New rules for base access

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Chad Warren
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The rules for visiting Barksdale on the weekends have recently changed.

Beginning Sept. 16, all vehicle occupants entering the installation between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday must have a valid Department of Defense identification card or Barksdale Visitors Pass.

Members who are authorized to access the base should acquire the appropriate visitor passes for their guests during normal duty hours. Visitors who do not obtain the proper documentation will be refused entry to the base.

"Ultimately it is the responsibility of DoD ID card holders to ensure they are prepared for base entry and have secured necessary passes before attempting gate entry," said Capt. Clifford Piernick, 2nd Security Forces Squadron.

Piernick said during these hours the least amount of uniformed personnel are on base, meaning fewer people to report suspicious activity. This makes it more important to account for every person entering the installation.

"It is important that we increase our screening at the installation boundary to make sure everyone entering the gates is properly identified and escorted during this time," said Piernick. "During daylight hours and when facilities are occupied we revert back to less stringent access controls."

Previous to the rule change, only one person in a vehicle needed to have a valid DoD ID to access base.

For more information contact the 2nd Security Forces Squadron at 456-2223.