BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Simple in focus and repetitive in duties, several missions on Bagram are woven into the day-to-day operation of the base in such a way that most people may see or hear of them once and then not interact with them the rest of their deployment. These are the missions where airmen perform the same one or two tasks all day, over and over, as a full-time job and without much reprieve. As mundane as that may seem, these warriors are critical to enabling all missions on base by providing our continual presence in the country. These duties are critical elements in our base defense. This is part four of a four-part series highlighting BAF missions that may seem small but have a tremendous impact in defending the base.
Bagram's Pass and Identification office is a mandatory in-processing stop for all Air Force personnel who work on Bagram. Contractors, Department of Defense civilians and active duty personnel are screened by this work center to check for security clearances and must be cleared to receive the proper credentials required to do their jobs.
An access badge is a visible form of identification which serves to indicate the security level and zones which particular personnel on Bagram may be cleared to enter. Access is restricted by job requirements and other factors.
"The biggest part of this mission is the badge," said Tech. Sgt. Galen Peterson, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of Pass and ID. "It's a deterrent. Anyone can easily identify a person who is not supposed to be there. Also, with the countermeasures we have in place, anyone trying to counterfeit the badge will be considered a threat and secured at the gate."
Peterson said the badges are a part of the integrated base defense concept where every airman is a sensor. He said each work center can help promote a security-first mentality.
"It boils down to Airman Snuffy being alert and knowing what to look for," Peterson said. "They train at the unit levels that if something is not right, then speak up. We would rather get 100 calls that are nothing than have one call get missed and it turns out to be a threat."
The ID badges help identify personnel who may be in a restricted area, but does not have access or reason to be there. For that reason, not everyone on Bagram has the same badge or credentials.
"Badges and access are continually limited and monitored," said Staff Sgt. Brian Gooch, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing security manager. "We are constantly reviewing and streamlining the number of badges that are out there."
Gooch oversees all security managers on base, to include sister service security managers. He helps lead Bagram's efforts to increase the overall security of the base by training security managers to properly screen and document access permissions and to teach their units about proper use of the access badges. In addition, he provides the training material on how to recognize certain identifiers on the badge and tracks the distribution of all badges.
The Pass and ID section works tirelessly not only to remove the costs and security vulnerabilities that come with producing unneeded badges, but they also work to make sure everyone is cleared and has all the access they need to get their jobs done.
Lindsey Bowers, 455th ESFS Pass and ID production clerk, verifies in-processing paperwork, operates the camera and produces the access badge so members can enter their work spaces. In line with her duties, she supports the mission of maintaining vigilance and a thorough screening process as she distributes each badge.
"These are our resources that we are allowing access to," said Bowers. "Think about the importance of what we have on our flightline or in our buildings. We are giving them a key to go to certain areas, so we have to make sure they have a priority need to go to those places."
Airmen and access badges work together to secure Bagram's resources, to include its personnel.
"It's invaluable for people to challenge anyone who looks out of place in their work areas," said Gooch. "You know the area and you know what to look for; so if you are in your work area and they don't have the right credentials on their badge, you know to challenge that person and say 'you don't need to be here.'"
The securing of our restricted areas starts with the proper screening of access and training on how to identify and challenge threats. The men and women who work in Pass and ID are where it all starts.
"These guys are motivated and self reliant," said Peterson. "People in this position have to be professional and good workers. Each one pays attention to details. We help enable all airmen to become force multipliers for base security."
| Date Taken: |
04.05.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
04.18.2012 09:08 |
| Story ID: |
86913 |
| Location: |
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: |
52 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Small bark, big bite - Defending the base: Pass and ID, by TSgt Vernon Cunningham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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