Airmen urged to travel safe

Taking a few extra safety precautions can make the difference between enjoying travel without mishaps and becoming a victim.

Europe provides a plethora of historical and cultural hot spots. For some, being in Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“The first thing I usually tell people is to take the stuff learned during anti-terrorism training and take it one step further,” said Special Agent Lenin Ortiz, 13th Field Investigation Squadron. “A criminal, terrorist or anyone targeting Americans, has a split-second to scan crowds to identify who would make a good victim.”

Not wearing clothes that can only be acquired in the U.S. or brands that are unusual in Europe can make you a harder target to identify. Also take into consideration the size of the group you are traveling in.

“It is probably a bad idea to travel in big groups, like 10 or 15, but on the flip-side, it is a good idea to stay away from walking around on your own,” Ortiz said. “The purpose behind traveling in groups of two or three is the same reason we have wingmen in the sky, to watch each other’s backs.”

The wingman concept can be used in towns or while driving. Long drives can be stressful and having a person to switch into the driver’s seat can make the trip smoother.

“Getting there is going to be the hardest part,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Hernandez, 86th Airlift Wing ground safety traffic manager. “If your vehicle is not road worthy, you can always rent a car.”

Traffic safety incidents are one of the most common safety incidents in the Air Force. Filling out an Air Force Form 978 is mandatory when safety incidents occur. If at any time you wonder whether or not you should fill out a safety mishap form, do it anyways. Once it is received, then the determination of whether or not it was a mishap can be made.

Here are some more travel safety tips to remember:
• Check tire pressure, brakes and seat belts
• Know your limits, use rest stops if you need to
• When on motorcycles use proper personal protective equipment and ride in groups
• Don’t leave items in your vehicle in plain sight
• Look through the foreign clearance guide for mandatory travel regulations
• Keep up with travel.state.gov for up-to-date safety information