Military Life Meets World Travel: Tips from an Army Veteran
Discover what it’s like to balance the call of adventure with the commitment to service from an Army Veteran and fellow EF staffer.
With a spirit for exploration and a heart for service, Anna has experienced travel in every form imaginable—from solo road trips across Turkey to group adventures in the South Pacific, and even tours in Korea with the U.S. Army.
As Emergency Response and Preparedness Manager for EF World Journeys—a family of brands encompassing EF Ultimate Break—Anna shares her unique perspective as a global traveler, military veteran, and active member of Veterans@EF.
How did you get involved in the military? and how long did you serve?
I joined the military in a less common way—I really liked tanks (still do) and wanted a job helping people, which led me to join ROTC in college. Unlike many military members who have family legacies, neither of my parents served.
I spent around four years on active duty as an Armor Officer stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, and another year with the Colorado National Guard at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Did you travel a lot while serving? What was that process like?
During my time in the Army, I traveled to South Korea on a 9-month deployment. I got to explore historically significant areas like the Korean Demilitarized Zone and try some of the best Korean BBQ in the world. Although I didn’t travel solo abroad while on active duty, I did explore places across the U.S. For trips outside the command-set radius, a Leave Form is required, and sometimes you may need to complete extra steps, like an essay, checklist, or antiterrorism training.
To travel while in the Army, talk to your first-line leader or NCO for guidance on requirements, and they’ll check with your first sergeant or personnel team for country-specific details and timelines.
In the National Guard, the process is less demanding since you’re not under active duty full time. And with them, I traveled to Jordan, where I got to explore Amman, Petra, and experience the country’s Emergency Management Structure. On my own time, I bounced around even more than I did on active duty, visiting Morocco, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Portugal.
Are there special considerations active and reserve military should keep in mind when planning travel? Any tips?
Some important considerations for military members planning travel—whether active duty, National Guard, or reserves—include what you represent and how you approach certain topics.
What you represent: When traveling abroad, it’s important to remember that you’re seen as a representative of the U.S. military and, by extension, the U.S. You’re expected to show a high level of respect for laws and local norms. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun—it just means we’re trying to not start an international incident.
Approaching topics: Certain issues, like politics or wars, can come up in conversation, so it’s essential to use language that’s sensitive to the situation. As a military member, people may ask for your perspective. While traveling abroad, some people were fascinated by my Army experience, while others had a more defensive stance.
Overall, it’s important to remember, people around the world have different perspectives and experiences, and you could be representing a part of the military that they may not be familiar with.
How does the structure of group travel align with your experience in the military?
Group travel has a surprisingly large number of similarities to the military. I recommend it because of the day-by-day itinerary (great for getting command approval) and comradery that comes with it.
Some of the best parts of military life were the relationships formed through years of different trainings and duty stations. Group travel provides the opportunity for similar bonds without having to take a shift for fire watch!
A lot of my military friends and I also value having a schedule to stick to and planning already done. With group travel, a lot of the planning is handled ahead of time and YOU don’t have to do it!
Travel can be unpredictable. How can active and reserve military prepare emotionally?
Traveling can sometimes be overwhelming, and it may resurface past military experiences or add stress. If you find yourself struggling, remember that resources are available.
While on active duty, all military members have access to militaryonesource.mil, which offers free counseling and assessments with a consultant. They’re available 24/7 at (800) 342-9647.
If you’re a veteran and traveling post-service (congrats on getting your DD 214!), the Department of Veterans Affairs has mental health resources available to veterans.
Lastly, if you travel with EF, (we hope you do), we have a 24/7 on-tour support team to help with any operational or mental health needs that arise.
Are there any trips you think veterans or active-duty members would particularly enjoy?
Any of 'em! If you’re interested in history, places with significant military operations can be fascinating to explore and EF Ultimate Break offers countless destinations and flexible timelines to fit around your training schedules, personal interests, and more.
Fun fact: While serving, you can use your DOD ID number (on your Common Access Card) for TSA PreCheck—just enter the number in the TSA section of your flight details!
See historic military sights on trips to Berlin, Japan, Germany, France, and more.
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