Security on United States Military Bases Since September 11 Seems Lax
Where was I? Well, I am not sure if you fellow military families had the same experience but I was locked down on base, off and on all day until they could verify were a missing United flight was. Amid the horror of watching a second airplane slam into another tower, I suppressed a scream with my hand because I could sense the instant death at the sight.
At the time I was trying to get my daughters to school..off base. The first thing I did was call my husband about what to do. I heard many parents were choosing to not send their children off base and preferred the security of the base. The lines to enter the base was enormous. IDs were checked, as were trunks, and undercarriages. Drivers were even interrogated as to their destination. At several points in the day, all entry onto the base was denied as was all exiting. Everyone entering ANY building had their ID checked. Parents who did send their children to school worried at home if they would be able to pick their kids up after school if the base shut down again. Finally, the security eased..a little.
These days, the security is much more lax. To my surprise, as I was overseas for several years, the security has been contracted to civilians. No that I have a problem with civilians but they don't look very reassuring. I mean what if someone runs the gate what will they do? Radio the security police? That is what they are equipped with. In the past you would approach the gate to military base and be approached by the security police armed with a semi automatic. Scary yes but they are guards and their appearance a deterrent.
They say that we have forgotten. Have we? Especially on our bases. This week a terrorist plot to kill hundreds near Ramstein Air Base overseas was foiled. They have armed guards. Although they lacked the security intelligence they would have been prepared. They are aware of the dangers and have not forgotten
Meanwhile, in the midst of this obvious threat to U.S. bases the bases stateside remain in a low security sense. Apparently, if you are stateside you are not so much a target.
Published by Lilly Black
I am young 30ish woman and a mother of five. I am also a military spouse. Currently we are stationed in New Mexico, and we are just loving it. I have three girls and two boys. All of my girls are in school s... View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentThis is an interesting take on the subject of base security. I can't speak much for what security was like here after 9/11 but I know at home in the UK security was tight. After the London bombings on 7th July 2005, Americans were not allowed to visit London! Vehicles were regularly checked for explosives. It sounds like your husband may have been stationed in Europe because you described what life was like at home for a while.
Sophie
Interesting. My husband is a civilian working on a base and it is fairly easy to get on post if you have DOD stickers and a picture ID. If I go on base with him and he shows his government ID they don't even ask for mine. However, last year when I took my borther on base to visit our grandparent's graves they didn't want to allow him on base because he had inadvertently let his license expire. As far as the guards at the gates, they are CLEET certified and do carry weapons. Perhaps they aren't has reassuring as a man in full military gear, but they are at least armed.
what base are you at? You have to remember what critical and non-critical assets are. Most bases I've been to practice detterent security with vehicle-stopping devices, random measures so that terrorists wouldn't want to attack. Attacking a base in the middle of Idaho and killing 2, maybe 3 people doesn't do anything. it's not worth a terrorists time, so it's better to deter. But hitting a major international base in Germany would be shocking.