Fort Carson post access changes ahead

By Scott Prater (Fort Carson)January 15, 2015

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Access to Fort Carson is about to change for visitors to the installation.

Currently, visitors must show a valid state or federally issued photo identification card, current vehicle registration and proof of insurance to gain access.

Beginning on or about May 1, civilians who don't hold a DOD identification card will be required to pass a background and criminal history check prior to gaining access.

Post leaders have already initiated execution of a phased implementation plan, which will be ramped up Feb. 1 and include new operations at the post's Visitor Control Center adjacent to Gate 1, formerly the Vehicle Registration Office.

"This has been a long road coming for the DOD and the Department of the Army," said Lt. Col. Jason Marquiss, director of Emergency Services and the 759th Military Police Battalion commander. "This change is not specific to Fort Carson. The secretary of the Army (John McHugh) has directed an upgrade to security measures at all Army installations."

Marquiss explained that garrison commanders across the Army coordinated with their senior mission commanders to develop the phased plan for executing and implementing the new access and visitor control measures.

Beginning Feb. 1, civilian non-DOD card holders who want to enter Fort Carson for any reason can start the process for obtaining an installation access pass.

"People will want to bring state issued photo identification to the VCC where they can submit a request for post access," Marquiss said.

From there, VCC staff members will conduct an National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) Interstate Identification Index check on the person submitting the request. Once the background check has been completed, the VCC will issue a term-limited access pass to the individual.

"This will allow us to determine if any visitors to Fort Carson have anything in their criminal history that would preclude them from gaining access to the installation," Marquiss said. "The safety and security of our military, Family members and our civilian workforce is paramount to what we do at Fort Carson."

Marquiss said the background and criminal history check typically takes less than 10 minutes to conduct, depending on the individual requesting the check.

Anyone with a current arrest warrant in the NCIC registry and anyone who is currently barred from federal installation entry access will be denied access. Also, anyone who has been convicted of crimes such as sexual assault, armed robbery, rape, child molestation, production or possession of child pornography, trafficking in humans or drug possession with the intent to distribute will be refused access.

"That's just a snapshot of who we would deny entry to the post," Marquiss said. "Essentially, we will be checking people for any of the categories mentioned above. The second part of what we'll be doing at the VCC is issuing a term-limited pass in the form of a photo identification card."

Once visitors obtain their pass, they'll travel through post entry gates in much the same manner as DOD card holders.

Beginning May 1, non-DOD civilian visitors who do not show an access pass will not be permitted through the post entry gates. Also, visitors who hold a current access pass will still be subjected to random vehicle inspections at the entry gates. Extended family of Service members will also be subject to the same criteria as the general public.

Given the nature of the new access procedures, some may worry that they may no longer be able to attend special events on post on short notice. But, the implementation plan calls for flexibility in regard to special events such as homecomings and memorial services.

"Army Regulation 190-13 (Physical Security Program) provides the garrison commander and senior mission commander with the ability to make one-time deviations for special events," Marquiss said. "The type of special event will dictate how we execute control of that event."

Post leaders believe the new plan will speed up access to the post for everyone.

"We don't anticipate this change causing increased traffic congestion off the installation," Marquiss said. "We believe it will alleviate some of it. And, (the upgrade) does get us in line with all published DOD and Department of the Army guidance and regulations."