Entrance to Fort Jackson may become easier starting May 7. That is when the post starts enforcing Real ID compliance.

Real IDs are not an access pass and are not a substitute for a valid Department of Defense identification card.

The Real ID Act was enacted by Congress as a result of a 9/11 Commission recommendation that all state issued ID cards, such as driver’s licenses, meet certain security and issuance standards. The purpose of Real ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure. The Department of Homeland Security is the executive agency tasked with overseeing and implementing Real ID.

According to the DHS website, “the Real ID Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.”

How will this affect those coming onto post for graduations? Not much post officials said.

“So, for Family Day and graduation it is not going to affect U.S. citizens because it is a senior commander special event,” said Rick Riley, installation security officer.

“As far as visitors during the regular week … they will be required to have a Real ID,” he added. “So, if they’re coming in for MWR activities, such as the golf course or water park, if they don’t have a Real ID, they will not be allowed access.”

But it will also make it easier to enter Fort Jackson because they won’t have to have additional identification.

“They’ll just be able to use that one card,” Riley said. “It will also make us more secure.” Those using Real IDs to access the installation for the first time will still need to stop at the Visitor Control Center and register their ID. After that they will be able to use their ID to enter Fort Jackson, but only with a valid reason.

“We will have more people registered in the system, and they’ll be constantly vetted,” he added.

The Act covers accessing Federal facilities (such as Fort Jackson), entering nuclear power plants, and boarding federally-regulated commercial aircraft.

Real ID is an accepted form of identity to enter Fort Jackson in conjunction with a valid reason to enter the installation and the required vetting at the visitor’s center located at Gate 2, which consists of a National Crime Information Center check and issuance of an installation visitor’s pass.

Each state is implementing changes to its identification cards in order to comply with the security requirements of REAL ID. Implementation of the Real ID Act requirements as it pertains to U.S. military installation access began in mid-January 2016.

Under the current state-based enforcement of Real ID, Department of Defense installations will accept any state or U.S. territory issued driver’s license or identification card for purposes of identity proofing as long as the state or territory is either compliant with Real ID or has received an approved extension from DHS.

THEY’LL JUST BE ABLE TO USE THAT ONE CARD. IT WILL ALSO MAKE US MORE SECURE. - Rick Riley Installation Safety Officer

After May 7, if a visitor provides a state or territory issued identification card that is not Real ID compliant, the individual(s) will be required to provide another acceptable form of identification for access onto Fort Jackson, in addition to having a sponsor and successfully completing the required NCIC check.

If a state or U.S. territory-issued Real ID license or identification card is marked “Not Valid for Federal Purposes,” “Federal Limits May Apply,” or other similar language, it will not be accepted by the DOD, without an approved secondary form of identification. (See sidebar Page 11)

Even if an individual has a sponsor and a reason to be on Fort Jackson, not all who request access will be granted installation access.

DOD and Army directives require each person requesting access to pass a NCIC background check. This means each person is researched in the national database for a disqualifying criminal record, as well as any outstanding warrants for their arrest.

Installation access will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with current directives and policies and depends on the severity of any previous criminal activity. If an active warrant for a person’s arrest is reflected in the system, the individual will be taken into custody and released to the proper authorities.

Visitors requesting installation access who do not have a Real ID Act-compliant form of identification and cannot provide supplemental identify-proofing documents must be escorted at all times while on a military installation by a DOD ID card holder.

For the most current information concerning state-by-state compliance with the Real ID Act, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/ real-id-enforcement-brief. Those with questions about Real ID should visit http://www. dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.

Those who are still uncertain whether they have the proper identification to enter Fort Jackson should call (803) 751-5483/6727.