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TRAVEL TO CHALLENGING DESTINATIONSPREPARED FOR:

Joseph MroszczykManager, Intelligence Products and Services

Global Rescue

• Responsible for intelligence collection, analysis, and production at Global Rescue

• Intelligence officer in the US Navy Reserve

• Current doctoral research focuses on suicide terrorism

EDUCATION• Boston University

• Bachelor’s Degree (Political Science & History)

• Master’s Degree (International Relations & Religion)

• Northeastern University• Ph.D. Candidate (Political Science)

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JOE MROSZCZYK

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To provide tools and knowledge to empower you to identify, assess, and mitigate risks

associated with your travel destination.

OUR MISSION

DEFINING RISK

Factors to Consider

• Destination – Country, Region, City/Town, District

• Traveler – Risk tolerance, intent/objective

• Types of risks – Terrorism, environmental, civil unrest, crime, health, transportation

Levels of Risk• Dependent on subjective

assessment of factors

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PERCEPTIONS OF RISK

How do we perceive risks?• Emotional vs. rational

calculations• Probability and impact• “Terrorism” versus

crime/accidents/natural disasters

• Being your own worst enemy – many risks are self-induced misperceptions or preventable through small stepsImpact

Prob

abili

ty

Risk

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*Total deaths = 10,545Source: US State Department

42% of homicides occurred in Mexico

U.S CITIZEN DEATHS OVERSEAS (October 2002 – June 2015)

Vehicle ac-cident30%

Homicide19%Suicide

14%

Drowning13%

Air accident3%

Terrorist action3%

Other18%

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COLLECTING AND ASSESSING RISK INFORMATION

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Where can you get information?• Government websites (U.S. State Dept., British FCO, Australian Smart Traveller,

etc.• Government travel warnings• Embassies (Regional Security Officers, Consular offices)• Travel websites (TripAdvisor, WikiTravel, etc.)• Ask locals

Awareness of risks ≠ increased risksBeing prepared but not scared

Note: Most trips to most locations occur without incident!

WORLDWIDE RISK MAP

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• Risk ratings (overall, medical, and security), security & health assessments, destination details, entry & exit requirements, important numbers

• Updated at least every 45 days

DESTINATION REPORTS

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State Department Products• Travel Warning• Travel Alerts• Worldwide

Consular Messages• Messages• Security Messages• Emergency Messages

STATE DEPT TRAVEL WARNINGS

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RISK MITIGATION

Small steps can reduce risk• Know the “no go” areas (country and city levels)• Take simple precautions• Trust your instinct• Follow local news• Have plans in place – map your visit• Always maintain situational awareness• Be resilient

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CASE STUDY

Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Situation: Security trending downwards – intertribal tensions and government crackdowns. Client has a trip scheduled in upcoming months.Solution: Multi-modal intelligence collection effort, periodic updates to the client, local on-the-ground report.

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CASE STUDY

Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)Situation: Multiple non-profit clients traveling to eastern parts of the DRC – one of the most hostile, violent, and unstable regions in the world.Solution: In-depth analysis of trends, violence, militant groups in the region, road infrastructure/safety

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Know your own vulnerabilities and unique risks – ignorance is your worst enemy.

Use rationality (rather than emotion) to guide risk assessments.

Be curious – ask questions and find answers!

CONCLUSION