Getting on a Military base

That is all you should need. Call the base security office before you go to find out exactly what you need. See you at Ft. S. in June.

Thanks, :)

Do you have a copy of any orders bringing you on active duty or such? Those, along with regular ID, should be all you need.

Yes, I will bring active duty orders and oath of office papers with me. Thanks.

Don't be surprised if you get turned away. They're not military cops on a lot of bases now - they're so-called civilian rent-a-cops, and I've heard many times of people being turned away from the gate even though many times legally (and technically) they're more entitled to be there than the cop is!

LEGALLY that's all you need - state DL and a copy of your orders. But stop at the gate shack/visitor's center outside the gate and make sure they know what time it is.

Don't be surprised if you get turned away. They're not military cops on a lot of bases now - they're so-called civilian rent-a-cops, and I've heard many times of people being turned away from the gate even though many times legally (and technically) they're more entitled to be there than the cop is!

LEGALLY that's all you need - state DL and a copy of your orders. But stop at the gate shack/visitor's center outside the gate and make sure they know what time it is.

Thanks. I went yesterday, they asked if I had a pass, I told them no, gave my orders and ID and that was it-all ok. My ACU name tags are pretty:)! Although looks a little funny beacuse my last name is hyphenated so in total 16 letters!

Good - I'm glad to hear you didn't have a problem. Glad to hear you've gotten your uniforms!

Don't be surprised if you get turned away. They're not military cops on a lot of bases now - they're so-called civilian rent-a-cops, and I've heard many times of people being turned away from the gate even though many times legally (and technically) they're more entitled to be there than the cop is!

LEGALLY that's all you need - state DL and a copy of your orders. But stop at the gate shack/visitor's center outside the gate and make sure they know what time it is.

If your car has "expired registration---plates" you will be turned away. SOMETIMES, they will let you through, but most the time not. Make sure everyone in the car has ID. Occasionally my husband forgets his ID and I have to do some serious 'xplaining. :)

The ID thing depends on what base you're going on. As a former AF cop, the whole thing is stupid. Either everyone's identifiable, or you don't get on. At Lackland they only check the driver until after dark, then they check everybody. Same at Randolph and at Charleston.

At Fort Sam, they try to give me holy hell because I have NC registration and NC inspection. One time the guy tried to tell me I couldn't live in Texas and have a car registered in another state. (Not true, not true, not true.) I again showed him my active duty ID card and asked him was he going to let me on since all my credentials were valid and correct.

This is why I despise the rent a cops. I don't know where they find these guys or who they think they are. One of them called one of my NCOs "missy" and did the whole out of state registration line with her (and this was here at Lackland!). She got his name and reported him to our commander. I'm sure nothing happened, but some of those guys think they're high and mighty when in reality half of them don't know the difference in what's legal and valid and what's not.

To get my NC registration renewed, I have to get my car inspected in Texas since NC requires inspection. I've already cleared this with NCDMV. I can't wait to see how much trouble gets stirred up with a TX inspection sticker and NC plates...

Sorry to digress. They just really annoy me so I was glad to hear she'd met a few that seem to know what they're doing.

(Although it sort of bothers me that you can get in with a copy of your orders. I can MAKE military orders that look official....you know? They scream about terrorism, but they'll let you in with a piece of paper and a DL...it's why it makes little to no sense. Start registering vehicles again and stop anyone without a military ID and make them get sponsored on the installation. Makes it harder for some but seems more rational to me.)

(And that'll be me getting off my soapbox.)

Completely agree it is "base dependant". Ft Lewis, I needed a "day pass" b/c I didn't have a dod sticker on my car at that time (military ID wasn't good enough)....I guess b/c it is an armarment?