Passport and Leaving the Country

[blarged]

Does anyone have any experience with leaving the country / obtaining a passport while enrolled in the BDCP?

I will be going on a cruise this Christmas and need to obtain a passport. Since I will technically be Active Duty, is there any oddities that are involved in getting a passport? I assume I will need to let someone know (get permission) before leaving the country as well.

I don't think there are any issues with this, but wanted to check for past experiences.

Thanks

 

[fc2spyguy]

You go through the same procedures as anyone else getting a passport.

 

[Godspeed]

Get your passport just like any other civillian.... It is much cheaper if you don't have to have it rushed, so apply for your passport as early out as possible. All the info regarding that can be found online.

As far as BDCP business goes, you will have to fill out a leave chit and take leave since you are leaving the country (has to be submitted to your NRD and get signed by your chain of command). Check your leave balance on your Leave and Earnings Statement online to make sure you have the leave accrued.

Also, your COC may requre you to take some online training prior to taking leave. Definitely a few hoops to jump through so get on top of it early.

 

[blarged]

Answered all my questions. Thanks!

 

[BACONATOR]

Ya, don't do like some of us did and leave a message with your recruiter that you're in Canada after you arrive there...

 

[JSnake]

Ya, don't do like some of us did and leave a message with your recruiter that you're in Canada after you arrive there...

Just curious... what happens if you do?

 

[pensfan341]

I have a somewhat similar question.

I am going to be applying for BDCP within the next couple of weeks. I had planned to study abroad during the Spring semester. How will this affect my situation?

 

[Picaroon]

Just curious... what happens if you do?

You get to graduate OCS and get wings, but you will be flying helos.

 

[Godspeed]

You get to graduate OCS and get wings, but you will be flying helos.

Oh snap.

 

[RHPF]

I have a somewhat similar question.

I am going to be applying for BDCP within the next couple of weeks. I had planned to study abroad during the Spring semester. How will this affect my situation?

I have heard of that happening, but it is not the norm. Search on here (since that is where I had to have heard of it happening), and ask your NRD what they want (since they will own you, and it will be up to them). As to the OP, certain countries will require a brief before you can go, and certain countries are effectively off limits. When I was in BDCP I went to Europe, the NRD had no issues with any of the countries except Czech, which I just skipped and didn't have to deal with the brief.

 

[Schnugg]

You may get an "Official Passport" later in your career at no cost to you if you need to travel abroad on orders. It is brown and indicates you are on the gubment's dime. Should not be used as a tourist passport (blue)..

 

[redsox06]

I have heard of that happening, but it is not the norm. Search on here (since that is where I had to have heard of it happening), and ask your NRD what they want (since they will own you, and it will be up to them). As to the OP, certain countries will require a brief before you can go, and certain countries are effectively off limits. When I was in BDCP I went to Europe, the NRD had no issues with any of the countries except Czech, which I just skipped and didn't have to deal with the brief.

What was the issue with Czech? They seem to be one of the most pro-American countries in Europe?

 

[BACONATOR]

What was the issue with Czech? They seem to be one of the most pro-American countries in Europe?

So is Israel, and I doubt you could go there without getting a brief. Not necessarily always about allegience, but about probablility of danger/detainment by bad guys, whether or not they are gubment or local factions/etc.

 

[Jim123]

There is even a brief about Australia (not much to it though) and I'll go out on a limb and say pretty much every country in the world.

The DoD Foreign Clearance Guide <i>should</i> be your one-stop-shop instruction* for <b>active duty</b> travel abroad (IIRC it also references DoS and maybe other instructions). You can read it online with a .mil domain computer and you can find the website with Google. Not everybody in the military is familiar with it or has even heard of it, so you might need to ask more than one person in your chain of command. Rest assured it's well organized and easy to read- as simple as looking up your country and reading the "Personnel Requirements" section, and read the general personnel requirements section that applies to all countries.

Good luck and enjoy the trip!


*I believe it is "directive in nature"

 

[pmasters]

I just got done some OCONUS travel (Europe at large) while on BDCP. Filling out a leave chit is all thats necessary, as long as you don't plan on visiting suspicious countries.

It gets a little more complicated if you plan on flying Space A. Those closest thing to legit papers we can use is a authorization for travel for reservists, and then you pretty much have to charm your way onto base. Good times...