Think travel safety when planning vacation trips Published July 5, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Neal Joiner 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Being in the military, many people may want to travel to an exotic foreign location while on leave, or perhaps have dreams of experiencing new cultures and the sights and sounds of strange lands. Maybe that land is Canada, then again, maybe for others that land is Afghanistan. Before scheduling any foreign travel, the following should be considered: - How safe is the country being visited? - What are the visa requirements for that country or location? - Are military members permitted to travel there? Prior to scheduling any foreign travel U.S. Service members should contact their Antiterrorism Office for additional guidance. While there are no specific countries that are off limits to Service members, there are safety considerations for some areas that may restrict the military members' travel. The ATO office can elaborate on these restrictions based on the specific areas. Also, permission from the squadron commander may be required in order to travel. Another source to consult with prior to scheduling travel is the U.S. Department of State's travel website which issues alerts and warnings and states visas and other requirements for travel to specific countries. Service members are free to enjoy their leave and are encouraged to take advantage of their overseas posting, but remember - the safety of Team Mildenhall members and their dependents is essential to accomplishing the Air Force mission. For more information, call the ATO office at DSN 238-3127. For current travel updates from the U.S. Department of State, visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html.