Overseas Christmas Travel?

Trying to plan a visit for DS to France at Christmas time. Is this restricted for C4cs, and where can I find restrictions and protocols for travel to Europe? Will he need permission? Will he be required to wear his uniform from COS to France?

Appreciate any help!

For OCONUS travel he would likely need special permission even as first class, even for summer leave if USAFA is like the others.

Its doeable; just a PITA.

It's not that hard getting permission. During my son's C1C year, we took a christmas cruise. The only thing we had to be careful of, was not booking any ports in Mexico. It was sort of off limit for american military. Not sure if it still is. But we went to a number of countries throughout the Caribbean. He just has to ask and get permission. Pretty simple process.

It's not hard at all, I went OCONUS as a C4C. Squadron leadership sends down information with the specific paperwork and taskers to accomplish but as long as it's not in a location deemed risky for DoD members it's easy.

I don't think all of Mexico is off limits but I'm certain certain areas are. DS and another NROTC Midshipman got permission to go to Cozumel a couple summers ago. I sure Tijuana was a no go on another summer cruise when he ended up in San Diego. There were a few areas of San Diego that were off limits for that matter.

GasDoc who used to post here quite often went on a Cozumel trip with his son but that was some time ago. There are DEFINITELY parts of Mexico off limits, and I would think anything especially close to parts of the Middle East, Ukraine, Timor, and other places might be iffy.

My advice? Stay home and watch the Steelers. (OK, just kidding)

Thanks all! I assume DS have regs about wearing his uniform into a foreign country? FYI, he will not be traveling home but going directly to destination.

He should have the regs.... and I think it would neither be allowed nor wise.

I've had some of my kids travel over break, and they were told to bring nothing that would identify them as attending a military academy or being in the military. This included their issued laptop, they could not bring that. It also depends on where they were going. Some places were a lot more strict than others

Don't travel overseas in uniform. This is one of those times its best to stop at the sponsors house and change before going to the airport. If he needs permission to do that, then he will know how to request it. If he comes home at Thanksgiving might be best to have him pack his bag for the trip as really all his academy stuff won't be used on vacation. The no military stuff is pretty common knowledge while overseas for all military personnel.

We took out DD to the Bahamas over Summer break this year. She filled out a few forms (ask an upperclassman or AOC/AMT if you're not sure which forms. They are online.). She had to sit through a quick brief about what to do and not do (ie: don't do anything to indicate you are in the US military.)

Then just go have fun!

I agree with Navy and USAFA83 regarding travel. Bullet and now my DS (O2) have 2 different passports. (1 is govt, the other is personal). They never travels with their govt when on vacation. They also never use military luggage either.

The irony is we (my family) are old school. Suspecting USAFA83 is too. We were stationed overseas way before 9/11, but it was ingrained in our craniums that you never let anyone know you are military overseas.
~ Back in the day your cars would have a DOD sticker. They would scrape it off in England so that it didn't highlight you. STUPID as far as I am concerned because the left hand steering wheel was a blaring signal that you are an American when they all drive right hand cars.
~ Same with the passport issue...like they would not confiscate their wallets? Military ID would be in the wallets.

I am not trying to scare anyone. I am just saying if it was me, I would follow the advice of asking to change at the sponsors.

I don't see an issue of going. Many cadets have ADAF parents living overseas. I know one that their Dad was an O6 stationed overseas and traveled xmas, end of summer and return for the next year via commerical airlines for 2 years. However, I also know that they always wore civilian clothing during the flight. I don't think they ever traveled with uniforms.

I'm sure some of our more youthful members wonder why we have these policies about overseas travel, especially when they realize that they are pre-9/11 policies. Back in the day (70s-80s) hijacking airplanes, flying them to foreign lands, and demanding the release of "political prisoners" was the big terrorist thing. During one of these hijackings, while landed at an airport and refueling, a sailor was dumped onto the tarmac, dead. As I recall he was initially identified from a tattoo. And now you know why I keep telling my kid to NOT get that EGA tattoo on his shoulder.

kinnem said:

I'm sure some of our more youthful members wonder why we have these policies about overseas travel, especially when they realize that they are pre-9/11 policies. Back in the day (70s-80s) hijacking airplanes, flying them to foreign lands, and demanding the release of "political prisoners" was the big terrorist thing. During one of these hijackings, while landed at an airport and refueling, a sailor was dumped onto the tarmac, dead. As I recall he was initially identified from a tattoo. And now you know why I keep telling my kid to NOT get that EGA tattoo on his shoulder.

Click to expand...

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/twa-flight-847-is-hijacked-by-terrorists

"Once on the ground, the hijackers called for passengers with Israeli passports, but there were none. Nor were there any diplomats on board. They then focused their attention on the several U.S. Navy construction divers aboard the plane. Soon after landing, the terrorists killed Navy diver Robert Stethem, and dumped his body on the runway."