Civilian guards tapped to control base gates
by Gary Emery
Air Force Security Forces Center Public Affairs
5/19/2004 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- People entering the gates at 11 Air Force bases are being greeted by some new faces.
About 400 contracted civilian guards began providing entry controller services at selected active-duty bases May 18. The bases gaining civilian guards are Andrews Air Force Base, Md.; Bolling AFB, D.C.; Hill AFB, Utah; Whiteman AFB, Mo.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Luke AFB, Ariz.; Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; Elmendorf and Eielson AFBs, Alaska; Dyess AFB, Texas; and here.
The guards have been hired to help the Air Force add force-protection measures, said Col. John Salley Jr., commander of Air Force Security Forces Center headquarters here. Additional requirements include 100-percent identification checks at base gates and increased vehicle inspections, he said. The guards will help alleviate operational commitments of active-duty security forces.
“Security forces at many bases have been greatly assisted by the Army National Guard, (Soldiers, Airmen) from the Air Force reserve components and security forces augmentees, but many of them will return to their units soon,” Colonel Salley said.
For example, the Air Force is scheduled to lose the services of about 5,300 Soldiers this fall.
“With the exception of rendering salutes to commissioned officers, the civilian guards will perform the same entry-controller duties as their military counterparts,” said Lt. Col. Randee Preston, deputy director of the center’s Air Force protection commodity council.
The guards will be used for installation entry-control point duties and will inspect commercial vehicles in search areas, she said.
Contract guards are usually not used on active-duty bases, although Patrick AFB, Fla., uses contract guards for security at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Air National Guard has also successfully used civilians to guard its installations for years, Colonel Preston said.
People can be assured the contract guards are fully qualified, she said.
“Every one of the people employed will be required to meet state requirements for training and licensing as armed guards, as well as meeting Air Force and local base training requirements,” she said.
Also, quality-assurance evaluators from security forces units at each location are trained and will monitor the performance and effectiveness of their civilian counterparts, she said. Air Force headquarters funds the basic contract with each base or its major command responsible for funding extra requirements, such as overtime, more training and posts for unexpected force-protection condition changes.
Given the possibility of increased Air Force requirements for security forces, additional contracts for armed security guards may be necessary in the future, Colonel Salley said.
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