Fort Leonard Wood access requires pass

By GUIDON staffJanuary 22, 2015

Fort Leonard Wood access requires pass
Contractors, vendors or others who regularly provide some type of service on or for the installation will need a Fort Leonard Wood pass as of Jan. 31 or risk access being denied until a pass is obtained, according to officials of the Directorate of E... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The deadline is approaching when installation access passes will be mandatory for a select group who require entry onto Fort Leonard Wood.

Contractors, vendors or others who regularly provide some type of service on or for the installation will need a Fort Leonard Wood pass as of Jan. 31 or risk access being denied until a pass is obtained, according to officials of the Directorate of Emergency Services.

In July of 2014, Fort Leonard Wood began implementing an Army Directive requiring background screening using National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index for contractors and vendors who are not eligible for a Common Access Card or other forms of Department of Defense identification card.

Since implementation, DES has processed more than 8,500 pass requests.

"Of those, there are more than 2,000 passes that have yet to be claimed. There are several contractors/vendors who have yet to request a pass through their government point of contact," Vise said. "It is vital that they do so before the end of the month."

Additionally, Fort Leonard Wood will require NCIC-III checks and passes for all other non-DOD credentialed persons who have a valid need to access the installation by July, according to DES.

"A valid need or reason may be to visit a Soldier or Family member, visit the Army museum, use the post as a thoroughfare or attend an Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program event or facility such as the golf course," said Rick Vise, chief, Security Operations Branch, DES.

Vise said, as the post aims towards full implementation of the directive that call for passes and background checks, Fort Leonard Wood Access Control personnel will be conducting random background checks of those personnel who present a non-DOD credential to gain access to the installation and will issue a temporary pass not to exceed 72 hours.

"Those who are issued a temporary pass during this period of time, will be directed to report to the Visitor Control Center for a long-term pass, should it be required," he said.

The NCIC-III, operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is the framework by which the Army conducts the background checks for those contractors/vendors who have a valid reason to access an installation.

Fort Leonard Wood's VCC, located at the Sverdrup Gate that serves as the post's main entry gate, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For Additional information, contact the Installation Physical Security Office at 573.596.0131, ext. 60597.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood