Military folks: Post/Base registration sticker no longer required?

[ZappBranigan]

I drove to Buckley last week to do my bi-weekly shopping. Since my 4runner still has paper plates on it, I pulled into the gate shack, got my 4 pieces of paper (military ID, registration, insurance, driver's license) and walked in and presented them to the (civilian) guard there. He looked at my paperwork and handed it back to me and said "all you need is a military ID."

I said "no more registration stickers required?" He said "Nope" and then said this was a DOD-wide policy.

Now, as with just about any other retired soldier, I'll take the word of a civilian with a grain of salt when it comes to things military, so let me ask the active/guard/reserve/retired folks here: Is this true? No more registration stickers anywhere?

I remember at Bragg they discontinued the requirement in the mid-90's, I think as a money saving measure. Bragg was an "open post" at that time anyway (i.e. anybody could drive in without passing through a security checkpoing including Hakmed Q. Jihad) so it was no big deal (in the 90's most Army installations were open posts.) But after 9/11 every military installation tightened up security big time (in the days after 9/11 I had to go to Warren AFB and they regularly had a HMMWV with a loaded .50MG pointed towards the gate.)

[Conrad]

the DoD got rid of it... when it became mandatory all the time to check IDs.

[Conrad]

Although certain "highly sensitive installations" are supposedly keeping them? Dunno. Schreiver still has them.

[JimhatTJ]

ft carson still requires them

but if you hit the inspection lane with military id in hand they usually just wave you through.

[CYAN5DE]

Bragg doesn't require them at the gate. by regulation I believe you have 10 days to get one on your car, but without it they don't require a pass, or anything other than mil ID

[DaJudge]

Effective March 15, 2007, the Air Force eliminated privately owned
vehicle registration requirements, and use of decals on POVs at
most Air Force Installations. For details, see Vehicle Decals no
Longer Required on Air Force Bases.

Privately Owned Vehicle Registration

By Rod Powers, About.com

Jun 15 2007



Effective March 15, Air Force personnel at many Air Force Installations no
longer have to register privately owned vehicles on base. According to Air
Force officials, the expense and administrative burden are not justified by
the benefits. In Fiscal Year 2004 and 2005, the Air Force spent
approximately $364,000 and $738,000 respectively to print DD Form 2220s
(vehicle decals).

Many Air Force installations began eliminating registration requirment two
years ago. Hill AFB, Utah was the first, eliminating the requirement for
decals in June 2006. AF senior leadership states: "after Sept. 11, 2001,
security at all Department of Defense installations require 100 percent ID
card checks of drivers at the installation gates. The use of vehicle decals
is redundant since ID card checks are arguably more effective verifying
the authority of a driver to enter the base. Vehicle decals are a force
protection vulnerability. They are easily counterfeited, moved from one
car to another or found in used car parking lots."

Added note: I've been informed that most Air National Guard Bases are
continuing to use the decals. Additionally, some active duty bases are
also continuing use of the decals. For example, it's my understanding that
Patrick Air Force Base in Florida has continued use of the decals.

Questions and Answers

1. Q: Why did the Air Force decide to stop using vehicle decals?

A: Since September 11, 2001, 100 percent ID card checks have been
implemented at all Department of Defense installations. Using vehicle
decals is redundant because ID cards are a much better method of
determining authority to enter the base.

Decals can be moved from vehicle to vehicle and are easily counterfeited.
Around any military base, one can see cars in the used car lots with DOD
decals still attached. When the sentry at the gate is focusing on decals,
he/she is not focusing on the vehicle occupants, which can be a security
vulnerability.

Procuring and controlling vehicle decals and administering base vehicle
registration programs cost big bucks. The Air Force spends hundreds of
thousands of dollars a year just on procuring the decals and countless
resources on issuing them.

2. Q: Will this affect visitor procedures?

A: No, visitors will continue to use the normal visitor procedures
established by the installation commander.

3. Q: Will commissioned officers still be saluted?

A: Yes. After checking the ID card, the gate sentry will render the proper
salute, assuming traffic conditions and force protection conditions permit.

4. Q: Should I remove my current decal?

A: If you frequently visit non-Air Force Military bases, you may wish to
leave your current decal on your vehicle. Otherwise, the Air Force
recommends (not mandates) that you remove your decal. In this way, you
won't advertise (to terrorists, criminals and foreign intelligence operatives)
that you're a member of the Department of Defense while off base.

