDOW AND POINTED OUT TO THE MARSHALLER; WHO WAS STILL COMMANDING US FORWARD; THE REASON WHY WE STOPPED. DESPITE THAT; CONFUSION RESULTED AS TO WHY WE WERE NOT PULLING FORWARD. AFTER ABOUT A MIN; THE BAG CARTS AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WERE MOVED. THE MARSHALLER THEN AGAIN COMMANDED US FORWARD. WE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD; AND I LOOKED TO THE R TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS CLR. I LOOKED AT THE R MARSHALLER AND SHE HAD HER WANDS CROSSED. I IMMEDIATELY YELLED; 'STOP! CROSSED WANDS OVER HERE.' THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. I OPENED THE WINDOW TO LOOK FURTHER BEHIND AND AFTER A LOOK OF CONFUSION; THE WING WALKER THEN SIGNALED 'ALL CLR.' UPON THAT; WE CONTINUED TO THE GATE AND PARKED. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BETTER TRAINING; BUT A BETTER CALIBER OF INDIVIDUAL IS REALLY PROBABLY MORE REALISTIC. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE WOEFULLY INCOMPETENT OR COULD CARE LESS ABOUT OUR SAFETY AS WE PARKED THE ACFT. CONTRACT RAMP CREW INCOMPETENCE.