Are there any countries I cant travel to as a cadet? Or any that would give me serious clearance issues? I'm not talking about countries like North Korea or Iran either... I'm wondering about countries like Russia, China, countries in Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. I'm asking because I'm a Russian major, and I'm looking at a potential winter break study abroad program to Russia with my university. Would there be any serious problems with this? Thanks.
Countries I cant travel to?
- Thread starter tibreaker
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I assume you are in ROTC? Talk to your chain of command. There is always a current DOD directive about military personal travel to foreign countries, and your chain of command can help you determine how the guidance applies to you as a ROTC cadet on a university-affiliated program. I suspect it won’t be an issue.
Whatever you do, keep a log of countries visited, dates and significant or extended encounters with foreign citizens. You’ll need it for SF-86 security clearance forms.
Whatever you do, keep a log of countries visited, dates and significant or extended encounters with foreign citizens. You’ll need it for SF-86 security clearance forms.
unkown1961
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Russia is a whole different ball game. You'll need a Visa at least. But as the good Capt mentioned, definitely talk to your commander. Also, have you applied to the Project Go programs for Russian immersion? They don't go to Russia anymore, but there are programs in Estonia and Kyrgyzstan.
Thanks for the info Capt MJ, I'll make sure to ask my chain. I will be going to Latvia this summer for 8 weeks through Project GO, but actually going to Russia would be really cool. I just want to make sure there wouldn't be any major issues. Thanks for the info!
unkown1961
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Congrats on Project Go - take advantage of the travel opportunities during the off times!
emwvmi01
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One thing to consider if you are looking at a career in certain fields (intelligence and cyber specifically) I would be wary of how far to extend overseas travel and contacts. The clearance level for work with some government intelligence agencies will be significantly longer even if you already have a TS clearance based on your overseas travel/contacts. Not saying don't do it but I have seen folks miss out given that your assignments may be reluctant to assign you to a 2year slot when 1/3 of that may be hampered by clearance adjudication.
k2rider
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I'm by no means an expert on this topic but if you were completely honest on your Visa app, I'm not sure Russia would want you in their country anyway. I realize your Russian language skills could be used for other reasons but the Russian government might not look past the fact that you're an extension of the military. I had a co-worker (police detective) who was on a cruise that stopped in St Petersburg get detained for (4) hours as he left the ship to go on an excursion. They thought he may be a spy of some sort and were concerned he was collecting information for the US government. After they released him, he was escorted back to his cruise ship and was never allowed to join the excursion.
Not sure what branch you will commission into, but AFOSI has a foreign travel pre and post-brief that you have to do if you are AF. This even applies to friendly and allied nations.
For all branches, all DoD personnel (which you should assume you are at this point to be safe) are required to comply with DODI 5240.6, DODI 5200.1-R, and DODI 8500.2. These mainly cover which interactions with foreign nationals you must report (usually COINTEL/OPSEC/INFOSEC-type stuff)
Additionally, you should visit https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil (.mil network required) to view the current entry requirements. This is a very important step, as the SOFA agreements in certain nations can be unusual-- and even apply to reservists (which a contracted AFROTC cadet would be considered). It's pretty easy to get arrested in some foreign countries...
All this should be covered in any Project Go sponsored travel, but if you are going on your own, then you will want to stay in compliance with the above DODI's.
Again, if you are going USAF, then your nearest AFOSI unit will be your best POC for a question like this. It's pretty easy to make a phone call or send an email to cover your butt, and they may alert you to something you didn't know about anyway.
Lastly, keep a low profile. Grow your hair out, don't shave as often, etc. Look more like a college student (preferably a local national college student) than a young military member.
For all branches, all DoD personnel (which you should assume you are at this point to be safe) are required to comply with DODI 5240.6, DODI 5200.1-R, and DODI 8500.2. These mainly cover which interactions with foreign nationals you must report (usually COINTEL/OPSEC/INFOSEC-type stuff)
Additionally, you should visit https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil (.mil network required) to view the current entry requirements. This is a very important step, as the SOFA agreements in certain nations can be unusual-- and even apply to reservists (which a contracted AFROTC cadet would be considered). It's pretty easy to get arrested in some foreign countries...
All this should be covered in any Project Go sponsored travel, but if you are going on your own, then you will want to stay in compliance with the above DODI's.
Again, if you are going USAF, then your nearest AFOSI unit will be your best POC for a question like this. It's pretty easy to make a phone call or send an email to cover your butt, and they may alert you to something you didn't know about anyway.
Lastly, keep a low profile. Grow your hair out, don't shave as often, etc. Look more like a college student (preferably a local national college student) than a young military member.
