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FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Sept. 3, 2020) -- This summer the Fort Sill Garrison lifted the suspension of activities imposed in late March to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and officials took time out Aug. 25 to explain how civilians can get onto post and what they can do when they get there.
Provost Marshal Frederick Makinney began by outlining the access control procedures to get on the installation and some of the requirements to gain access to Fort Sill.
“I think it’s important for the public to be aware of what our requirements are and what they need to be prepared for when they enter the installation,” he said.
Civilians need to bring either a federally issued ID card or any state-issued ID when they come to the Visitor Control Center (VCC) to get a visitor pass.
The VCC is in Building T6701 on the east side of Sheridan Road just inside the perimeter fence.
Oklahoma driver’s licenses are not yet in compliance with the Real ID Act, but Fort Sill still accepts them, Makinney said.
Visitors will be vetted when they come to the VCC. Department of Army security officers will check their background before issuing a pass.
Applicants also will be asked to give a reason for wanting to come on post.
Depending on the amount of time civilians need to be on the installation the pass can be for up to one year and even be renewable, the provost marshal said. Other passes are typically for a span of three to five days.
It’s important for the public to know this in advance because it will save time for them and spare them some frustration.
“Hopefully what we can do is have them come in one visit versus multiple visits because they may have forgotten something. So the information we put out today hopefully will expedite the process,” Makinney said.
Civilians can speed up the process even more by filling out FS Form 118A online.
On the Fort Sill web page, go to the VCC page. There is information on how you can download the form, fill it out, and bring it to the VCC.
Makinney said the pass is good for all hours that the gates are open. Two gates are open 24/7 – Key Gate West and Bentley Gate at Sheridan Road. During normal business hours a total of six gates are open.
At the gates, Fort Sill has taken certain steps to mitigate the risk of catching COVID-19.
Motorists can hold their access cards up to the pedestals to gain entry, although they should make sure the gate arm is all the way down before doing so. On the rare occasions when the pedestals are down, gate guards will be masked and wearing gloves when they use their infrared scanners to read the cards. Don’t hand them the card, just hold it out and the gate guards can scan it with no contact.
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