Military travel: it’s like civilian travel with more red tape. Here are 13 things every constant military traveler knows.
1. The Defense Travel System is arguably the most frustrating thing ever made.
2. The overly moto guys will wear civilian clothes but completely fail to hide that they’re in the military.
3. Your military ID and TSA Precheck can make security a breeze.
4. Getting your gear through security can be more challenging, so you learn to make friends with security.
5. Government rate hotels are not always the nicest.
6. Someone will get lost but swear he isn’t. This is especially annoying when he outranks you.
7. Someone in your group can’t handle foreign food.
8. Take a minute to get to know the staff duty driver every night, just in case.
9. You will run into someone from an old unit. You probably will not be excited about it.
10. The DoD is paying for the rental car and mileage, so find somewhere to go every day off.
11. No matter how many phone numbers, email addresses, and instant messaging usernames you exchange, someone will be impossible to keep track of for accountability. It’s probably a senior officer.
12. Every base exchange is filled with tackier, more expensive versions of local stuff you can buy off post.
13. Despite all the frustrations, you will want to leave again 15 minutes after you return to your home base.
