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INTRODUCTION
Foreign travel is different from travel in the United States.
Unlike travel we are all used to, foreign travel adds passports,
visas, currency exchanges, different languages and cultures,
all of which should be considered beforehand if want to make
your travel enjoyable and safe.
This presentation will cover advance planning in preparation
of travel. It will also identify specific areas where heightened
security awareness must be practiced. These areas include:
airports, hotels, local transportation, and sightseeing.
ADVANCE PLANNING
Time spent planning your trip is time well spent. If you have
ever taken a vacation package through a travel agency, you
are aware of how a well planned and coordinated trip can be
more enjoyable than a trip without a set itinerary. Unfortunately,
the federal government does not provide us with the same services
as a travel agency. Most often, airline and hotel reservations
are arranged, we are given an assignment, and told when and
where to report. Little thought is given to the time spent
off duty when in travel status. This is the time you should
focus on your advance planning.
Some general rules to follow:
- Learn something about the country you are visiting.
Suggested sources are magazines such as Time or U.S. News & World
Report, or Background Notes from the United States Department
of State. The Background Notes are available via the State
Department website (www.state.gov). These magazines cover
what is happening in the world now. Other magazines such
as National
Geographic may identify places of interest, but when planning
for a safe trip, other information is needed, such as:
- What is the current attitude towards Americans?
- Have there been any internal events where the U.S. has
exerted pressure or had had direct involvement?
- Will there be any major events or holidays in the
country when you are there?
- Review security related magazines in addition to the
news magazines. Check with your library for magazines such
as “Security
Management” or “Security”. These magazines
sometimes include articles on executive or personal security.
- Contact other government agencies. Although the Department
of State is the best source of information about foreign
travel concerns, other agencies may also be helpful. Consider
contacting
U.S. Customs. They have offices in many countries. Your
local Customs agent may be able to provide information. Agencies
such as Drug Enforcement Agency (www.DEA.gov), Federal
Bureau
of Investigations (www.FBI.gov), Secret Service (www.secretservice.gov),
and the Central Intelligence Agency (www.CIA.gov) can be
accessed through their respective websites.
If you contact the State Department, ask to speak to someone
from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The agents from
that branch serve as the Regional Security Officers (RSO’s)
in the American Embassies overseas. In that capacity, they
are responsible for physical and personal security of Americans
assigned to or on official business in a particular country.
- Purchase a good travel guidebook for the country you
will be visiting (Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, AAA Travel Guides,
Let’s Go travel guides, etc.)
THE ACTUAL TRIP
Your concern for personal security should not be so great
that you become paranoid. However, you must keep your best
interests in mind throughout your travel. Too often, Americans
traveling abroad go to extremes. Either they become hotel-bound
or become too adventurous. Try to seek a happy medium. When
you are out and about, keep the following in mind at selected
locations.
- Airports – arrivals are usually less dangerous
than departures. Most incidents of terrorism have occurred
in departure
areas, not arrival areas. Incidents of crime are more likely
to occur on arrival. Arriving travelers are easy victims.
You may be overly tired after flying all night or are excited
about
being in a new country. Concerns here are losing luggage,
passport, or money (pickpockets are more frequent outside
the U.S.)
Exchange money at the airport or bring some of the local
currency with you.
Hints on departures:
- arrive early
- don’t linger in public areas
- don’t carry bags for others
- expect different methods of security
- don’t use official baggage tags
- Hotels – Be aware that you may be asked to surrender
your passport, hotels have different key systems, currency
exchange rates are lower at hotels.
- Local Transportation – ask about public transportation
before using it. In some places it may be better than taxis.
Watch how things are done before you do something that
makes you standout.
Always keep a matchbook or notepad with the name of your
hotel printed on it. It may be needed to show the taxi driver
your
destination.
- On the town – Read the guidebooks. Learn their definition
of “nightlife”.
Don’t go wandering alone, you may find the local
version of Central Park.
Avoid large crowd events/festivals or use caution. Be aware
of the nature and history
of the event. For instance, soccer matches tend to draw
hostile crowds.
- Working with the Embassy – You may find long waiting
lines in front of embassies. The people in these lines
generally are waiting for visas or to see someone from American
Services
(lost passports, etc.) You should not wait in line.
Useful people to meet or terms to know:
RSO – Regional Security Officer
ARSO – Assistant Regional Security Officer
Legal Attache – Head of the FBI Office
COS – Chief of Station (CIA)
Attache – Non-Foreign Service Officer in charge of
an agency (e.g. Customs Attache
Defense Attache, Commercial Attache)
Refer to section 402 of the travel guide for further information
on U.S. Embassies.
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