Base stickers no longer necessary for AF

[CephasGT]

Can anybody else confirm this? Just got this article in an email from my brother... I wonder why it took them five and a half years to realize that base stickers are superfluous?

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Air Force initiative to stop registering private vehicles
StrategicCommunication Plan Q & A
(Updated 22 Feb 2007)

The Air Force is staffing an initiative to stop registering private vehicles and to cease using vehicle decals -- the Department of Defense Form DD FM 2220, to be effective 15 March 2007 pending CSAF approval. Below are some questions and answers to assist the public in understanding how and why this action is proposed.

1. Q: Why would the Air Force want to do away with vehicle decals and base registration?
A: After September 11th, security at all DoD installations was changed to require 100% ID card checks of drivers at base gates. This has rendered the decals superfluous, since the ID card checks are a much more effective means of verifying the authority of a driver to enter the base.

In fact, the decals now are arguably a detriment to security. They are easily counterfeited, moved from one car to another, or found in used car parking lots. Moreover, looking for the decal on an approaching vehicle distracts our gate guards from focusing on the occupants. Finally, the decals are an expensive duplication of state registration and licensing. The Air Force spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year just on procuring the decals - countless more money and time is spent on issuing them. All of our Security Forces units are able to verify vehicle ownership through the license plates and other means.

2. Q: When will the Air Force go AF wide with this policy?
A: Pending final Air Force Chief of Staff approval, the goal is the implement this policy on 15 March 2007.

3. Q: What will I use instead to enter Air Force Installations?
A: A DOD issued ID card will be the primary proof of authorization to enter AF installations. Gate guards may also check additional supporting identification such as driver's license, insurance and registration.

4. Q: Will visitors be affected by this?
A: No, visitors will continue to follow the entry procedures established at each Air Force installation.

5. Q: Does this mean that commissioned officers will not be saluted?
A: After checking the ID card, military gate sentries will render salutes as appropriate when force protection and traffic conditions permit.

6. Q: Will I have to remove the decal I already have on my car?
A: We recommend that vehicle owners remove decals from their vehicles when this change is effective. This will avoid advertising the driver's DoD affiliation while off-base, which could be of interest to potential terrorists, criminals, foreign intelligence operatives or other hostile agents. However, drivers who frequently drive onto the installations of other services might consider leaving their decals on their cars, taking into consideration any potential targeting risks. (See question 8.) Since the decals are no longer used for base entry, it is not worth
taking this risk.

7. Q: Will I still have to comply with requirements for insurance, state registration, safety inspections, etc?
A: Yes. Air Force Security Forces will check for compliance with all of these requirements, randomly at the gates and during traffic enforcement.
Motorcycle operators will still need to comply with base safety standards and have required training before being allowed to ride on AF installations. Commanders at all levels will also enforce compliance.

8. Q: What about the other Services (Army, Navy and Marine) - are they making this change as well?
A: Not at this time. The Air Force is taking the lead in this initiative. The other Services are interested in the Air Force proposal, but are further behind in the staffing process.

9. Q: Is there no DOD requirement to register vehicles at all?
A: The joint traffic regulation (AFI 31-218 I) currently requires the services to register vehicles, although it does have language that appears to allow for other options. A change to the joint regulation has been in coordination for some time. We think the language in the joint regulation that requires base registration is outdated and became obsolete, when the DOD mandated 100% ID card checks for base entry.

10. Q: Won't we lose the benefit of centrally registering vehicles in the DOD?
A: There has never been a central, DOD wide database for vehicle registration. That's one of the big problems with the decals-although each service uses the same decals, each service has always used its separate and unique registration database.

11. Q: How will I be able to drive onto sister Service bases without a decal?
A: Air Force drivers will have to comply with the entry requirements of each particular installation. This might require getting a visitor's pass. Drivers who frequently visit other Service installations may want to consider registering their vehicle at that installation, if allowed to do so.

12. Q: Will this initiative apply to overseas bases as well?
A: With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, no overseas locations use the decals now.

13. Q: Have some Air Force installations implemented this initiative already?
A: Yes, Hill AFB, Utah, stopped registering vehicles in June 2006 and Robins AFB, Georgia, ceased on 5 February 2007. Also Air Combat Command is no longer requiring base registration or decal issuance as of 7 February 2007. The AF wide initiative will further standardize these actions and assist other commanders in implementing the initiative in areas under their authority.

14. Q: How is this being done at some installations before it is effective Air Force-wide?
A: Air Force installation commanders have the authority to locally assess the costs and benefits of registering vehicles and issuing decals, and implement this initiative. Installation commanders may continue to issue existing stock if they wish, but as of 15 March, there is no requirement to do it anymore.

