military foreign travel

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Foreign Travel Guidance & Forms

DBB members are required to report all foreign travel prior to commencing travel.  Click on the below links for procedures and applicable pre-/post-travel documentation.

• Foreign Travel Reporting Procedures
• Foreign Pre-Travel Questionnaire
• Foreign Post-Travel Questionnaire
• Foreign Post-Travel Foreign Contact

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Complying With Foreign Travel Requirements

U.S. military personnel, civilians, command-sponsored dependents, and contractors must follow foreign travel procedures. Refer to United States Army Garrison Italy operation order (op-ord) 16-045, Foreign Travel Procedures for U.S. Personnel. Pre-travel training must be done before outside travel. Training consists of one or more of a series of modules located in Army Knowledge Online (AKO). Various countries in Europe require Americans to register with the Embassy before leave or TDY travel. Accomplish this using STEP on the U.S. State Department website . For more information, visit the Foreign Clearance Guide (log-in required). For more information, contact your unit antiterrorism officer or security personnel.

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Simple Flying

Boarding, baggage & more: a brief guide to delta air lines' military travel benefits.

The slew of perks act as the carrier’s way of saying thanks to those protecting the US.

• Delta offers perks for US military including free baggage and pre-boarding, benefiting active duty members and veterans.
• Military personnel can bring pets on Delta flights, but there are restrictions and fees based on the destination.
• Delta provides a special discount for military members through Delta Vacations, allowing savings on flight and hotel packages.

Several airlines offer different benefits for active duty US military personnel, veterans, and their families. While the perks may vary during different times of the year, they can be a big help for those currently serving or who have served regarding their travel plans. Some military personnel may fly home after duty or head to duty. Regardless, Delta Air Lines has a plethora of benefits, including through its all-inclusive vacation branch, Delta Vacations.

The Atlanta-based US legacy carrier offers benefits for active members of the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. As the airline’s way of expressing gratitude to those who protect and serve the US, Delta has special policies for military personnel, such as pet travel and early boarding. Most checked baggage is also free of charge, whether on travel orders or leisure trips. The benefits also extend beyond the flight, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows members of the US Armed Forces to receive expedited security screenings via TSA PreCheck at the airport.

Honoring those who have served or currently serve

Delta allows active duty US military members with an ID to pre-board flights, meaning they can board the aircraft before Delta One or first-class passengers. The perk is beneficial, especially if the flight is completely full. It allows military personnel to settle into their seats and relax before the hustle and bustle of the other travelers fills the cabin.

Pre-boarding is also available for passengers needing assistance getting on the aircraft or additional boarding time. Active duty members are also “allowed more free bags than civilian customers.” According to Veteran.com , Delta awards as many as five free checked bags with a limit of 100 pounds each to military personnel when on travel orders. This is incredibly accommodating if they bring a lot of equipment or personal belongings should their duty last several months. If they are traveling personally, two free checked bags are allowed with a limit of 50 pounds each.

Delta Air Lines Delays Tel Aviv Return After Extensive Security Assessment

The baggage benefit is undoubtedly a perk, considering Delta recently raised its checked baggage fees to civilian passengers. Following several other airlines increasing their fees, Delta now charges its Comfort+ and main cabin travelers $35 each way for the first standard checked bag under 50 pounds, while one free carry-on bag and a personal item are still allowed.

For passengers checking a second bag under 50 pounds, it will cost them $45 each way. Of course, military personnel, as well as Delta One or first class passengers, are exempt from these charges. Travelers with the Delta SkyMiles American Express Card or Medallion Status are also not subject to baggage fees.

Medical emergency flights

Travel privileges are also extended to war-injured immediate family members or domestic partners. According to Delta, those individuals are classified under its Medical Emergency policy, which offers flight discounts. To book a medical emergency flight, the person must provide their name and relationship to their injured family member or domestic partner. Additionally, they would need to provide the name and phone number of the military hospital where their relative or loved one is recieving care. Delta defines immediate family members as:

• Domestic partners
• Stepsiblings
• Stepchildren
• Grandparents
• Grandchildren
• Father-in-law
• Mother-in-law
• Sister-in-law
• Brother-in-law
• Daughter-in-law

The carrier's website lists more information on the prices of its medical emergency flights. Immediate family members will need to call the airline to book a flight.

