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    ACP class prepares 69th ADA Soldiers for gate safety

    ACP class prepares 69th ADA Soldiers for gate safety

    Photo By Kimberly Hackbarth | Spc. Ranell Johnson, an air defense battle management system operator with...... read more read more

    FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

    02.02.2015

    Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth 

    69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

    FORT HOOD, Texas – Nearly 45 percent of gates on Fort Hood are manned by Soldiers.

    Before operating as gate guards, Soldiers of 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade attended a weeklong Access Control Point (ACP) course Jan. 26-30, at Howze Theatre, here.

    In addition to the classroom lecture, Soldiers also completed 24 hours of on-the-job training (OJT).

    The course is one of eight classes given each year to Soldiers on Fort Hood, according to Chief Adrian Arnett, the chief of guards for the installation.

    “What we do is try to condense the class down to (U.S. Army Installation Management Command)-required classes into that 40-hour block of instruction to certify them to go out and do the training,” Arnett explained.

    During the class, Soldiers learned basic ACP operations, including what qualifies an individual to enter the installation and what they can bring on post.

    At the completion of training, the installation issued a certificate of training that authorized the Soldiers to work on the gates.

    According to Arnett, students learn how to safeguard the installation.

    “We want to make sure you feel safe coming here, and that’s why we go through the procedures that we do,” he said. “The gate guards are the first line of defense, so when you come to the installation, the first person you’re going to see is a Soldier or guard.”

    Being that first line of defense is also big responsibility, Arnett added.

    “You’re looking for illegal drugs, illegal weapons, (or) anything that would hurt anybody coming onto the installation,” he explained.

    For Spc. Ranell Johnson, an air defense battle management system operator with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th ADA Regiment, 69th ADA Bde., customer service and courtesy were the most important things he took away from training.

    “Someone could be having a bad day and they may have negative intentions coming on this installation, but I think sometimes just the proper attitude (from gate guards) can make a big difference,” said the Queens, N.Y., native.

    While completing the necessary hours of OJT, Soldiers checked identification cards and inspected vehicles.

    Sometimes during vehicle inspections, people coming onto the installation can become uncooperative or hostile, but it’s important to remain calm, said Spc. Christopher Carmichael, a nodal network systems operator/maintainer with HHB, 1st. Bn., 44th ADA Regt., 69th ADA Bde.

    “It makes the post look unprofessional if you react negatively,” said Carmichael, a Dothan, Ala., native. “As long as you keep your cool and act in a positive demeanor, it makes the Army look better and the post look more professional.”

    Regardless of how any person entering Fort Hood reacts, Carmichael said it’s also important to always do the right thing.

    “The policies are in place for a reason, so it’s good to make sure everything’s being done and you’re not skipping over some things just because it might be easy,” he said.

    Overall, the course has had a positive effect on the safety of Fort Hood, said Arnett.

    “It safeguards our guests, customers, and people who live on the installation,” Arnett said. “We want people to come to Fort Hood thinking that this is the safest place you could be.”

    Requiring every person who becomes a gate guard to attend training demonstrates how seriously Fort Hood takes its security, said Johnson.

    “It tells you that they’re not about just throwing someone onto a job all willy-nilly,” he explained. “We have to make sure everyone who’s on this installation is protected.”

    For questions involving visitor protocol, please contact the Marvin Leath Visitor’s Center at 254-287-9909.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.02.2015
    Date Posted: 02.05.2015 12:08
    Story ID: 153642
    Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
    Hometown: DOTHAN, AL, US
    Hometown: QUEENS, NY, US

    Web Views: 360
    Downloads: 0

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