Overseas

Planning a Trip? Security Tips for Traveling Abroad

Traveling abroad can be an exceptionally stressful adventure, especially when you consider your additional requirements if traveling on the job, particularly with clients. Below are some helpful tips for increasing overall security as well as convenience that should make your travel plans more enjoyable and more secure.

Sign your passport, and fill in the emergency information:
Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa if required, also fill in the emergency information page of your passport or add another page if desired.

Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program:
You may elect to let the State Department aware of your travel plans through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov. This will help them contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.

Check for and Monitor Updated Travel Warnings & Alerts
The US Department of State publishes travel warnings and alerts that you to consider very carefully if you are going to a country in question. Travel Alerts & Warnings are published for events such as election seasons, unstable governments, planned demonstrations, health alerts, increased crime/violence or an elevated risk of terrorist attack.

Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page:
Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with trusted contacts so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Check your overseas medical insurance coverage:
Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.

Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws:
While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department website at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit. Check the Overseas Security Council for travel warnings-
https://www.osac.gov/

Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime:
Keep a low profile but do not travel alone and avoid identifying yourself as a traveler, especially as an American. To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry.

Be aware of what may get you detained or arrested in another country and know what to do if it happens:
One of the highest priorities of the Department of State and the individual U.S. embassies is to provide assistance to U.S. citizens incarcerated or detained in another country. The Department of State is ready to assist incarcerated or detained citizens in accordance with international law, as well as domestic and that foreign country’s laws.
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/arrest.html

Contact the State Department in an emergency:
Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens.
Contact info:
https://travel.state.gov
1-888-407-4747 – U.S. or Canada
202-501-4444 – Overseas

Health, What You Need to Know in Advance of Travel:
All travelers should familiarize themselves with conditions at their destination that could affect their health (high altitude or pollution, types of medical facilities, required immunizations, availability of required pharmaceuticals, etc.). While some of this information may be found in the documents listed above, the key resource for health information is the Travelers’ Health page of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at https://www.cdc.gov/travel The CDC website also provides general guidance on health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect-bite protection.

Keep track of your flight arrangements, gate information and itinerary changes.
There are several apps you can use, such as FlightAware and FlightView. These apps (or their webpages) give you updated flight information. Another trick to this is to simply google your flight number and the updated information is presented, (results shown). FYI, this has been the method which has been the quickest in terms of updating gate information, etc. Also, FlySmart is a great app for finding what is available in airports, such as restaurants, shops and it also gives you a map of the airport.

Sign up for Rewards Programs, VIP Lounge programs.
If you are a frequent flier, and/or plan on spending a lot of time in airports, frequent flier programs, like AAdvantage and lounge programs like LoungeClub, offer excellent rewards, free checked bags, free upgrades, additional privacy, increased security during layovers and much needed convenience which may be exceptionally useful, even if you would simply rather miss the traffic on the way to the airport and arrive early. Find the program that is most effective given your expected travel plans, most plans have websites or apps where you can find lounges at destination airports, compare rewards, etc.

Joseph M. LaSorsa, CPP® is currently employed as a senior partner managing and conducting: Protective Operations Training Courses, Executive Protection & Bodyguard Services, Risk Management Consultations & Seminars, Workplace Violence Prevention Seminars & Intervention Services, Security Consultations & Seminars, Private Investigations and Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures with LaSorsa & Associates – an International Protection, Investigations & Consulting Firm.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephmlasorsa

Acquiring a Pistol in Kurdistan: No Easy Task

There is a major shortage of firearms in Kurdistan today; this is primarily because there is a war being waged. With the small amount being trafficked into Kurdistan and the majority of the weapons from the coalition being sent to Iraq and Syria, very few find their way into Peshmerga hands. This creates very unique problems and solutions for the region.

Pistols are more of a status symbol than a matter of practicality to the Kurds. That’s not to say they don’t serve a purpose, just not the way they do in the West. To them, a handgun represents authority and seniority, especially when it comes to military personnel. It also provides a side bonus of a little extra security. A reliable, professionally built handgun will cost you an arm and a leg if you want one, though.

