PHILADELPHIA –
With Summer approaching, vacations are planned but not all Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support employees are aware of requirements and recommendations before traveling abroad.
To ensure employees know all safety requirements, DLA Troop Support civilians, military, and contractors are advised to report any non-official foreign travel, said DLA Troop Support Emergency Management Specialist Derrick Sawyer.
Foreign travel is defined as visiting a country outside of your own with a passport and may also require a visa, whether for business or pleasure.
“Different countries have different levels of threat”, Sawyer said. “It’s important for those traveling to know the threat levels and whatever messaging has been put out from the embassy prior to their travel”.
Upon informing the DLA Security office of their travel plans, employees will receive a briefing.
“We recommend notification of travel a month to two-weeks in advance”, Sawyer said.
The travel briefing does not require the employee to meet with the security team in-person.
The employee completes the Unofficial Foreign Travel Reporting Form and returns it to DLA Troop Support security personnel. The travel brief is then emailed to the employee, along with an Anti-Terrorism Protective guide.
The individual is free to share it with those who are traveling with them.
“The briefings are specified to the country the employee is visiting”, said Sawyer. “It includes the Travel Advisory, country profile, US embassy info and applicable laws.”
According to the U.S. State Department website, there are four Travel Advisory Levels.
The four levels are:
- Exercise normal precautions
- Exercise increased caution
- Reconsider travel
- Do not travel
The travel advisory appears at the top of each destination page, with a color corresponding to each level. The advisories are updated as conditions change.
The security team is available after an employee returns as well. Employees can report suspicious activity while traveling, Sawyer said.
Questions regarding unofficial travel can be submitted to TRPSPTunofficialforeigntravel@dla.mil.