Brig. Gen. Milford "Beags" Beagle, Jr., U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson Commander, along with Post Command Sgt. Maj. Jerimiah Gan recently held a town hall meeting with the post community to discuss installation hot topics.
As part of the town hall, the following question was posed on a comment card:
"I was informed because you have a Real ID, you still can't enter Fort Jackson, but you can enter other posts. I do understand that you must have a reason (to enter the post), but not that Fort Jackson is not going to honor a Real ID."
Bottom Line: Fort Jackson will accept Real IDs for entrance onto the installation in conjunction with a valid need-to-enter the installation and a successful National Crime Information Center check.
Real IDs are not an access pass and are not a substitute for a valid Department of Defense identification card. The post will start enforcing Real ID compliance beginning Oct. 1, 2020.
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."
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. Those who are still uncertain whether they have the proper identification to enter Fort Jackson, or have installation access question should call 751-6019.
According to Fred Vasquez, Fort Jackson physical security officer, Real ID is an additional security measure mandated by the federal government for all U.S. residents to be in compliance with by Oct. 1, 2020. 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.
After Oct. 1, 2020 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)
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. Vasquez said, "Security is a top priority." 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.
DOD-issued ID cardholder will not be affected in their ability to enter military installations.
This Command Climate Survey comment card answer is part of a series. Check out future editions of the Fort Jackson Leader to see further comments answered. To submit your own survey comment card, send a message to the commanding general's Facebook page (@fortjacksoncommandinggeneral).
(Editor's Note: Alexandra Shea, the Directorate of Emergency Services and the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate contributed to this article.)
SIDEBAR:
Secondary
forms of
identification
Acceptable forms of secondary identification (as listed in Annex A, HQDA EXORD 110-16) are: These forms of identification must be current:
n Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
n U.S. passport
n U.S. passport card
n Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
n U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
n Permanent resident card
n Border crossing card
n DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
n Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
n HSPD-12 PIV card
n Foreign government-issued passport
n Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
n Transportation worker identification credential
n U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
n U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
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