Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Benjamin Lewis | Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Clay D. Breckenridge, force protection specialist assigned to...... read more read more
Most get excited upon receiving orders to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota partially due to the travel potential. With discount airlines, numerous destinations within Europe are only a short flight away. While everyone should absolutely make the most of their time here, it is also a good idea to be a “smart traveler.”
One way to protect yourself and your family is by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP for short. STEP is a free service to U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad and is maintained by the U.S. State Department. The program provides alerts to travelers, allows local consulates and embassies to contact Americans in the area, and helps family members to get in touch with you in case of an emergency.
This online notification program is just one way you should prepare yourself before traveling to any major Spanish city or abroad. NAVSTA Rota Security Department has additional tips to help keep you safe.
“One of the best ways for someone to stay safe while traveling Europe is to follow the Buddy Rule (traveling with at least one other person) even if it’s not enforced by the Foreign Clearance guide for the specific country they’re traveling to,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Clay D. Breckenridge.
In addition to traveling with someone, Breckenridge, a force protection specialist assigned to NAVSTA Rota Security department, explained that some extra research during the planning stage can keep you safe during your travels.
“The traveler should take a good look at the area they plan to visit in regards to crime rates, FPCON [force protection condition] levels, and advisories,” said Breckenridge. “Before booking the trip ensure that flights or mode of travel will not be stopping/laying over in any high threat areas.”
Breckenridge encourages visiting the State Department website (travel.state.gov) during the planning stage to look at advisories. Once you finalize your trip, he suggests enrolling the trip into STEP to receive updates.
Other tips include booking hotels close to local police stations, ensuring cell coverage in the region, and jotting down emergency contact numbers such as the nearest U.S. Embassy. These few simple steps while planning your trip can give you peace of mind during your travels.
Being diligent in your trip planning helps to minimize potential threats but does not eliminate them. The recent situation in Barcelona over the long holiday weekend left many NAVSTA Rota personnel stranded and wondering, “What do you do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation?”
“If someone finds themselves in an area with protests/danger, they should quickly and calmly leave that area and let their chain of command know what’s going on and that they’re okay,” said Breckenridge.
He also suggests checking in with someone regularly to provide updates until the traveler has safely made it back to Rota.
“Despite everything going on here in Europe it's still very easy to remain a hard target while traveling,” said Breckenridge. “I would encourage everyone to take full advantage of the travel opportunities that come with being stationed here in this amazing location, all it takes is the proper planning and maintaining situational awareness throughout your trip!”
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2019 06:26 |
| Story ID: | 350848 |
| Location: | ROTA, ES |
| Web Views: | 343 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Be a 'Smart Traveler' While Exploring Europe, by Courtney Pollock, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
