The law enforcement officers with the Provost Marshal’s Office, Security and Emergency Services Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, are responsible for law enforcement and physical security activities aboard the base. There are many procedures and programs set in place that PMO sees through to ensure the safety of all Camp Pendleton’s inhabitants. One procedure PMO follows is the use of random antiterrorism measures.
A RAM is a force protection measure designed to look for anything nefarious or illegal someone may be trying to bring aboard the base.
“We look for anything that could bring harm or could be a threat to the installation itself, any of its assets or any personnel aboard.” said 1st Lt. Austin Sutter, a military police officer with the Provost Marshal’s Office.
Any law enforcement officer can inspect a vehicle coming aboard the installation. As part of the inspection, they will search all of the interior and exterior compartments of the vehicle. Any person has the right to deny a RAM, however, law enforcement officers then have the right to deny entry to the installation.
While a minor inconvenience for those selected for the inspections, RAMs serve as a vital security measure for ensuring the safety of the base and the people working and living here.
The inspections are conducted at random times to keep outside observers from being able to determine or predict timelines for different security measures.
“It is completely random, there is no set pattern,” explained Sutter. “It can be any day, any time, 365 days a year. Every single gate is susceptible to them, and every single gate has RAMs done.”