May We See Your ID? Continued
Oct 27 2008
In our travels, we’re attempting to utilize base resources as much as possible. The commissaries are a great benefit. For instance, I’m amazed at what we save at the commissaries versus off-base grocery stores. I tend to compare value based how many bags of groceries I get for my money, after all, I usually buy the same items when I shop. So, when I walk out of a Safeway with one small bag of groceries representing a bill of $75, it always makes me wish I had gone to a commissary where I usually get three or four bags for the same price.
Anyway, to continue the subject of my last post about ID procedures, we also use the bases for their Famcamps or RV parks — the price is right and the facilities are good. Therefore, we encounter a variety of ID procedures from service to service and base to base.
Based on our experiences, it seems there is no set of security guidelines for U.S. bases. We’ve been waved through at some; some have required the passengers’ ID; and some required a driver’s license in addition to the ID card. It seems odd why a procedure as important as entry to a base isn’t a consistent policy throughout the services.
At one Air Force base, when my wife still had her active duty card, we were turned back from the gate and told to get a pass, after which we were simply waved through when showing our ID. When she got her retiree card, we were waved through after flashing the ID — no pass needed. This discrepancy struck me: why does an active duty servicemember need a pass but not a retiree (or vice versa).
Also, in some cases only the driver needs to show an ID and not the other passengers.
As for the guards, some bases use active duty servicemembers, some use Department of Homeland Security, and some use rent-a-guards. One naval base used active duty guards at one gate and rent-a-guards at another — and they had different ID requirements.
Speaking of ID procedure, one Army base had different ID requirements depending on the shift. We had a sticker for the car by that time, but one shift still needed a driver’s license and one shift did not. At an Air Force base, only the driver was asked for ID in the morning, but all passengers were asked for IDs in the afternoon.
Oh well, these decisions are above my spousal pay grade. I’ll just keep on enjoying the benefits of the base services.
Love this blog! My wife and thre kids are getting ready for our own RV trip when we retire from the Navy some day! Quick point on the security measures you encounter at each base. I often felt the same way in Germany soon after 9/11. But I also remember being told that one of the security goals for each base commander is to keep one “guessing” as to what is or will be required to pass through the gate. The idea is the exact opposite of standardization – ie, one family may be waved through with only an ID card look while the next 2 cars may have to show ID for each adult and open the hood/trunk. Anyway, just thought I’d write in…hope you guys continue this wonderful story-line…we’re reading it! -John