15. Q: Does this mean that airmen new to an installation will not need to register their vehicles on base?
A: That is correct. Security Forces and/or unit orderly rooms will not be conducting any sort of vehicle registration. Current state/host nation requirements for licensing, registration, insurance, safety inspections etc.
will still apply and be enforced by commanders and Security Forces.

[chadrick_r6]

thats the word here at Shaw, but i think its the dumbest thing ever, there are other bases around here and i am not going to reg. my car everytime i visit another service base. if i was only going on AF Bases yea its a good idea , now you do not have to have a sticker, stupid might ride around base in there cars without insurance, lets see how long this idea is going to last, it will not make it unless the Army, Navy, Marine, and the Coast Guard does it.

[johndr83]

You got a link of that article?

[CephasGT]

Unfortunately I do not, he just emailed me the story. It's good news for me, as I really only ever go to AF installations. Not so good for guys like Chadrick, though... Hopefully the other services will follow along.

[docdennis]

This really makes sense. I hope the Navy does it as well.

[sparky]

huh... here at Travis they made it MANDATORY for any DoD employee to have a base sticker on their vehicle to get on base... mandatory as of Jan 1, 2007. So... after bout 6 years of not having one on my vehicles, they both now have them. however, the bike still hasnt and wont ever get one.
Hopefully this does go into effect... i hate them base stickers

[Jumperalex]

Keep in mind that the other services ARE staffing packages. They are just "behind the AF". So eventually, in about another few months, you won't need a sticker to get on any base. This is the smartest thing the AF has done in a while. There is just no need to register a car at the base for anything other than entry which is now taken care of via 100% id check. If they need to know who owns a car, they already have access to civilian databases for your plate.

as for insurance, it is still pointless. people can still do the same thing they do when they register with the state on a YEARLY basis, get insurance then cancel it. Registering on base, less frequently no less, just means you do the same thing to get your renewal sticker.

base registration does nothing that state registration does, and even less than that. The only thing it can even come close to be useful for is ensuring motorcycle riders have their MSF in states that don't require it in the first place. For that they can come up with a local base card that you show when you show your ID. Or even a sticker you put on your ID to show that your training has been validated. much cheaper and easier to admin than a full base wide registration system that adds no security or ease of entry.

[CephasGT]

^ On point as usual, Jumper.

Also, I know that in the last couple years, they have stopped putting expiration stickers on DoD stickers. This makes registration even more pointless.

[FrkyMnky1487]

Damn, I thought this was already in place as we dont use stickers, but Im overseas, so that may be the reason for that. It actually works quite well. Just give them your card and all of your information pops up and they verify it against your card and you. Here the MPs check up on insurance every once in a while and will actually go around and take your plate if your car isnt up to date. This is on a small ass post, so it might not work quite as well on bigger bases, however I dont see why it wouldnt work as it is a simple thing to implement. As for the insurance thing, just do random checks at the gate just like a cop would do when you get pulled over. Solves that as well.

[Rogue6]

2/23/2007 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Base vehicle registration decals are now a thing of the past.

Starting today, vehicle decals to get on Nellis and Creech will no longer be issued.

After Sept. 11, 2001, security at all Department of Defense installations was modified to require a 100 percent ID check for all drivers accessing the installation gates. According to Air Force officials, the use of vehicle decals is redundant because ID card checks are more effective in verifying the authority of a driver to enter the base.

The DoD ID card will be the primary proof of authorization to enter Air Force installations. Gate sentries will use, but are not limited to: driver's license, insurance and registration for ID verification.

"Locally, we save approximately $5,000 annually for the decals that state either Nellis or Creech," said Willie Garrett, 99th Security Forces Group deputy. "That doesn't include the year decal or the registration number."

The decals are an expensive duplication of state registration and licensing. The Air Force spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on procuring the decals and countless resources on issuing them. Security forces are able to verify vehicle ownership through vehicle registration.

Vehicle decals are also a force protection vulnerability. They are easily counterfeited, moved from one car to another or found in used car parking lots. Additionally, when an installation gate sentry is focusing on vehicle decals, it hinders proper scrutiny of vehicle occupants, which is a key vulnerability, said Mr. Garrett.

"The entire process should be relatively seamless to all personnel," said Mr. Garrett. "The only time anyone should notice is when their current year decal runs out ... they won't have to make a trip to the orderly room or pass and registration to get their registration renewed."

Air Force members will still have to comply with the entry requirements of each non-Air Force installation, which may require getting a visitor's pass.

Security forces will also check for compliance with insurance, state registration and safety inspections randomly at the installation gates and during traffic enforcement.

Motorcycle operators will still need to comply with base safety standards and have required training before being allowed to ride on AF installations.

Visitors will continue to follow the entry procedures established at each Air Force installation.

The Air Force has placed a mandatory completion date of March 15 for compliance on this directive.