International Travel Before BCT

usafa21

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Feb 25, 2017
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Stupid question, but there shouldn't be any problem if appointees travel internationally (specifically to Africa) before BCT, is there?
 
My son is appointed to USMA and he emailed his RC before he made plans to visit a friend in Thailand for 2 weeks in April. Wasn't an issue but checking is a good idea. He gets his typhoid shot tomorrow! [emoji41]
 
usafa21, it was potentially implied by prior post but thought I would emphasize that you really should get every recommended immunization for those traveling to the areas you will be visiting. You wouldn't want to have some illness to cause you any issues. Good luck.
 
After your child accepts the appointment and before he/she reports there will be security clearances and, although I can not remember the name as I am typing this, a form will be electronically submitted by your Cadet and among the questions will be any and all trips outside the US, and follow up questions from there. My son listed a few in Canada, which ironically occurred when we drove through Canada from Michigan to West Point, and then back. Based on the answers on the security application, my son was tagged for an interview, and an investigator literally came to my sons school and met with him for a bit less than an hour if my memory serves correctly. My son asked why he was tagged, and the guy said most likely the trips to Canada. We were a bit worked up about it, but wasn't a huge deal. He got his clearance, and is a plebe at West Point.
 
usafa21, it was potentially implied by prior post but thought I would emphasize that you really should get every recommended immunization for those traveling to the areas you will be visiting. You wouldn't want to have some illness to cause you any issues. Good luck.

We are of the same mindset. The typhoid vaccine is a bit of insurance as the regions he is traveling within are large cities. Walgreens has been easy to work with as we preferred the inactivated vaccine which has a 2 year life than the live pill vaccine which has a 5 year span but more side effects. Not a lot of use for typhoid vaccines in the hills of southern Ohio. [emoji51] He contacted his RC prior to being appointed to USMA to insure it wouldn't be an issue. He's visiting an exchange student friend during Thai New Year. A little envious as I have always wanted to go to Thailand! We figure it will have a high probability of security meeting but with the ok by the RC, worth the risk. One last adventure before USMA. [emoji631]
 
If your visit is truly for pleasure and the country is not one historically hostile towards the United States there is ~zero risk in taking said trip.
 
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