It’s 1 p.m., and after hours of investigating the unending trenches between the center console and seatbelt buckle, an Airman still finds no sign of his common access card. The empty wallet-slot where he normally keeps his card haunts him as he walks to his dormitory knowing he can’t get in without it. He arrives only to find an open door and a ransacked room.
This is the kind of scenario members of Team Hurlburt’s leadership want to avoid.
The 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron Unaccompanied Living Office implemented a transition from CACs to key cards last month, to provide a safer environment for Airmen living in Hurlburt’s dormitories.
“Airmen are the Air Force’s number one asset,” said Master Sgt. Norman Anderson, the unaccompanied living superintendent with the 1st SOCES. “We want them to be as safe as possible to maintain the strongest Air Force in the world. If they aren’t living in a secure environment, they’re not going to be able to complete the mission.”
Anderson said key cards are more secure because there isn’t personally identifiable information on the card, unlike a CAC. If a lost card falls into the wrong hands, that PII can be used to trespass into someone else’s room.
“A lot of Airmen come here and often it’s their first time living on their own,” said Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Wiest, NCO in charge of dorm management with the 1st SOCES. “They’re learning how to take care of themselves. We work toward making sure we get whatever the Airmen need, including higher levels of security that are found in the new key cards.”
More than 750 Airmen currently live in the dorms at Hurlburt, which Wiest said is an opportunity for Airmen to grow.
“Misplacing your CAC is a simple mistake that can easily be overlooked,” Anderson said. “It teaches the Airmen responsibility and attention to detail. That door locks behind you every time you leave, so we want Airmen to make sure they are 100 percent ready to go to work once that door closes.”
All Airmen have to do to receive a key card is ask their respective dorm leader. The dorm leader will need the Airman’s name, room number and five minutes to encode the card.
“Members of dorm leadership are making it easier for Airmen to come home to a closed door, secure drawers, sealed cabinets and valuables where they belong,” Anderson said. “Having the responsibility of protecting the key card will snowball into their daily lives in and out of the Air Force.”
For more information, contact the West Campus dorm leaders at 884-3188, and East Campus dorm leaders at 881-3767. West and East Campus’ hours of operations are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.