5. Q: Does this mean I don't need proof of insurance to drive on
base?

A: Gate Sentries will check for compliance for state requirements
(insurance, vehicle safety inspections, ect.), on a random basis.
Complying with these requirements is still mandatory.

6. Q: Are the other services also planning to make this change?

A: Not at this time. The other services are waiting and watching to see
how the program change works with the Air Force. They may decide to
make the same change at some date in the future.

7. Q: How will I be able to enter non-Air Force bases if I don't have a
vehicle decal?
A: This depends on the requirements of the particular installation. You
may be required to obtain a visitor's pass. If you visit non-Air Force
installations frequently, you may wish to check and see if that installation
will allow you to register your vehicle (and obtain a decal) for that
particular base.

[Steve]

Q: Will commissioned officers still be saluted?

A: Yes. After checking the ID card, the gate sentry will render the proper
salute, assuming traffic conditions and force protection conditions permit.

I'm amazed at the things some people worry about.

Q: Are the other services also planning to make this change?

A: Not at this time. The other services are waiting and watching to see
how the program change works with the Air Force. They may decide to
make the same change at some date in the future.

Why can't all military bases be the same for vehicle entry requirements?

[DaJudge]

Why can't all military bases be the same for vehicle entry requirements?

They will be as soon as they folow the USAF's lead.

[Steve]

They will be as soon as they folow the USAF's lead.

Fine with me. I don't understand why it's not a DoD policy and not left up to each service.

[ZukGuy]

Steve,
I retired 22 years ago from the AF, so things may have improved, but I doubt it,
according to my daughter & her husband, both AF LTCs.
I served in a few joint command structures and they were mostly chaos. The Army's maps were noted in UTM, Af's in latlon. Guess what? We had to write some software on the fly to convert one to the other, because no one would back off and use the others maps.
A Marine Col in charge of the rotary wing assets in Grenada refused to haul Army SF
troops until a star got involved.
Remember Desert One? No one was ever in charge of that fiasco and look what happened.

Hope it's better now than what I experienced.

[DaJudge]

Steve,
I retired 22 years ago from the AF, so things may have improved, but I doubt it,
according to my daughter & her husband, both AF LTCs.
I served in a few joint command structures and they were mostly chaos. The Army's maps were noted in UTM, Af's in latlon. Guess what? We had to write some software on the fly to convert one to the other, because no one would back off and use the others maps.
A Marine Col in charge of the rotary wing assets in Grenada refused to haul Army SF
troops until a star got involved.
Remember Desert One? No one was ever in charge of that fiasco and look what happened.

Hope it's better now than what I experienced.

The more things change the more they stay the same. Browse here to see:

http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/

[BumperMan]

Judge beat me to it.

[Jeffro600]

I'm amazed at the things some people worry about.

Boy, you wouldnt last 5 mins in the military...

[Steve]

Boy, you wouldnt last 5 mins in the military...

Really? That's kinda funny because I'm retired from the military.

[ZappBranigan]

Really? That's kinda funny because I'm retired from the military.

In that case I'm amazed that you're amazed.

[ZappBranigan]

3. Q: Will commissioned officers still be saluted?

A: Yes. After checking the ID card, the gate sentry will render the proper
salute, assuming traffic conditions and force protection conditions permit.

Commissioned or not you aren't going to be getting any salutes from the civilian guards at Buckley.

[Jeffro600]

Ok, rephrase that...How you lasted 5 mins in the military is beyond me!

[Steve]

I've always thought that saluting blue stickers on cars is just plain stupid, but I know some officers think it's important. My wife was going on base at the Pax NAS years ago with the wife of an officer that lived across the street. When the gate sentry saluted the blue sticker on her car she stopped, rolled the window down and told him that she wasn't in the military and that he didn't need to salute her car. Kathy said the guy was speechless.

[DaJudge]

2 years ago SWMBO and I were on vacation in CA and spent a few days staying in quarters at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey. I got lost looking for the PX and drove into a student area. A bunch of them were waiting at a bus stop and as I drove by one of them saw my blue sticker and called the whole group to attention. Very embarrassing to us but since the Army runs the Post...not surprising.