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FORT LEE, Va. - More than 2,300 applications for post passes have been processed by the Directorate of Emergency Services here in preparation for the new Army-mandated gate access procedures now projected to begin in May.
“We have seen occasional instances (approximately 3 percent) of denied access after the required background checks, but the majority of them are good to go,” noted Maj. David Martin, Fort Lee Provost Marshal. “Another bit of good news is the recent reopening of Sisisky Gate on weekdays. Each of these preliminary actions should contribute to a smoother transition when the new access measures begin.”
The revised policy requires senior commanders to “deny un-cleared contractors and visitors unescorted access to installations based on the results of (National Crime Information Center, or NCIC-III) background checks that contain credible derogatory information indicating the individual may present a threat to the good order, discipline and/or health and safety of the Army community.”
Those who are considered properly “vetted” – basically anyone with a valid military-issued identification card – will not be impacted by this new procedure. All others 18 years of age and older will be subject to a NCIC-III check and, if no derogatory criminal information is found, given an access pass that will be valid for periods ranging from 24 hours to a year based on how often they will require entry onto post.
“Examples of derogatory information that would result in denial of access include, but are not limited to, a felony conviction of sexual assault or rape, armed robbery, child molestation, production or possession of child pornography, trafficking in humans, and/or drug possession with intent to sell or distribute,” said Tony DeWitt, DES director, in a previous Traveller article that discussed the new rules. “Registered sex offenders also would be denied access.
“Any of these individuals can submit a request packet for a waiver,” DeWitt continued. “It will require court documents and written descriptions of any rehabilitative steps taken since the conviction as well as an explanation of why access to post should be granted.”
The DES officials continue to encourage individuals who know they have criminal information in their records that might result in denial of access to start gathering the documents they’ll need to file a waiver request. The Provost Marshal Office here does not have access to court paperwork, and it cannot assist individuals with obtaining documents.
“The waiver request process will take about 10 working days if everything is in order,” DeWitt said. “There are no shortcuts; we’re doing everything in accordance with the policy guidelines issued by the Army.”
When the revised ACPs are implemented, anyone without the accepted forms of ID – an access pass issued by Fort Lee with driver’s license or a military-issued identification card – will be denied entry to post. They will need to proceed off-base to the Visitor Control Center, or VCC, at the Lee Gate. If that access point is closed, the secondary VCC at Sisisky Gate will be used.
The primary VCC will be located in the visitors’ center building adjacent to Lee Gate. The parking lot entrance is on the right before the security checkpoint. Those who know they’re going to require screening are asked to go directly to the VCC rather than having to be redirected by the security personnel manning the access points. This will help alleviate traffic congestion at the gates, particularly during morning and evening rush hours.
“Furthermore, during the initial implementation period, we encourage our regular military ID card holders to use the Sisisky, Mahone or A Avenue access points when coming to work in the morning,” DeWitt said. “That should reduce traffic backups as well while we work our way through the initial phase of this new procedure.”
DES officials thanked the many organizations on post that submitted the names of employees for pre-vetting. “We are now following up with those offices to coordinate the distribution of passes,” said Maj. Joseph Tull from the PMO. “And we’re still accepting applications for pre-vetting. It will help us reduce the demand for visitor passes when we are fully operational, which in turn should decrease the likelihood of traffic congestion in the Lee Gate area during initial implementation.”
Several resources – like the Army Fort Lee Facebook page and a frequently asked questions document on the post website – are available for information, community input and questions. The Garrison Public Affairs Office and DES are making every effort to share information about this new procedure so it doesn’t result in needless inconveniences when the ACPs are implemented.
The frequently asked questions document can be found at www.lee.army.mil/pmo/installation.directions.access.aspx. The new access procedures also were discussed during the virtual town hall in March. The link to the recorded video of that broadcast can be found at the bottom of the lee.army.mil website.
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2015 13:45 |
| Story ID: | 160199 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Lee DES busy with post pass processing to facilitate new access procedures, by Terrance Bell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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