Being in the military means that you are often called to travel. Travel happens at times when you are blessed to be able to take your family with you, on a vacation or family outing. But at other times you travel solo. As you travel there are things to keep in mind that will help keep you and your loved ones safe from harm
Identity Theft. Traveling in the military means traveling with your duffle bag, or military gear. Since the first change from a military ID number to the use of social security numbers as a person’s military ID number, it has been easy for people to get your number off your luggage. Take a roll of duct tape with you when you travel. Use luggage tags that have a flap, so that your clearly marked luggage is not as easily read. Leave your name available, but not your home address to the casual observer. Military Tags. For your seabag, or duffle bag that has your social security number emblazoned on it, make a temporary cover. Take the duct tape, and cover the first five numbers of your social security number with a single piece of tape. Then take two slightly smaller pieces and tape around the ends, so it’s not as simple as merely peeling back the tape. This will help protect your ID when you travel.
Luggage. If you are looking for reliable luggage that will take tough abuse, you should investigate the hard shell type suitcases available on the market. Cases such as are made by Samsonite work well, and do not have any symbols or marks that might be interpreted as American in origin. Duffle Bags are now available with wheels, check with your command. If it is allowed, try to find one that has embedded or attached wheels on it for ease of movement.
Carry Ons. The type of luggage that most flight attendants and pilots use traveling on airlines around the world is the TravelPro line. It has more available pockets, and it is expensive but worth it for the added ability to store and carry your things.
Flight Terrorism. Most of the time in history, terrorism has been resolved safely; over eighty five percent of the one thousand planes ever hijacked have resulted in a safe outcome. But it’s not something that anyone wants to think about, either. If you are in the military and flying, especially in uniform, consider an aisle seat. This gives you more mobility to work against jerks that try to work against the plane crew. As the events of 9/11 proved, there are times that some people are left up to the passengers and flight attendants to deal with.
