Always carry 2 forms of photo ID when entering USAG Bavaria installations

By Nathan Van SchaikJanuary 6, 2020

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Community members with installation passes should always carry a second form of photo identification when accessing any of the installations at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, as well as all U.S. military installations in Europe, according to officials here.

When entering post as a DOD cardholder living in Germany, you present the gate guard your installation pass. The guard then passes it through a handheld scanner, which verifies your credentials through what’s known as the Installation Access Control System and Defense Biometric Identification System — or IACS and DBIDS.

DOD ID cardholders stationed in Europe, or on orders, must be registered in IACS. IACS is a personnel access verification system and is networked to all Installation Access Control offices in U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

But if IACS temporarily goes down, gate guards may request a second form of photo ID and a vehicle registration, according to the Army in Europe regulation on installation access control.

USAG Bavaria includes Army installations at Grafenwoehr, Vilseck, Hohenfels and Garmisch. But you should always carry a second form of photo ID to any U.S. military installation within Europe.

Personnel may obtain authorized access to U.S. Forces installations, according to the Army in Europe regulation on installation access control, by one of the following four methods:

  1. Have a valid DOD ID card and be registered in the IACS.
  2. Have a valid regular or temporary U.S. Forces in Europe installation pass.
  3. Be signed in by an individual with sign-in privileges and present required documents outlined in the IACS regulation, paragraph 29e.
  4. Be on an approved access roster and present one of the documents listed in paragraph 29e and, if required, a required background check.

If you need an ID card or have questions, visit our ID Card Services Webpage at https://home.army.mil/bavaria/index.php/IDcards.