Editor’s note: The following ran in the May 2, 2017, issue of the Thunderbolt. The content has undergone some changes since and is being rerun.
Purpose: Base access control is designed to restrict and/or control entrance to property and/or installation to authorized persons and their guests. Persons authorized access will be either escorted or unescorted.
Background: Section 1069 of the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, now Public Law 110-181, establishes the standards required for entry to military installations in the United States. The secretary of defense has directed all military installations in the United States to comply with Directive-Type Memorandum 09-012, Interim Policy Guidance for DOD Physical Access Control.
Procedures: There are two primary ways to gain base access for visitors:
• The trusted traveler (e.g., escorted procedure) who must be in the same vehicle as the guests and will remain with them the entire time they’re on the installation
• The sponsorship (e.g. unescorted procedures) applies when guests are not in the same vehicle and/or will not be with the guest the entire time they are on the installation
Trusted traveler: Allows authorized personnel to vouch/escort guests inside their vehicle onto the installation; however, they must remain with their escorted guests 100 percent of the time while on the installation.
The trusted traveler procedure allows a uniformed service member or government employee with a valid common access card, a military retiree with a valid Defense Department of identification credential, or an adult dependent at least 16-years-old with a valid DOD identification credential to escort/vouch for any vehicle occupants while presenting their identification token for verification.
The trusted traveler is authorized to vouch for and/or escort those within the same vehicle.
Trusted traveler status does not apply to contractors or non-U.S. citizens in possession of a common access card or defense biometric identification system credential.
Trusted travelers are prohibited from escorting a contractor or non-U.S. citizens onto the installation. Security forces personnel must properly vet both contractors and non-U.S. citizens for access prior to being granted access to the installation.
Trusted travelers are responsible for the actions of all occupants for whom they vouch and for meeting all security requirements for escort.
The trusted traveler procedure does not apply when the 100-percent ID check requirement is in effect at base gates. The 100-percent ID check requirement is implemented at random. During 100-percent ID check, all visitors must follow control standards procedures.
Trusted traveler procedures are allowed only during force protection conditions normal, alpha and bravo. This is subject to change depending on local security conditions.
Visitor access control procedures: When guests are not in the same vehicle as the sponsor, will be unescorted at any point during the base visit and/or identified during a 100-percent ID check, there is a three-step process. It includes identity proofing, determining the fitness of an individual requesting/requiring access to installation through a vetting process, and providing appropriate credentials.
Identity proofing requirements:
Persons requesting access
• Must provide name and phone number of their sponsor
• Persons requesting access must provide justification and/or purpose for access
• Persons requesting access that are not in possession of an approved, government issued card (e.g., CAC, retired military ID, military dependent (e.g., minimum 16-years-old), or DOD ID PIV-compliant) must provide a document that establishes identity per INS Form I-9 (e.g., state driver’s license (see the guidelines regarding the Real ID Act on Pages 3-4), passport, resident card, etc.).
Fitness determination/vetting requirements:
The installation commander has delegated authority to conduct vetting and make initial fitness determinations to the SFS commander.
At a minimum, Luke AFB will determine fitness of individuals through the National Crime Information Center Database and the Terrorist Screening Database.
Specific guidance for denials approved by installation commander includes, but not limited to:
• Felony conviction within 10 years
• Wants/warrants
• Terrorist NEXUS
Other potential disqualifiers
Credentials: Once SFS has completed identity proofing, vetting, fitness and eligibility for access, individual(s) will be issued the appropriate defense biometric identification system credential that may last up to 72 hours.
Additional information: If you are sponsoring more than 10 individuals, a Luke Form 329, base entry list must be submitted to SFS by the sponsor at least seveb days prior to the expected date of entry. To request a Luke Form 329, call 623-856-8090.
South Gate Visitor Center hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. For more information, call 623-856-8090 or email 56sfs.pr@us.af.mil.
Gate guards are able to issue passes outside of South Gate VCR hours.
Real ID Act: Passed by Congress in 2005, the Real ID Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, like TSA and military installations, from accepting licenses and identification cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards.
Enforcement dates
Beginning Jan. 22, 2018, driver’s licenses or state IDs issued by states that are not in compliance with the Real ID Act and have not been granted an extension by DHS may not be used to fly within the U.S.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, every traveler will need a Real ID-compliant license or state ID or another acceptable form of identification to fly within the U.S.
When flying …
If your state is compliant:
You may continue to use a state-issued driver’s license or ID to fly in the U.S. until Oct. 1, 2020. Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, you may only use a Real ID compliant driver’s license, ID or another acceptable form of identification for domestic air travel.
If your state is not compliant:
Beginning Jan. 22, 2018, you may continue to use your state-issued driver’s license or ID for domestic air travel only if your state has been granted an extension to the compliance deadline by DHS. If your state has not been granted an extension by DHS you may not use your state-issued driver’s license or ID for domestic air travel.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, you may not use your state-issued driver’s license or ID for domestic air travel.
Recommendations
Check your state’s status: You can check to see if your state is Real ID compliant at dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief. Beginning Jan. 22, 2018, travelers from non-compliant states will not be able to use their driver’s licenses or state IDs at TSA checkpoints, unless the state received an extension to comply.
Read frequently asked questions: For clarification on what the Real ID Act means for you, visit dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs or tsa.gov and search Real ID. For more information about what is acceptable identification, call TSA at 866-289-9673 or email tsa-contactcenter@tsa. Dhs.gov.