Generally speaking there no longer is a requirement for a decal, most common reason I have heard has been that it makes you car and people a target.
That said The post/base Provost Marshall has a LOT of latitude in how they 'treat' folks that are not assigned to the post/base. I remember one post I referred to as Post WeGottcha. I was there TDY for and extended time and my job required I travel off the post every morning and return at the end of the duty day. I was required to sign in and get a Temp pass every single day for my 6 mo there.
Some posts/bases do not throw out the welcome mat for those not assigned and worse for those not of that branch of service. My wife and I stayed for a few days at a base (not Army) and our experience was so bad not sure I will ever stay on a military base again and if I do it will probably be by myself as my wife says she will never! T
he bathrooms were no better than a public toilet in San Francisco. Worse was the many who were living there as in year round. One guy had a website and he had been there over 3 years in the same location and yes it looked like he lived there. Their unleashed 100 lb+ dog attacked our leashed 12 lb dog as we were walking down a sidewalk about 50 yards from their location. They let us know early on that we were Army and not welcome there when I suggested we contact the MP's. Seems they thought since they lived there and were of that branch of service their dog did not need to be leashed or contained in any way and we were just there for a few days and they ('branch of service) take care of their own
They did pay the almost $1000 vet bill when I said I would have our lawyer contact them for the vet bill.
At one post they asked if I had any guns. I said yes I had a .22 rifle...hour later, 7 MP cars and a complete search of my vehicle I was told I could not come on unless I registered my weapon. Of course I could only do that M-F during business hours and this was Fri about 7 pm, so we ended up staying in a local RV park and leaving the next day.
Our experiences over the years have run from 'wish I had never' to 'glad I came'. Today we do not stay at all as both my wife and I own weapons and have concealed permits.
The reality is not all rules are enforced equally and local Commanders often have their own rules that apply on top of the DoD regs.
