CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. – A new screening process will be required for all personnel needing unescorted access to Camp Atterbury starting, April 15, in accordance with a Department of Defense directive released December regarding physical access control on military installations.
The new process applies to three different populations: individual visitors needing unescorted access, Camp Atterbury employees and long-term contractors to include delivery personnel. Individuals needing unescorted access must have a valid purpose to enter, have their identity proofed and vetted through the Department of Defense Centralized Operations Police Suite and the National Crime Information Center, and be issued, or in possession of, an authorized and valid access credential by gate security personnel. Drivers also must provide a valid driver's license, valid vehicle registration and valid insurance information in order to enter the installation.
"I think that the additional security measures will definitely be beneficial to all the Soldiers here based on the fact that we will have more accountability of who is on the post and at what time," said Camp Atterbury Provost Marshal Maj. Gary Blagburn. "This is a DoD push. We are making the move to become compliant with the DoD generated directive."
Camp Atterbury employees – including the Installation Support Unit, 205th Infantry Brigade, Strategic Resources Inc., etc., who are DoD-issued card holders – have already received proofing and vetting from the ID card issuing site. Employees are required, as of April 15, to register their personally-owned vehicles with the Camp Atterbury military police vehicle registration section in Building 225. To register POVs and receive a DoD decal, employees must have a valid driver's license, valid vehicle registration, and valid insurance information.
Long-term contractors and delivery personnel will be granted unescorted access to conduct official business if they provide copies of the following items prior to arrival: a valid driver's license, Bureau of Motor Vehicles official driver's record from the issuing state and an Indiana State Police limited background check.
Additionally, contracting organizations working on Camp Atterbury are required to submit a list of drivers needing access to post to the Physical Security Office. This list must be submitted on company letterhead. Once confirmed, drivers are required to show their government issued identification at the gate and will be checked against a list of approved personnel.
Access will be denied unless proper documentation is provided. Additional procedures or access limitations may be exercised upon changes to local security requirements, increased force protection condition levels, emergencies and contingencies. People not on the contractor and delivery list and without official business will require an escort while conducting business on the installation. People without a government-issued ID will be denied access.
Sgt. 1st Class George McClamb Jr. of the post safety office said that the increase in security screening couldn't come at a better time as plans are in motion to expand the post's entry points.
"This plan will increase post situational awareness," said McClamb, adding that the new policy plays a major role in force protection, keeping our Soldiers and civilians safe while at the workplace.
In addition to the changes in policy for physical access to Camp Atterbury, the MPs on post are preparing to escalate consequences for disobeying traffic laws here this summer. The MPs will have the ability to write tickets and require drivers to either pay a fine or appear before a judge in court. The revenue earned from this change will go to the Department of Treasury. Violators will also have points added to their state's license which can lead to suspension when left unchecked.
"This gives drivers more accountability of driving behaviors while on the installation," said Blagburn.