How to Restrict Access to Military Installations

Military missiles

Military installations contain sensitive and vulnerable national assets, vital to maintaining the safety and security of a country. People, equipment, testing facilities and warehouses must be protected from attack by hostile forces, evaluation by enemy intelligence agencies and exposure to criminal activities. Restricting access to any military base is the first step in addressing these concerns.

Things You'll Need

• Well-trained guard force
• Constructed barriers (security fences, concrete blocks, steel poles)
• Entry-control decals for vehicles
• Unique identification cards/papers

Instructions

1. Identify all access points and routes leading into the military installation, including roads, foot paths, rivers and streams, culverts, sewer drains, open fields, woodlands, airfields and harbors. From this list, select the fewest number of desired, or approved, entry points, based on mission requirements, material delivery concerns, access and egress for authorized personnel and emergency situations.

2. Construct barriers on all access points not selected as approved entry points. Barriers must be constructed so that they are not easily removed, displaced, destroyed or breached.

3. Construct an entry control point at each approved entry point, manned by properly trained security personnel. All potential entry points identified earlier but blocked by barriers must be patrolled frequently, with the patrolling frequency determined by information contained in the daily threat potential, by properly trained security personnel to check for unauthorized tampering or attempted forced entries.

4. People authorized entry into the installation must present at the entry control point any identification cards or papers as well as display on their vehicle an authorized decal, easily seen and verified, indicating to security personnel that the vehicle has been registered to an authorized driver who has met all installation security requirements. A parking and processing area, adjacent to the entry control point, must be available to securely process any person and/or vehicles that lack proper identification cards or papers and vehicle decals.

5. Coordinate with local law enforcement agencies, the FBI (military installations are federal property), and other intelligence agencies regarding detention, interrogation, reporting, prosecution or other processing of: people found entering the installation illegally, people attempting unlawful entry, and people conducting suspicious activities. Arrange for the daily review of all relevant intelligence reports, local criminal complaints, new maintenance plans and contracts, applications for entry by contractors and reports of suspicious activities, by well-trained security personnel to develop the daily threat potential so that immediate, appropriate changes can be made at entry control points.

Tips & Warnings

• Authorized people, those allowed into the installation because of duty requirements, must have unique identification cards or papers issued by one central processing agency that can verify questionable documents.

• Contractor people, those allowed a limited access to the installation because of job or contract requirements, must have limited time (must have an expiration date) identification cards or papers issued by one central processing agency that can verify questionable documents.

• Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks should be allowed immediate access but must be escorted or accompanied by security personnel once they enter the installation.

• Physical security of military installations is a complex, dynamic and critical endeavor, requiring constant vigilance, changing security requirements, never-ending upgrade and modification of security devices, and continual review of policies and practices with potentially deadly consequences should any process fail.

References

• DOD Directive 5200.8, Security of DOD Installations and Resources; 1991
• Army Regulation 190-13, The Army Physical Security Program; Dept. of the Army; 1993
• DOD 5200.8-R, Physical Security Program; 1991