Posted on Oct 11, 2016
Can a commander enforce a battle buddy policy when you take leave?
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This may sound dumb, but S2 is saying the BDE commanders policy is that if you want to go to a third world country (in this case, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines) you must bring a battle buddy with you on leave. I have never heard of anything like this before. Is this actually enforceable?
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SGT (Join to see) I have seen policy like that before, but you can ask their definition of a battle buddy. I seen it where it has to be military, and I have seen it where it can be your girlfriend, husband, whatever as long as it's not the taxi driver or something like that
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SGT (Join to see)
Yeah it can be anyone, however people not in Korea can't take 3 weeks of leave whenever they want or it's too expensive or too far. I'm just going to let it go. I'll just check out Angkor wat when I get out. Thanks for your reply
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Access Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System (APACS) via:
https://apacs.dtic.mil/apacs/login.jsp
When you fill out the countries you want to visit you need to click on the Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) icon next to the countries you are visiting. The FCG will outline everything you need in order to visit the country. The two main points are Country Clearance, Theater Clearance and/or Special Area Clearance. All training (AT Level 1, ISOPREP, SERE, etc.) needs to be up to date as well as other training requirements which are country specific. Additionally, you will have lead time requirements for submitting your request (usually 14-30 days before travel). All this should be known to your S2, start with them first if you have questions. How do I know all this about APACS? I work in the U.S. Defense Attaché Office (USDAO) and we handle these all the time.
One final note. If you thoroughly enjoy filling out this tremendous headache of bureaucracy to take leave in a foreign country, then you may enjoy a tour as an Attaché NCO working in a USDAO. Of course, we do much more than just grant clearances into a country. It is a great Special Duty Assignment and I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those who love to travel.
https://apacs.dtic.mil/apacs/login.jsp
When you fill out the countries you want to visit you need to click on the Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) icon next to the countries you are visiting. The FCG will outline everything you need in order to visit the country. The two main points are Country Clearance, Theater Clearance and/or Special Area Clearance. All training (AT Level 1, ISOPREP, SERE, etc.) needs to be up to date as well as other training requirements which are country specific. Additionally, you will have lead time requirements for submitting your request (usually 14-30 days before travel). All this should be known to your S2, start with them first if you have questions. How do I know all this about APACS? I work in the U.S. Defense Attaché Office (USDAO) and we handle these all the time.
One final note. If you thoroughly enjoy filling out this tremendous headache of bureaucracy to take leave in a foreign country, then you may enjoy a tour as an Attaché NCO working in a USDAO. Of course, we do much more than just grant clearances into a country. It is a great Special Duty Assignment and I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those who love to travel.
Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System
The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you SFC, this was mentioned in the S2 paperwork, but they said they woupd handle this portion. I'll check it out. I do actually love to travel, that's why I wanted to take advantage of my location in South Korea and the prices. Is USDAO MOS specific? Thanks for the insight!
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SFC (Join to see)
One interesting tidbit. When I took leave to South Africa in 2010 the requirement was for the first GO in your CoC sign your leave form. Couldn't be delegated down to local commander.
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - I think that's pretty much how it is here, because of the risk.
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SFC (Join to see)
An assignment in the USDAO is not MOS specific. Talk to your Career Counselor about the requirements. The application window is after you complete 50% of your assignment and before come down on orders to a new assignment.
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Bingo, force protection issue. Also you'll see in many of these countries the AMEMB sets a policy for being out in town that MIL forces must comply with. We were 2 minimum in Phnom Penh and 3 when up north or more. Then you had to figure out what RCAF or "contractor" assets you might need depending on how much you were off in the sticks. BTW same rules for work or play. We usually had a local driver with AK hardware in the trunk for immediate access. If he gets knocked off, it's not US assets that get taken.
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SGT (Join to see)
Yep it's definitely ForcePro as the reason, it just seems a bit weird that the air force doesn't have the same restrictions even though we're both in SK. It's impossible for me to find someone to take 4 weeks of leave with me to these places. Everyone wants to go home to see family, I however will end up staying here without midtour and just save leave I guess.
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