For instance, a Glock 19 goes for about $2000 on the black market, while a Makarov—on the low end of the spectrum—costs around $800. This isn’t an issue for a ranking officer, provided he wasn’t issued one, because their salaries are substantial enough to cover the cost. What about the average soldier who wants to carry, though?

This is where things get interesting. A huge influx of Turkish-made handguns have found their way into Kurdistan, no doubt through smuggling. These knock-offs are often poorly manufactured and potentially dangerous to the end user. They come in a wide variety of models, to include Glock, Walther, Sig Sauer, and more. I haven’t decided if someone is just trying to make a quick buck, or if the Turkish hatred of Kurds knows no bounds. Maybe it’s both.

Chambered in 7mm, the cartridges are small and short. The frames are produced using a cheap plastic that will crack under heavy use and obviously wasn’t meant to handle stress. The receivers themselves are churned out on assembly lines and milled out of a substandard aluminum. None of the parts are of firearms quality, really, particularly the barrels.

The barrels are steel (surprise) but poorly machined and have zero rifling whatsoever. When you pull the trigger, provided the trigger mechanism works as intended, it feels as if a sewing needle has been set free, and upon reaching the limit of its allotted travel, has collapsed.

You never really know if one of these gems is going to explode in your face or fire the way it was intended (maybe explode the way it was intended?). Because of the poorly milled chambers and their sloppy fit to the barrels, cartridge cases may not seal inside the chamber. Perhaps the round blows out the side halfway down. You get what you pay for.

One of these Turkish terrors costs between $100-200, which is why they have become so popular. Like I said earlier, a sidearm is largely used as a status symbol here, so these serve as an affordable option for a young Peshmerga soldier to elevate himself above his peers ever so slightly, or to simply protect himself while off-duty, provided his weapon doesn’t backfire. More than likely, he will never even fire the gun, just wear it, so what does he care if the thing is a POS? It just goes to show that if there is a demand for something, someone is going to fill the void and supply it.

Photo of the day: The longest international bus ride in Asia

Waiting to embark on a 24-hour international bus ride from Hanoi, Vietnam to Vientiane, Laos – complete with a land border crossing and walk through no man’s land. Considered one of the hardest and most brutal bus journeys in Asia. Gonna be one of those adventures where it’s gonna be good only after it’s done, like doing Everest – but worse.

Courtesy of Vinjatek

Overseas Travel: Having an escape and evasion mindset

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Nuremberg, Germany on business. That flight consisted of flying through Atlanta International Airport, Paris France International Airport and then over to Nuremberg. On the return trip, I traveled through Amersterdam. With that said I had to traverse through multiple security checkpoints and Customs. Knowing this ahead of time allowed me to plan for what I would be packing in my bags. It’s vitally important to do your homework before traveling to know what you can and cannot pack in both checked luggage as well as your carry-on. For this specific trip, I did not check any baggage, which restricted what I could bring with me from an EDC and personal protection standpoint.

Knowing that TSA is catching on to the ‘tactical pen’ market, I decided not to carry my tac pen. Instead, I decided to carry a normal Zebra stainless steel barreled pen. In addition to that pen, I also carried my Olight M18 Striker flashlight. Both of these items flowed seamlessly through all airport security and customs. Between these two items and my Crye Precision Ballistic backpack insert, I felt confident in my personal security. The rest is situational awareness and thinking outside the box.

Once I was on the ground in Germany and checked into my hotel I started to assess things and determine what would be on my person and in my daypack as I traversed the city. I carry a few staple items in my daypack anywhere I go, whether it’s domestic or international. The first thing is my TSA approved SERE/Survival kit contained in a SealLine pouch. The following list is the items carried in that kit.

SOL Emergency blanket
Bic lighter inside an Exotac waterproof case
Small Streamlight Microstream flashlight
Frontier Survival Straw
Promethius Design Werx Compass

Also carried at all times were my passport, flashlight, local currency and my wallets.

Before heading out into the city I obtained two local maps; One full size fold out map and a mini map that I kept strapped to my front pocket wallet. The mini map would serve as a backup if I had my pack taken for whatever reason. Always have backup plans when traveling, especially overseas.