Pet travel & Delta Vacations

Military personnel can also travel with their pets. Delta only accepts animals as checked baggage for US military or active duty US State Department Foreign Service Officers and their spouses with active transfer orders. However, checking their pet does come with a fee, and it depends on where the individual is traveling. On flights within the US, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, the cost is $200 to check their pet. I

t is also $200 for international flights to and from Canada or the Caribbean. Travel to and from Brazil is a $150 checked pet fee. All fees are charged each way. Checked pets are prohibited on flights to Australia, Barbados, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Senegal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.

There is a variety of acceptable pets, but there are some restrictions. According to the airline, military personnel may transport two crates per flight. However, larger crates may only be shipped as cargo, which could result in additional restrictions depending on the aircraft and class of service. Cats are permitted, except for snub-nosed cats. Dogs are allowed as well, minus pug breeds or other snub-nosed dogs. Other acceptable animals only within US domestic flights include household birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters.

Other animals are allowed but must be shipped as cargo. These include reptiles and primates – lemurs, monkeys, orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees. The fee is charged each time the pet is checked in at the airport and will be assessed at each stopover point. Delta says exceptions may apply to flight itineraries with connections over six hours. However, animals are not included with the free baggage privileges granted to military personnel or eligible Delta SkyMiles members.

Lastly, the airline honors military personnel by offering a special discount on Delta Vacations. This perk can allow individuals to save up to $200 per flight and hotel vacation package to any of its 300+ destinations worldwide. Here are the current discounts offered:

• $25 off vacations that cost up to $1,499
• $75 off vacations priced between $1,500 and $3,999
• $125 off vacations that cost from $4,000 to $6,999
• $200 off vacations priced at $7,000 or more

All eligible personnel are encouraged to contact the airline for more details about all of its military perks.

Which North American Airlines Offer Military Discount Flight Fares?

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Defense Logistics Agency Strengthens Allies, International Security Through Foreign Military Sales

A program that transfers America's defense equipment to international partners gives the U.S. and its allies an upper hand on the battlefield.

"We want to be interoperable with our NATO partners, and the Foreign Military Sales program allows us to work succinctly and without delay in a time of crisis," said Andre Hinson, FMS account manager for the Defense Logistics Agency and liaison to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

FMS is authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Export Control Act. The U.S. Department of State oversees the program while DSCA administers it on behalf of the Defense Department. Most individual cases are implemented by the Army, Navy and Air Force as they transfer service-managed platforms like F-16 fighter aircraft and M777 howitzers to global FMS customers. DSCA and the services then lean on DLA to meet international needs for repair parts that keep FMS equipment running.

South Korea and Canada are among the allied partners that DLA supports through FMS, but current crises in Ukraine and Israel also drive some of the agency's current FMS work.

Spotlight: Support for Ukraine "A large amount of our support is toward sustainment and material readiness for both ground and aviation equipment in those regions," said Hinson. 

Though repair parts make up the bulk of DLA's participation in FMS cases managed at service levels, two DLA entities manage cases of their own: DLA Disposition Services and the Defense Logistics Information Service. DLA Disposition Services provides excess material to eligible countries on an as-is, where-is basis. Typical examples include medical equipment, office equipment, basic field equipment, clothing and spare parts. Excess tactical vehicles may also be transferred if available. 

DLIS provides foreign customers with coding and cataloging data for DLA-managed items, as well. The information shared ranges from national stock numbers and maximum-release quantities to item description and weight. DLIS can also provide tailored information depending on nations' unique needs.

"DLIS has assisted countries that are looking for alternate items when the current NSN they have is no longer available, for example," said Ray Woods, also a DLA FMS account manager and DSCA liaison. "They can even help get cataloging data translated and provide maintenance instructions. That type of support has been significant for Ukraine."  

