Base access changes keep offenders from entering JBER

Published Aug. 15, 2013
By Air Force Staff Sgt. William Banton
JBER Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaksa -- This past March, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson implemented policy changes to base access procedures to make JBER a safer and more secure installation.

"The safety and security of this installation and its population is one of my foremost responsibilities," wrote Air Force Col. Brian Duffy, JBER installation commander, in a May 10 commentary on the implementation of the new policies. "We recognize the requirement to obtain a pass for non-Department of Defense ID card holders may seem inconvenient, but we trust you understand based on the results we're seeing."

For the Soldiers and Airmen who work at the JBER's two Visitor Control Centers, these policies equated to time, resources and proof of safety through the verification of individuals' identification and background checks.

Recently released data gathered by the JBER VCCs has revealed that these policies are working.

The information revealed that:

Approximately 280 people have been denied access since April.

The top three reasons for denial of access were drug-related offenses, sex crimes and felony theft.

Out of the approximately 10,430 passes issued for the month of July, more than 1,030 of them were issued for lost or forgotten identification cards.

Approximately 15 hours each week is devoted to providing access to people who have lost or forgotten their identification cards.

"We've noticed, from a force-analysis standpoint, a lot [fewer] incidents," said Air Force Master Sgt. Keith Jackson, noncommissioned officer in charge of base access.

Jackson said JBER Security Forces have received fewer calls to deal with disturbances at base social gathering areas, such as the Arctic Chill.

"People that work on night shift talked to me directly and said the [Arctic] Chill has needed assistance less, and they had fewer incidents of people coming on base [getting in trouble] and then having to discover who they are and how they got on base," Jackson said.

This new data also shows how the members of the JBER community can help security forces speed up base-access procedures.

The increased base access procedures require all personnel entering the installation to possess a Department of Defense-issued identification card or locally produced pass that is registered in the installation's Defense Biometric Identification System. The data associates almost 10 percent of people traveling through a VCC are doing so because they have either lost or forgotten their ID.

Another way people can help to speed up their guests' access to the instillation is by stopping by a VCC during a low-traffic time and having their guests name placed on the 72-hour log.

The 72-hour log allows sponsors to provide some of the guests' information prior to arriving at JBER. All guests are still required to be vetted in person when they arrive in order to obtain a DBIDs pass; however, the sponsor does not have to meet their guests at the VCC when they actually arrive.

Passes may also now be issued for up to 60 days, allowing guests who need long-term access to the installation to only have to visit the VCC once.

Jackson said it was initially seven days but was reevaluated when leadership was going over different options to help alleviate the traffic congestion going in and out of base. He said many people have guests who would come every week to get passes, such as family and fiancés, and that these new procedures are intended to help keep those people from having to process through the VCC on a weekly basis.

These extended long passes are issued at the discretion of the attendants at the VCCs and may require additional information or justification for installation access to be provided by the sponsor.

Jackson said the main way people can help speed up the process is by being aware of how busy the visitor centers are when they arrive and showing up with all the required documents and identifacation.

For information on base access policy and procedures please contact the JBER VCCs at 552-5420 for JBER-Elmendorf, and 384-2916 for JBER-Richardson.