As you see in the above photo I have two wallets for a specific reason. The larger Flowfold Vanguard wallet stays in my back pocket with some local currency and other cards that are useless to anyone else. The smaller Flowfold Minimalist wallet stays in my front pocket with my photo ID, passport card, credit card and hotel key. Attached to the outside of that wallet is my backup mini map.

(left) is the Flowfold Vanguard Wallet (Right) is the Flowfold Minimalist Card Wallet

Flowfold Minimalist Card Wallet

Mini map is secured via a SOB Tactical Combat Band.

By setting my wallets up this way, if I happen to get pickpocketed somewhere along the line, I still have what I really need in my front pocket wallet. Even if some punk attempts to rob me, I can throw them the wallet from my back pocket which will contain some local currency and useless cards. To them, that may be enough to stop harassing you and move onto the next person. Little do they know that you have your ‘real’ wallet in another location.

Speaking of local currency, I prefer to have a minimum of $200 on me at all times. This can be used obviously for shopping and eating, but more importantly, could be used for bribery or to obtain transportation if you need to egress due to some type of hostile threat to the local area.

Be mindful of protests and have a known egress plan. This can be accomplished by looking at a local map or using your smartphone to pull up Google maps, which may be faster if the situation quickly escalates. During my stay in Germany, I was met with a local protest that was coming down the street I happened to be walking on. There was a strong police presence with riot gear. I was able to pinpoint my location on Google Maps and locate an egress route in case shit went south.

A good tip when walking through crowds of people or something like this is to carry a cup of coffee (if you’re a coffee drinker). That cup of hot coffee can be used to create a diversion if you find yourself too close for comfort and need to get the hell out of dodge. Hot coffee thrown onto someone or in their face will give you a few precious seconds to escape and evade.

It’s also good to know the location of the closest airport and a secondary airport, train stations and hospitals when traveling.

Other contents of my Flowfold 10L Minimalist pack were a pair of Gatorz Sunglasses, a Black Diamond jacket and Dark Angel Medical mini trauma kit.

Flowfold 10L Minimalist Backpack

Somewhere in Munich

Two other areas you’ll want to pay attention to are your comms (cell phone) and credit card.

Comms – Before you travel overseas you’ll want to check with your cell provider that your phone will work in the countries you are visiting and what temporary changes will need to be made to your plan so you don’t get hit with expensive roaming charges. I use Verizon, so it was easy to log into my account online and add the TravelPass feature just for the days I’ll be overseas which amounts to $10/day. Your other option is to purchase a standalone burner phone such as Tracphone and add the appropriate calling plan to it or have the ability to install an international sim card.

Credit Card – Same as with your cell phone, you’ll want to contact your credit card company and/or bank to inform them of your travel dates and where you’ll be traveling. The last thing you’ll want happening is your cards being disabled because your financial institution thinks those are fraudulent charges. Most of the time this can be done online through your account. Another route to go is prepaid Visa cards. The advantage to the prepaid cards is that they are in no way linked to your bank or credit cards. If you lose or misplace it, you’re only out the money on the card and it has no ties to your financial institutions.

So in a nutshell, if you want to go the extra mile to play it safe go for the burner phone, local currency and prepaid Visa cards.

Hope this short guide helps you as you plan your next trip. Safe travels!

*Photos and video courtesy of the author

Message for U.S. Citizens | Traveling Overseas in 2017

The Scene:

This week while traveling OCONUS, I was staying in a majority non-Caucasian and heavily Muslim area of the city; an alarm at 0-dark-30 proved that having an EDC kit, pre-staging your gear and performing rehearsal works. As the other sleep-deprived guests emerged from the hotel and began to cluster and loiter, waiting for the fire department to arrive, my situational awareness was heightened. I observed that I was one of the few only people dressed in dark-colored comfortable clothing, I was in the minority that had a backpack, and every Muslim woman was in full-dress and the western women were in pajamas with bathrobes. This is interesting as the evacuation area was located near many shisha bars that were lively and full.

The Concern:

Do you know where the evacuation place is and the area surrounding it? What should you have with you when you leave your room? What should you do prior to going to sleep to reduce potential threats that might be lurking once you leave your room? Why is it consequential regarding your skin color and why is a religious understanding of the area important? An alarm or occurrences that forced you to leave your hotel room under duress put your mind into an animalistic survival activity, and unless you have a plan, practice, and test it, you could be putting yourself at risk.