Requesting Support

For an FMS case to begin, a letter of request must be sent from the eligible foreign nation's embassy to the U.S. Embassy. Each case is unique and may require discussions to develop requirements and an actionable agreement. The State Department helps determine what the requester may or may not have. From there, requests are filtered down to a case manager through DSCA, and the case manager works with the nation to build a letter of acceptance outlining the transaction, to include how much of an item the customer needs, when they want it and other terms. 

All requests include the amount the buyer will spend and indicate whether the partner knows what they'll buy. A request that outlines which items will be purchased is known as a Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Agreement, which helps DLA project future demand and invest in additional stock. 

"With CLSSA, they're telling us, 'I'm going to buy these things and I'm going to give you 30% upfront to use toward my future purchases,'" Woods said. 

Requests that don't identify the specific items needed are non-CLSSA, or blanket-order cases for designated timeframes. Customers are aware such orders can take longer to fulfill, Woods said, adding that the agency tracks material availability to measure how well it meets needs. The goal for CLSSA items is 85% although it's currently at 89% for the four major weapons systems DLA supports in Israel. 

"Currently, non-CLSSA has a material availability of 65.8%, which is very good for items we do not demand plan for," he continued. 

Hinson pointed out that DLA can sometimes overcome availability obstacles, especially for urgent needs.

"When there's been an aircraft on the ground that a particular nation needed for mission support, for example, we were able to move material out much quicker than normal, even within 30 days." 

In cases where foreign partners use equipment U.S. forces no longer use, FMS requests include an agreement that DLA will continue to support sustainment needs despite low demands. 

"If parts are no longer in our inventory, DLA item managers will work with industry to procure them, but the customer understands the lead time for those items can be potentially long and they're willing to wait if it's not a readiness priority," said Woods. 

Orders for FMS items enter DLA through the same automated systems used by U.S. military customers but include a unique code that identifies the buyer as an FMS customer. Woods added that DLA charges FMS customers the same it does other organizations, but the customer relies on a third-party logistics provider to pick up material from DLA locations and ship it internationally. 

Foreign partners are also required to use items as specified in the agreement and must dispose of material on their own.

"We constantly remind countries that once items have been received, they can't return them to us," said Hinson. However, DSCA's Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution Service allows FMS customers to resell excess spare parts to other allied partners. 

"So if one nation purchases five widgets but only needs two, it can make the other three available through WWRS," he continued.  

Monthly and quarterly meetings with international customers help make DLA's support successful, Woods added. Discussions focus on whether the agency is doing enough to meet sustainment requirements and possible supply discrepancies. 

"The countries have invested in their supply chains by sending what we consider security liaisons or senior logisticians here to the United States on two-year rotations, so those are the representatives that we're in touch with on a continual basis," said Hinson. "They also have points of contact at our major subordinate commands to resolve issues as they surface." 

The benefits of DLA's participation in FMS surpass interoperability. Larger orders for similar items help the agency achieve better prices for all customers while also supporting U.S. foreign policy, said Woods.

"We're not the only nation with a robust supply chain. If we don't stay in close ties and collaboration with our NATO countries, they have the option to go elsewhere to procure sustainment for their equipment," said Hinson, pointing to adversaries such as China. "But any time we share parts for weapons systems that are similar or the same as those used by our allies, we're more effective as a team."

Spotlight: NATO Spotlight: NATO:  https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/NATO/

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The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security.

Israel team to visit US over Biden concerns on Rafah, Gaza 'anarchy'

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Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland, writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Susan Heavey, Alex Richardson, Heather Timmons, Cynthia Osterman and Deepa Babington

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Mexico reaches agreement with Venezuela to deport migrants

Mexico has signed an agreement with Venezuela to deport migrants and reached deals with Mexican and Venezuelan companies to employ them, Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena told a news conference on Thursday.

Trump visited US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan while president | Fact check

The claim: Trump never visited US troops overseas during presidency

A Feb. 28 Facebook post ( direct link , archive link ) shows a collage of images, including one of former President Donald Trump giving a speech in front of uniformed sailors .

"'No one supports the military more than me,'" reads text above that image.

Below the image of Trump speaking are two more images, one of a soldier in combat and one of Trump playing golf, along with text that reads, "Days spent."

"Visiting troops overseas: 0. Visiting golf courses: 88," reads text over the respective images.

