Passport

Thanks jcleppe and bull! I really appreciate all of the information given to help. DS had to send in the blue one in order to get a red one. We'll just hope that the blue and red one will make it to Fort Knox.. I'm sure CC has steps to take in case all the documents are not ready. I just want DS to have everything in order to make it easier for him. We will keep trying to locate them though.

I pray all travel will flow smoothly. But I'm sure someone's plans will get messed up. I thought that the group for each assignment traveled together. Learn something new every day.

This will be an awesome experience for him. I'm just as excited as him.Yesterday I asked DS if he could stow me away in his knapsack! He gave me an incredulous look and said "really mom?" I replied "at least I'm not like mcarthur's mom and moved across the street from your college!"
 
cajuncarrier said:
I pray all travel will flow smoothly. But I'm sure someone's plans will get messed up. I thought that the group for each assignment traveled together. Learn something new every day.
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Your right, the groups do try to travel together.

My son's group had all the travel issues because the original flight out of KY was cancelled due to mechanical issues and they had to scramble to get alternate flights for everyone.
 
When DS attended CULP two years, maybe under a different system then is in place today. He, along with his Cohorts were taken to a local Post Office, the No Fee passports were processed and all supporting documents returned to them, passports being sent on to Fort Knox. All seven cadets returned to school in under two hours, and he had a jolly nice time on his CULP mission.
 
cajuncarrier said:
Thanks jcleppe and bull! I really appreciate all of the information given to help. DS had to send in the blue one in order to get a red one. We'll just hope that the blue and red one will make it to Fort Knox.. I'm sure CC has steps to take in case all the documents are not ready. I just want DS to have everything in order to make it easier for him. We will keep trying to locate them though.

I pray all travel will flow smoothly. But I'm sure someone's plans will get messed up. I thought that the group for each assignment traveled together. Learn something new every day.

This will be an awesome experience for him. I'm just as excited as him.Yesterday I asked DS if he could stow me away in his knapsack! He gave me an incredulous look and said "really mom?" I replied "at least I'm not like mcarthur's mom and moved across the street from your college!"
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Yea, I definitely understand wanting to make sure everything is in order. We've had cadets on my teams not complete things in time and we were forced to remove them from the trip completely. As long as he's trying, they'll take care of him. Our cadets that were working on their stuff, but ran into problems were moved to later teams or different countries, and we had a few cadets from other trips moved to ours. Most of those were on our earliest team so there was not enough time for them to get the issues resolved before the team was set to leave. For AFRICOM missions, they have to have their passport and documents atleast 21 days before arriving in country so the information can be passed to the host country for their arrival. If your sons schedule is somewhat flexible this summer and he has issues that he can't control (such as this case), they will make sure he goes somewhere.
 
VB DAD said:
When DS attended CULP two years, maybe under a different system then is in place today. He, along with his Cohorts were taken to a local Post Office, the No Fee passports were processed and all supporting documents returned to them, passports being sent on to Fort Knox. All seven cadets returned to school in under two hours, and he had a jolly nice time on his CULP mission.
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Well, that would have been great! But DS is the only one going from his battalion. He has done everything correctly by himself. I'm proud of him for not needing my help.
 
-Bull- said:
Yea, I definitely understand wanting to make sure everything is in order. We've had cadets on my teams not complete things in time and we were forced to remove them from the trip completely. As long as he's trying, they'll take care of him. Our cadets that were working on their stuff, but ran into problems were moved to later teams or different countries, and we had a few cadets from other trips moved to ours. Most of those were on our earliest team so there was not enough time for them to get the issues resolved before the team was set to leave. For AFRICOM missions, they have to have their passport and documents atleast 21 days before arriving in country so the information can be passed to the host country for their arrival. If your sons schedule is somewhat flexible this summer and he has issues that he can't control (such as this case), they will make sure he goes somewhere.
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That's great to hear! DS has done everything possible. He's taking care of all of it by himself, but I have seen and heard all of his contacts trying to find out where his passports are. It just amazes me that no one can help him. And yes his summer schedule is flexible. He can go anywhere anytime. He is so looking forward to it. I don't want him disappointed.
 
Yea, the passport issue has been interesting to me as well. I've had to track a few down and it usually involves calling multiple people in different places. I found it to be easier by using priority mail with tracking numbers and including return envelopes that were already filled out and included tracking numbers so I could track the passport at each leg of it's journey. Mine was also complicated because I had to send it in again to the host nations embassy to get a visa since I'll be in country about 90 days.
 
Really appreciate the advice to send passports priority with tracking numbers. Internalizing this for future reference.
 
Well here is an update on DS’s experience with passport issues:

He has been trying since the beginning of May to locate his passport. The Cadet Command person was definitely a flop. Took forever to reach him and for him to respond to email. He was finally made aware of the situation and said he will get back to us. Never did!