“Business and government travelers have reported their hotel rooms, and belongings were searched while they were away. Sometimes there was no effort to conceal the search”. – FBI’s Business Travel Brochure

The scene this past week could have gone wrong for many reasons. First, the fire alarm could have been a plan to get westerners out of the rooms for kidnapping, or as a ploy to get to their electronic equipment left behind; many of us have sensitive data or information of value on our computers and cellular phones. Second, the alarm may have been a rouse to get everyone into a collective area to inflict mass casualties. Third, the women, who appeared to be of western origin, were out of dress and could have incited a problem with the men in the shisha bar and could have escalated the threat to all western residents. Fourth, had the evacuation continued for an extended period or forced the occupants to another part of the city the stuff you have will be your life line and potentially a great morale booster.

“Corporate espionage is an increasingly serious threat for a business traveler. The perpetrator may be a competitor, opportunist, or foreign intelligence officer. In many countries, domestic corporations collect competitive intelligence with the help and support of their government. To mitigate this risk, your organization’s critical information and technologies should not reside on any hard copy or electronic device you take unless it is absolutely necessary, and if so, then you must safeguard the physical access to the information by using encryption and keeping the material on your person at all times. Hotel safes are not adequate protection”. – FBI’s Business Traveler Brochure

What preparation & gear should you follow:

The May 2016 Predator Lesson by Clint Emmerson’s Escape the Wolf- THE ESSENTIAL SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS ABROAD is a must read. Many of his points are covered here, but you should visit Escape the Wolf for other ideas. You should be of the mindset that you are not coming back to your room. These are my preparations every evening before going to sleep:

Back-pack is loaded with computer and other electronics I would never leave behind. I also add a bottle of water to the pack in the event of staying outside for hours.
Suitcases are loaded with essentials and locked; An app like photo trap is used to take “before and after” photos to determine tampering or if anything was moved.
For those that live out of a suitcase, you are probably like me and never take anything out except the toiletries and maybe your suits to hang.
I also place a wedge under the door. A fire-alarm or others can disorient when in a heavy sleep. It could also be used as a method to hide the sound of a breach on your hotel room door. The wedge makes it a bit more difficult should they attempt to kick it in, or surreptitiously disarm the other mechanisms used to secure your door.
Stage clothes in layered order that be my transition too quickly as you leave the room. Put things in the pockets, like your wallet and passport. If you do have an EDC kit, make sure it’s packed, ready and available.
Always have a flashlight. I use the StrikeBright Executive Precision Lighting Instrument (EPLI) perfect to blend when wearing a suit and slim enough to fit into any front pocket.

What to do:

To start, as an American you should be filing your travel plans with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). By providing your destinations, local residence, and a phone number, when things go wrong in the country you at, they can potentially come and get you. We rehearsed the evacuation of US Citizens many times under different scenarios when I was a Marine Security Guard, of course each country has their own evacuation plans, so you may not be saved. You should be prepared.
Visit The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) to get the latest overseas threats
Download the FBI’s Business Travel Brochure
Read Clint’s other book Risk Mitigation, Personal Security Handbook for the Traveling Professional. Join the Predator notices from Escape the Wolf; note, if you are a member of the SOFREP Team Room, you will get a discount, and access to updated training, planning, and threat notices.
Take an hour when you arrive at your hotel and walk the escape route, go into the evacuation location (if possible) to observe the surroundings, and when you leave your room have a plan in the event you cannot go back. Be vigilant, be cautious, be prepared, and never quit.

Gear seen in this article

Backpack and EDC loadout – purchased here for $199.95
Triple Aught Design Intercept PD Pant – purchased here for $135.00
PhotoTrap – purchased for $.99 at the Apple appstore
Arcteryx Skyline LS shirt – purchased here for $99.00
BriteStrike EPLI – purchased here for $45.99
Wedge IT, the Ultimate Door Stopper – purchased here for $8.50
Escape the Wolf – The personal security handbook for the traveling professional – purchased here for $15.99

*Featured image courtesy of fbi.gov