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: False

Trump visited U.S. troops overseas multiple times as president, including trips to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trump made trips to Iraq and Afghanistan as president

Trump first visited a U.S. military combat zone on Dec. 26, 2018, when he traveled to Al Asad Airbase in Iraq . He spent about three hours on the ground, meeting with soldiers in a dining hall and speaking to a large gathering of troops in a hangar, USA TODAY reported. The trip was widely publicized at the time .

Trump also made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Nov. 28, 2019, his second visit to a combat zone as president. He arrived at Bagram Airfield and spent about three hours serving turkey, thanking soldiers, giving a speech and meeting with then-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the Associated Press reported.

Fact check : Trump still being prosecuted in classified docs, election interference cases

Trump made other trips to visit with U.S. troops overseas while he was president, including stops in Germany and South Korea .

The post also undercounts the number of times Trump played golf while he was president. Trump "probably played 261 rounds of golf as president," The Washington Post reported in 2021, though it notes that number may not be exact because Trump's team often would not report whether he played golf while visiting his properties.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

• USA TODAY, Dec. 26, 2018, Trump defends Syria policy during surprise visit with US troops in Iraq
• The Palm Beach Post, Nov. 28, 2019, How Trump stealthily went from Mar-a-Lago to Afghanistan
• Associated Press, Nov. 28, 2019, Trump thanks troops in Afghanistan, says Taliban want a deal
• Associated Press, Dec. 26, 2018, Trump greets US troops in Germany
• CBS News, July 1, 2019, Trump crosses into North Korea, meets with Kim Jong Un
• Washington Post, Jan. 20, 2021, Trump’s presidency ends where so much of it was spent: A Trump Organization property

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here .

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .

Israel-Hamas war latest: Hamas number three killed, US says - as video shows anguish after Israel's raid on hospital

The US has said Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims 20 Hamas fighters were killed and dozens of suspects arrested in a raid on Gaza's al Shifa hospital - which the health ministry described as a war crime.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 10:55, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• US says Hamas number three Marwan Issa killed by Israel
• Alistair Bunkall: Death is a big success for Israel
• IDF soldiers raid al Shifa hospital in Gaza City
• Screams of anguish in video showing aftermath of Israel's raid on hospital
• Several killed as hospital on fire, say Palestinian health officials
• Journalist 'beaten and detained' in raid
• Michael Clarke : Israel under pressure as evidence grows it is committing systematic war crimes
• Watch: Israel films storming of hospital by drone | What video tells us about the raid
• Biden speaks to Israeli PM - their first call in 32 days

That's all for this evening, but we'll be back tomorrow with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined those to express their concern about Israel's planned assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Trudeau was speaking with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday.

A statement from Mr Trudeau's office said he had "shared his concern" around the planned offensive "and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area".

"He underscored the need to increase the volume of life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians and to ensure aid reaches all those in need, safely and without delay."

Christopher Lockyear, from Doctors Without Borders says any attack on Rafah would be "a disaster upon a disaster".

He tells the camera he is travelling through part of Rafah "which is incredibly crowded - we've been moving at a snail's pace for the last 10-15 minutes or so".

"There are people everywhere, there are tents and makeshift shelters to the left and right of me and there are kids literally everywhere, which is a real shock."

Mr Lockyear said: "Clearly any ground invasion into Rafah would be an absolute catastrophe.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

As we have been reporting today, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate, with children now starving to death in the enclave.

The UN has said famine is imminent, and the head of its  Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief body, Martin Griffiths, has condemned world leaders for failing to prevent the current state of affairs.

"Famine is imminent in Gaza," he said.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed and fields have been destroyed.

"The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this.

"We must flood Gaza with food and other life-saving aid. There is no time to lose.

"I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

"We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late. We also know that, with action and goodwill, it can be averted."

This is footage filmed by a Sky News team near the al Shifa hospital earlier today.

Israel raided the hospital for the second time during the war, accusing Hamas of using it as a base.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 gunmen in the operation.

The hospital was Gaza's largest before the war and is now one of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in the territory's north.

It has also been housing displaced civilians.

