ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Compliance with Army regulations has resulted in traffic congestion at Anniston Army Depot's entrances over the last several months.
Ensuring the proper checks are performed on visitors entering the installation and repairs to a barrier at one of the gates has often meant passenger and commercial vehicles are waiting up to 45 minutes to enter or exit the installation.
ACCESS CONTROL
In October 2017, ANAD increased background checks performed on visitors to 100 percent of those not previously vetted.
Exceptions, currently, are for those presenting Common Access Cards, military retiree IDs, military dependent IDs and Transportation Worker Identification Credentials.
All background checks are run through the National Crime Information Center's Interstate Identification Index. This is a national index of criminal histories maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and includes all crimes an individual has been found guilty of from traffic moving violations to felonies.
Each person who enters the installation must have a valid reason for being here -- whether it is for work or patronizing the various Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities.
According to the depot's Directorate of Emergency Services, access may be denied to individuals not presenting one of the IDs stated above if they:
• Are a registered sex offender
• Have committed any felony in the last 10 years
• Have ever been convicted of sexual assault, rape, child molestation, child pornography-related crimes, trafficking in humans, drug possession with intent to sell, murder or any crime related to guns or explosives
• Have a current outstanding warrant
• Have been convicted of attempting to overthrow the U.S. government
• Cannot have their identification verified
"We have to make sure the person we are running the check on is the person in the report," said Roy Favors, the depot's physical security supervisor.
Additionally, Favors said, anyone who has been denied access to another military installation cannot be allowed on Anniston Army Depot.
Anyone who believes they have wrongfully been denied entry bears the burden to prove their innocence.
"I get calls all the time from people who have been denied entry, saying it wasn't them who committed those crimes," said Favors.
He said local police departments can assist for a fee by running a check for those individuals to enable them to locate potential sources for any erroneous information.
Organizations on the installation who have a large number of people coming to the depot for a tour, an event or as contractors on a project can have their expected visitors complete forms at least a week in advance to speed up in-processing at the gates.
SIOAN Form 380-2 should be completed for all contractors.
A Civilian Release Form is available to be filled out by all other visitors.
Enabling DES to run the background checks, based on information on the forms, before the arrival date, and giving a list of those who will attend an event to security can lessen wait time.
For new employees on the installation, DES is coordinating with the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center and the Intelligence Security Management Office to conduct background checks before a job offer is presented to a potential new hire.
PHYSICAL ACCESS
Each of the gates on the installation must adhere to Army regulations regarding the minimum manpower needed to staff it when it is open and the type of hardware, security cameras and barriers present to ensure the installation's defense.
During the last nine months, one of the final denial barriers, a line of defense for the installation, was damaged several times, leaving it inoperable.
The damaged barrier was welded closed and the road passing over it closed to traffic, since a chase vehicle could not be present.
According to Bob Reaves, a physical security specialist for the installation, regulations recommend a police chase vehicle in any situation where there is not a final denial barrier. However, ANAD does not have the authority for an additional gate patrol.
Last week, the Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees maintenance of the barriers, repaired the barrier and the lane is now open to traffic.
AUTOMATED INSTALLATION ENTRY
This June, ANAD is tentatively scheduled to begin operating the Automated Installation Entry system, which is in place at both gates.
"When AIE comes into play, you will drive up to the gate and either the guard will scan your ID with a handheld scanner or you will scan your card," said Reaves.
The system will vet each individual through the National Crime Information Center date base each time they enter.
Details on implementation of the system are still being determined, but will be released as information is available.
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