Dckc88
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@tibreaker - you have gotten great advice and you have already stated you will talk to your cadre, so that is the most important thing. Definitely congrats on Project Go, that is a great accomplishment. There is a reason why the Project Go programs do not operate actually in Russia, it is actually not allowed. Here is the wording on the ASU website regarding their program.
"Due to restrictions on the use of federal scholarship and fellowship funding inside the Russian Federation, CLI's 2015 Russian programs abroad are being offered in the Russian-speaking city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan."
If you are Army, the other thing to keep in mind for travel, especially during any school break is you will be required to fill out a Force Protection Travel Plan. This will include a country briefing, not limited to learning the current FPCON status, terrorist level and criminal threat level. There is a lot of great information included, including the state department travel warnings and restrictions, and sometimes those restrictions are different for any US personnel. You will also be required to provide the location of the Embassy (to show you know where it is), as well as a travel itinerary with where you will be staying, including the addresses of those places.
Totally echo @Capt MJ in keeping great records. My daughter's security clearance form decision did not come back with her classmates. In fact, she did it a year earlier (was a nursing student who switched to a non nursing student), so as a Sophomore she was a MS3. When it finally came back middle of the first semester of her junior year, her ROTC PMS told her, "you travel too much"! I actually think she travels just the right amount, but the truth is, with living overseas, visiting family out of the country, and traveling often as a family, as well as traveling often on college breaks, there were a lot of foreign nationals to check out! So keeping good records is key. She also had to sit through a DOD investigatory interview going over each of those dates carefully and she had to give contact information on some of the people she had not thought of when initially filling out the form. Anyone she kept in contact with on a regular basis or had stayed at their house that was a citizen of another country. So good records are key!
She shares with me the cautions in the briefings, and as her Mother, I really appreciate how detailed the briefings are. For example, in the last two years she has gone to Mexico at least 4 different times, and she is heading there for Spring break. She told me for the first time there is now a restriction for her that she is not allowed to "hail a cab on the street." She must use an app, or an official taxi stand, or she is also allowed for her hotel to call a taxi for her. When she traveled to Germany over Christmas one year, the briefing went into detail to be extra careful and aware of her surroundings while going to Christmas markets due to the increased terrorist threat there. While she was on her trip (but in a different city), there was an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. My point is, the FPTP is meant to insure that you have been properly briefed so that you have the best chance of making good decisions so that you are safe. It is also a requirement of your ROTC cadre to make sure they have briefed you. Good luck in all your travels!
"Due to restrictions on the use of federal scholarship and fellowship funding inside the Russian Federation, CLI's 2015 Russian programs abroad are being offered in the Russian-speaking city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan."
If you are Army, the other thing to keep in mind for travel, especially during any school break is you will be required to fill out a Force Protection Travel Plan. This will include a country briefing, not limited to learning the current FPCON status, terrorist level and criminal threat level. There is a lot of great information included, including the state department travel warnings and restrictions, and sometimes those restrictions are different for any US personnel. You will also be required to provide the location of the Embassy (to show you know where it is), as well as a travel itinerary with where you will be staying, including the addresses of those places.
Totally echo @Capt MJ in keeping great records. My daughter's security clearance form decision did not come back with her classmates. In fact, she did it a year earlier (was a nursing student who switched to a non nursing student), so as a Sophomore she was a MS3. When it finally came back middle of the first semester of her junior year, her ROTC PMS told her, "you travel too much"! I actually think she travels just the right amount, but the truth is, with living overseas, visiting family out of the country, and traveling often as a family, as well as traveling often on college breaks, there were a lot of foreign nationals to check out! So keeping good records is key. She also had to sit through a DOD investigatory interview going over each of those dates carefully and she had to give contact information on some of the people she had not thought of when initially filling out the form. Anyone she kept in contact with on a regular basis or had stayed at their house that was a citizen of another country. So good records are key!
She shares with me the cautions in the briefings, and as her Mother, I really appreciate how detailed the briefings are. For example, in the last two years she has gone to Mexico at least 4 different times, and she is heading there for Spring break. She told me for the first time there is now a restriction for her that she is not allowed to "hail a cab on the street." She must use an app, or an official taxi stand, or she is also allowed for her hotel to call a taxi for her. When she traveled to Germany over Christmas one year, the briefing went into detail to be extra careful and aware of her surroundings while going to Christmas markets due to the increased terrorist threat there. While she was on her trip (but in a different city), there was an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. My point is, the FPTP is meant to insure that you have been properly briefed so that you have the best chance of making good decisions so that you are safe. It is also a requirement of your ROTC cadre to make sure they have briefed you. Good luck in all your travels!
Wow! Thanks for all the great information. I have a lot to think about... and I look forward to talking to my APAS about this topic. It also sounds like there are a bunch of other friendly Russian speaking countries I can go to (Kyrgyzstan, Estonia, etc). Thanks again!