DS has contacted everyone from his battalion, to his mission leader, to passport agency, to cadet command passport office, to Bull, to friends of his battalion’s Major, to the Asian CULP leader, to other cadets, etc. Finally, passport was located Wednesday. It was still being processed because of an error. (Gee, thanks for letting us know that there was a problem.) Even though the Required Items list for Mongolia shows that he needs a red passport and his team leader told him he needed a red one, come to find out, he only needs a blue one (which he already had). Then Wednesday night, he received an email stating that he was being transferred to Romania instead of Mongolia because he doesn’t have a blue passport. UUUGHHHHH!! So now his application for a red passport has been withdrawn and they are sending his blue one to Fort Knox. But because they aren’t sure that the blue passport will make it in time, they switched his mission.

We ARE thankful that he is still going on the CULP mission. However, DS was really looking forward to Mongolia. He has been preparing for this trip for 6 months, talking with other mission cadets and his team leader. Another cadet was transferred with him due to the same reasons. Now his focus needs to change to Romania. As he is getting used to the idea of going to Romania, he is getting more excited.


For the last week, he has been so frustrated with the situation and biting my head off whenever I tried to help. He felt totally useless. Even though, DS has been working on this for a month and believe me, did everything he possibly could, I feel there is a lesson to learn here. Although, not quite sure what it is just yet, except for learning that not everyone takes their job seriously and are as conscientious and dedicated as you would like them to be. Also, there are just some people not good at their jobs. Welcome to the real world, right?

A BIG thanks to Bull who opened a few more doors for us with names and phone numbers. You have shown us that there are people who aren’t just doing their jobs, but are doing it because they love what they do. Thank you and God Bless!

Romania, here we come:biggrin:
 
Well, at least he doesn't have to worry about defending himself from the Mongolian Death Worm. All he needs for Romania is a string of garlic, a silver crucifix, and a wooden stake and mallet set.
 
I've heard Romania is a great trip.

Will the Blue passport work for Romania, I know my son needed a Red one for Bosnia.

That lesson he learned will come in handy, just wait until he does his first PCS. Knowing just how on top of things he really needs to be will come in very handy.
 
EDelahanty said:
Well, at least he doesn't have to worry about defending himself from the Mongolian Death Worm. All he needs for Romania is a string of garlic, a silver crucifix, and a wooden stake and mallet set.
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I thought they all live in Forks Washington now.
 
He was told that he doesn't need any passport to go to Romania. I find that hard to believe, but I was present when he was on the phone and heard it myself. I don't think I like him leaving the country without a passport. Hopefully, his blue one will be at Knox. I guess they couldn't take the chance of it not getting there for Mongolia, but it wasn't as necessary for Romania.
 
EDelahanty said:
Well, at least he doesn't have to worry about defending himself from the Mongolian Death Worm. All he needs for Romania is a string of garlic, a silver crucifix, and a wooden stake and mallet set.
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He is excited about going to Romania. Maybe he could visit Dracula??
 
cajuncarrier, tell DS to not fret. My DS is loving Romania... I just received an e-mail from him an hour ago. Food is awesome, NCO's he is interacting with are a great group. Countryside is very pretty, cities not so much. So far he is having a great time. :thumb:
 
He is excited about going to Romania. Maybe he could visit Dracula??

Funny you should say that, it is one of the planned excursions.
 
sheriff3 thanks for passing on the info. DS was really excited yesterday as he became more accustomed to the idea of changing missions. Glad to know that your son is having a great time and enjoying the meals. That will make my DS happy.:big grin: Food is always important. Please keep us updated on his experiences.
 
If he does take a passport, whatever color, I suggest making a color photo copy of the ID page and carrying that around while in country over the actual passport. We have already had a cadet have a backpack stolen that had his passport, wallet (with over $150 and all of his credit/debit cards), ACU's, malaria pills, and a few other things. Granted the country we are in has a very high crime rate and is very unstable, but carrying only a copy of the passport and minimal items is much safer.

I've had friends go to Romania in the past and know a couple going this year, I've never heard a bad Romania CULP story.
 
-Bull- said:
If he does take a passport, whatever color, I suggest making a color photo copy of the ID page and carrying that around while in country over the actual passport. We have already had a cadet have a backpack stolen that had his passport, wallet (with over $150 and all of his credit/debit cards), ACU's, malaria pills, and a few other things. Granted the country we are in has a very high crime rate and is very unstable, but carrying only a copy of the passport and minimal items is much safer.

I've had friends go to Romania in the past and know a couple going this year, I've never heard a bad Romania CULP story.
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Great suggestion. DS left this morning for Fort Knox. Already had first flight cancelled. Dad had to drive 80 to get him to the airport on time for an earlier flight. Downside of living in the country.. And I'm at cheer camp with DD so I couldn't help.. But I'm must say, DS handled everything perfectly.. He should be arriving at Knox anytime now. When he calls home Ill be sure to pass on the suggestion. Thanks.
 
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