The latest Military News put out today.
Bases Ditching Vehicle Decals
June 16, 2011
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer|by Ben Wright
Under a policy that went into effect on Tuesday, a Department of Defense sticker or day pass is no longer required for motorists entering Fort Benning, Ga.
"We are doing away with the need to have stickers on vehicles," Monica Manganaro, a public affairs spokeswoman said Tuesday.
The change will allow visitors to drive to an access point, show a driver's license and enter the post without stopping at the visitor's center to get a pass. The visitor centers are set to close under the change, saving the government some money by having fewer people at the access points.
Fort Benning, home of the Infantry and Armor Schools creating the Maneuver Center of Excellence, is ahead of many Army posts, "but the Air Force and the Navy have already instituted this," Manganaro said.
The new policy is aimed at protecting personnel who work on the military installation.
"Across the board, it is a matter of force protection," she said. "It doesn't identify a vehicle as belonging to a Department of Defense employee. Just having the sticker on a vehicle can potentially make an individual a target."
In addition to military personnel and their dependents, Manganaro said civilian government employees, retirees and contractors with frequent business on post use Department of Defense stickers on their vehicles. All of the employees and other staff have been told to start removing the decals, she said. For soldiers reassigned to the post, no registration is required to drive the vehicle on post.
"Just go to the gate and show your driver's license or military ID," she said.
More high-tech equipment allows officers at the access point to collect information from drivers. When a visitor or military personnel drives through the gate and shows his or her ID, the information is scanned and placed into a database, Manganaro said.
"We will have methods to determine who is coming onto Fort Benning," she said.
Four months ago, Maj. Gen. Robert Brown welcomed more residents to come on post to play golf and attend other events.
"This supports that absolutely," Manganaro said. "Individuals and a lot of people who are in the area hesitate to come onto Fort Benning because they weren't sure whether they were authorized."
On July 2, visitors can enter the post unencumbered and take part in the Independence Day celebration, she said.
© Copyright 2011 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
Ed & Joan