Israel's prime minister has agreed to send a team of officials to Washington DC so "an alternative approach" can be discussed with regards to Israel's plans for Rafah.

The news comes from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who was speaking after a call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team will include military intelligence and humanitarian officials but it was not clear when they would travel to the US.

Israel said last weekend that it planned to launch an assault on Rafah, but there is growing concern about the safety of civilians in the city - where more than one million people fled to after being ordered to evacuate other parts of Gaza by Israel.

The call between the two leaders also comes amid US frustration with Israel's conduct during the war, including accusations that it has prevented from getting into the enclave.

Mr Sullivan said a major ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would "further isolate Israel internationally".

Bearing in mind that Rafah is a primary entry point for aid from Egypt and Israel, he said an invasion would also "shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is sorely needed".

Looking across the rest of Gaza, Mr Sullivan said a "humanitarian crisis" had descended.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised," he said.

The death of Marwan Issa is a big success for Israel, writes  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall .

First reported a week ago by the Jerusalem Post after an air strike in central Gaza, there was no official confirmation until tonight.

It's unclear why the US confirmed his death before Israel.

Issa is the deputy Commander of Hamas's military wing and would have been involved in the planning of the October 7th attacks. He is normally regarded as the number three in Hamas.

Issa has the nickname "shadow man" for his ability to evade Israeli forces.

The whereabouts of Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains unknown, likewise Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.

It's thought they might be hiding in the southern city of Rafah, one reason why Israel wants to send ground troops in, though if Issa was located in central Gaza then it's possible others might be there too.

The US says Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week.

Sky News has approached the IDF for confirmation but their response was: "The IDF has no comment on the matter."

When we covered reports of the death on 11 March, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had said they were awaiting confirmation.

Below is the last-known photo of Issa, taken at a 2015 security conference organised by a Hamas-aligned organisation.

For those following the situation in the Middle East, one of the big questions is when - or if - Israel will launch its assault on Rafah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the weekend that the assault was still necessary to "eliminate the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah".

But for those who are trying to arrange aid deliveries - and those who are desperately waiting for them - the lack of certainty is already risking lives.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said aid operations in Gaza cannot be planned more than two or three days ahead at the moment because of the instability and uncertainty.

"It would be a really difficult scenario for us to envisage the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people being forced from Rafah because of the incursion.

"We are not in a position to contingency plan that. We're not in a position to pre-position shelter, material, food, medical supplies and especially water... It will be a real problem for us." 

Why does this matter?

It is already extremely difficult to get aid into Gaza due to the security situation and Israeli restrictions.

In desperation, a small group of countries has resorted to dropping aid from the air and deliveries have finally been arriving by sea - but neither of these makes up for the capacity that should be brought in by road.

And, as has been confirmed today, the need is immense - the UN says famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza and people in the rest of the enclave are struggling to access food.

Mr McGoldrick said: "If there was to be an incursion, that (aid) system we have, which is already precarious and intermittent, would then be broken."

Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  is in Jerusalem and says the US and Israeli leaders would have had a lot to discuss during their 45-minute call.

"We have seen over recent weeks, in the absence of communication between the two leaders, quite a public spat between Israel and Washington, the US president making it very clear that he is not happy with the way that this war is being fought and the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting into Gaza.

"For his part, the Israeli prime minister has been defiant and adamant that Israel will pursue its war aims, specifically, the release of all the hostages and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If that means going into the southern city of Rafah, then that is what the Israelis plan to do."

Over the weekend we learnt that Israel is still planning to push ahead with an assault on Rafah, in Gaza's south.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has said it will not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

Bunkall said an assault on Rafah does not seem to be imminent but that the world is "increasingly concerned that Israel is gearing up for it", with all of the humanitarian consequences that could have.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with a senior Israeli delegation flying there today.

"The expectation is that they might take a long time, maybe a couple of weeks if they're going to be successful.

"But Hamas has lowered its demands, Israel is still saying that are being unrealistic in what they are expecting. But there is certainly, it seems, room for negotiation. And as long as that stays the case, then there will remain hope that a new ceasefire deal can be agreed at some point."

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