Military Installation Access

I never thought I'd be nervous staying on a base. We don't stay at, as many as we used to. I really feel they have dropped the ball, with securing our bases. Ft Meade used to require a sticker on the car. One gate you could not go through, without a sticker, because they did not give out passes at that gate. I have mentioned before we stay at Ft Meade several times a year, because of visiting family. I hate it, because I do not feel safe, and realize military bases are a perfect target, some more than others. Someone once said, the terrorist are extremely patient and will wait for the perfect time. One case in point is the World Trade center, look at the span between the 2 attaches. We used to enjoy our stay at military bases, but now we only stay at Ft Meade because MD has few campgrounds, and our family is 15 miles away. Please, we can't become lax, what is :woohoo: the point when there are so many families and soldiers who may become targets for the enemy.

Last spring we were at Kings Bay and my brother was on his way north and stopped at the nearby KOA. He is not eligible to stay at military campgrounds. He came out to the base to visit us at Eagle Hammock. He stopped at the visitor center and got a temporary pass but I had to drive out to the main gate, meet him, vouch for him and escort him to the campground. He was not allowed to drive around the base on his own.

Frank A. wrote: Last spring we were at Kings Bay and my brother was on his way north and stopped at the nearby KOA. He is not eligible to stay at military campgrounds. He came out to the base to visit us at Eagle Hammock. He stopped at the visitor center and got a temporary pass but I had to drive out to the main gate, meet him, vouch for him and escort him to the campground. He was not allowed to drive around the base on his own.

We had the same thing happen also. My husband had to go to the gate before they let our friends in. This is one of the few bases I do not feel nervous at. They also inspect cars at random. One night we were coming back from dinner and our car was chosen at random. We had to get out of the car, and wait until they were done. I did not mind one bit. I'm less nervous at a Nuclear Sub base, than FT Meade. My husband actually feels :huh: the guards are a waste of money. They stopped checking my ID and barely look at my husbands. To make matters worse we do not need a DOD sticker.

Here at NASJRB New Orleans you need a military ID (I did not have to show mine only hubby did) or a special pass for the contractors to get on base. We are asking what ID is needed and who can get through security now on every military installation we arrive at since we were so shocked by the answer at Ft. Benning. I always had a real strong sense of security while in a military campground and hope I can still feel that way but am having my doubts the more we read here.

We arrived at NAS Pensacola on Tuesday and I handed the security officer at the gate both IDs. He took them, looked at them front and back and looked at me to compare to the ID photo. On Thursday I came thru the main gate and handed the officer our IDs and he wouldn't take them. He just waved us thru. We again came thru the back gate on Friday and the officer still didn't take our IDs. He waved us thru. Today, we went thru the gate over by the commissary and the same thing happened. I asked the officer why they weren't checking IDs. He said he saw my blue retired ID and knows it doesn't expire so no need to check it. So, what I got out of that, the only thing they are checking is if the ID is expired. That doesn't sound right.

The main thing which will determine whether you will either need a pictured ID or the Whole nine yards is the sensitivity of the bases capability, ie weapons, secret stuff etc, some bases don't even require the military or civilians to even have a post decal but as for me, I want one to be on the safe side and have access wherever we go.