A clearinghouse of the U.S. Africa Command's senior leader's updates on issues important at AFRICOM.
We encourage your comments and feedback.
Click here to see our public feedback
On 11/9/2010 1:15:20 PM Alison Williams, TSA Rep. to US AFRICOM wrote
My name is Alison Williams and I am the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) representative here at AFRICOM. I wanted to bring a few things to your attention if you're flying back to the States (or within the States) over the holidays. When it comes to bringing items through checkpoints, TSA's seen just about everything. Traveling with food or gifts is an even bigger challenge. Everyone has favorite foods from home that they want to bring to holiday dinners, or items from their destination that they want to bring back home.
Not sure about what you can and can't bring through the checkpoint? Here's a list of liquid, aerosol and gel items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead, or leave at home.
* Cranberry sauce
* Cologne
* Creamy dips and spreads (cheeses, peanut butter, etc.)
* Gift baskets with food items (salsa, jams and salad dressings)
* Gravy
* Jams
* Jellies
* Lotions
* Maple syrup
* Oils and vinegars
* Perfume
* Salad dressing
* Salsa
* Sauces
* Snowglobes
* Soups
* Wine, liquor and beer
Note: You can bring pies and cakes through the security checkpoint, but please be advised that they are subject to additional screening.
Remember! Do not wrap gifts you're taking on the plane. Security officers may have to unwrap gifts if they need to take a closer look. Please ship wrapped gifts ahead of time or wait until your destination to wrap them.
If you have more questions about what you can or cannot bring on an airplane to or in the U.S., see our prohibited items list , our "Can I Bring " , tool or just shoot me an email .
Other things to consider:
Please note that there were recent changes to the prohibited items list regarding the carriage of toner and ink cartridges over 16 ounces. You may no longer bring toner and ink cartridges heavier than 16 ounces in your hand-carry or checked baggage.
Items purchased after the security checkpoint have been pre-screened and can be taken on the plane, but be careful about carrying these post-checkpoint-purchased large liquid items internationally, as you may find that your "liquids" could be confiscated during a transit security checkpoint (i.e., if you're traveling from JFK to CDG to STR, CDG may have different rules for carriage of duty free items even if you were "cleared" to get them at JFK).
If you have any questions you can contact me with the information below.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Alison R. Williams Transportation Security Administration Representative to U.S. Africa Command DSN: 314.421.4908 Commercial: +49 711 729 4908 blackberry: +49 171 865 2798 stateside cell: 202.536.7603 blackberry email: alison.williams@dhs.gov
PA mission to Ethiopia 1/8/2011 · By Airman 1st Class Jevon Smith
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa strategic communication combat camera videographer
VETCAP in Negele 1/8/2011 · Captain David Creech
402nd Civil Affairs Battalion functional specialty team veterinarian
Visiting Our Teams over the Holidays 1/4/2011 · Rear Admiral Brian Losey, commander, and Captain John Dixon, chief of staff, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa
From LTC David Knellinger on 9/10/2012 2:02:03 PM "The Central Africa Region Environmental Security Symposium, hosted by the United States Africa Command Environmental Security Program and the United Nations Environmental Programme..." (Read Full Entry)
From Brigadier General Stayce Harris on 7/19/2012 8:54:32 AM "The following blog is by Brigadier General Stayce Harris, U.S. Africa Command's mobilization reserve assistant to the commander.
Over the past 2 years, I have had the..." (Read Full Entry)
Herman in Pretoria wrote on 9/23/2012 5:46:33 PM "Awesome aircraft, thank you for the display! It is most appreciated...." (Read Full Entry)
Paul in UK wrote on 8/22/2012 9:16:10 AM "I was also involved in the communications training at Kisangani and share Michel Beya's comments I'm sure we met. What I saw was a very well trained battalion and hope that..." (Read Full Entry)
Mark in Fort Leavenworth wrote on 8/21/2012 10:25:29 PM "False allegations against Commander USAFRICOM appear to be in fashion. It is shameful that someone felt the need to assassinate the character of the previous commander — one ..." (Read Full Entry)
Anonymous in Unspecified wrote on 8/21/2012 10:06:10 PM "Glad to see this, and would love to see more. It's about time we start calling out publications that feel free to write whatever they want based on rumors and myths and not fac..." (Read Full Entry)
Anonymous in Unspecified wrote on 8/21/2012 10:03:43 PM "Congratulations for calling Ethiopian Review on the carpet. The contributor who stated that the clarification was not warranted is clearly very near sighted. It is exactly those so..." (Read Full Entry)