---
title: "13 lessons you learn while traveling in the US military"
date: "2018-04-02"
modified: "2020-10-21"
authors:
  - name: "Logan Nye"
    job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/logan-nye.md"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/us-military-travel/"
categories:
  - "Entertainment"
  - "Join the Military"
  - "Military Life"
  - "Travel"
---

# 13 lessons you learn while traveling in the US military

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17288523/origin.jpg>)

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.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17287020/origin.jpg>)

### 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.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17287157/origin.jpg>)

## Author
Logan was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd. Now, he's a freelance writer covering military history, culture, and technology. He has two upcoming podcasts and a Twitch channel focused on basic military literacy.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JustLoganNye>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/ProfHarlequin-111921498198749>)

## More

- [TSA is adding dedicated security lines for military, veterans, and their families](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-news/tsa-military-lines-military-veterans-and-families.md>)
- [Solo travel tips for military spouses](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-milspouse/solo-travel-tips-for-military-spouses.md>)
- [5 leadership lessons you can learn in the Marines](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/leadership-lessons-marine-corps.md>)
- [Explore the country and the world for less with Military Travelers](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/sponsored-content/explore-the-country-and-the-world-for-less-with-military-travelers.md>)
- [4 crimes you learn to commit in the military](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/4-crimes-you-learn-to-commit-in-the-military.md>)
- [5 of the best things that can happen while you’re in the field](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-culture/best-things-happen-field-ops.md>)
- [13 travel hacks to help sailors deploy like pros](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/sailor-deployment-hacks.md>)
- [How to Space-A travel and why you should](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-milspouse/how-to-space-a-travel-and-why-you-should.md>)