<p>Also all parents should have a photocopy of their kids passport. I have had mine and my son's stolen in a foreign country and having the photo copies helped immensely.</p>
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My son wanted the USAA personal property insurance they offer Mids for laptops, uniforms, knockers, & such.
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<p>Just a side note: another great company that does the same is Armed Forces Insurance Exchange (AFIE). I still have them for my, uh..... "toys". ;)</p>
<p>Believe me, the Mids will be flooded with offers by mail from both places. :)</p>
<p>Profmom2-</p>
<p>Writing it down on the list, now.</p>
<p>Have Homeland Security or nations overseas changed the policy that military personnel can travel with just their ID card and their orders?</p>
<p>Not that I wouldn't carry my passport anyway, of course.</p>
<p>My husband did that in March 2005, and while it was supposed to still work, it was extremely difficult. He couldn't rent a car without a passport, so he gave one of his exchange students the keys, since he had a valid drivers license (he paid for it with him mil. credit card), the rental company stated they dinged and banged it up. Well, 18 mos. later, the issue was resolved.</p>
<p>A passport is better, I think, and have the picture with longer hair.</p>
<p>Can't comment on other academies but USMMA requires the kids have a passport before reporting in due to their sea year travels. I asked son if he carried his when he would leave the ship in foreign ports & he said it was a requirement & he did use it alot.</p>
<p>Great idea ProfMom. I have his but never thought to copy hubby's or mine. Will do.</p>
<p>USNA wants them all to have valid passports too.</p>
<p>Boy has one (needed one to prove to AFA that he really was an American citizen, although we sent them his certificate of birth abroad). Does he need a military passport, or do they still do those? They did 20 years ago.</p>
<p>I think everyone has to have a regular passport these days. I know that my son had to have one by second semester in case he wanted to go overseas for summer training. Rather than having to worry about it at Thanksgiving, he took care of it before before I-Day.</p>
<p>I never heard anything about military passports in my day. You had a regular passport and (back then) you could travel with just your ID and your orders.</p>
<p>On the two occaisions I had to travel commercial abroad while in the Navy, I packed my passport. It's a lot easier than having to explain your ID and orders, and doesn't finger you as military (You may recall the Navy diver that was beaten and tortured to death aboard the hijacked TWA flight back in the mid 80's. He and his friend didn't have passports; just ID's. They were singled out.).</p>
<p>If the rules have changed, of course, then it's all academic. Take it with you and leave your ID in your wallet.</p>
<p>My son was told not to even acknowledge that he had a military ID when he traveled out of the country for spring break last year. There was a brief about it at the Academy right before they took off on leave. Another thing, they were not allowed to travel in uniform.<br>
When my husband was active duty and we were living in Europe during the 80's, I used to put my ID card in my shoe and was told not to say that my husband was in the military. He worked for the 'government'.</p>
<p>atrmom-</p>
<p>Where at in Europe? We were in Germany and it was just like you described when we went to communist east Germany on tours.</p>