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Visitor Control Center regulates base access

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tristin English
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  

"Everyone wishing unescorted access to the base is properly vetted through the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System," said Staff Sgt. Leigh Tennant, NCOIC of the Visitor Control Center. "Even individuals with out-of-state credentials can be vetted. This ensures anyone with a warrant or a criminal history within the past 10 years can be denied access to the installation and turned over to the appropriate authorities." 

 

Due to this being a controlled system, only certified personnel are able to use it and any of the information found on an individual stays within law enforcement channels.

 

"Location-wise, the Visitor Control Center is in front of the main gate, allowing personnel the ability to stop and get a visitor's pass prior to arriving at the Shiloh entry gate," said Tennant.  "If individuals bypass the VCC, the guards at the gate will hold traffic and direct the driver to report to the VCC for a required pass."

 

Individuals need to go into the visitor's center with an authorized form of picture identification. Once they come in, visitors will be checked into the computer system and put

 

into the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS).  Individuals 16 years of age and older are required to have a visitors pass to be able to gain access to Scott Air Force Base.

 

The VCC is still using the Security Forces Automated Customer (SFAC) sign-in system, so guests can call in passes from authorized base numbers or pre-registered cell phone numbers.  These passes will be transferred into DBIDS once the visitor comes in.

 

"The SFAC is a system that used paper passes with no pictures; DBIDS produces a scan capable pass that also features the individual's photo for easier verification at the installation entry points," said Tennant. "It is a more secure and harder to duplicate means of entry. However, sponsors need to be registered in DBIDS to fully process the visitor pass in the new system."

 

"It's usually a very easy process. It takes two to 10 minutes to get a visitor in and out of the VCC. However, as the SFS transitions to the DBIDS, there may be delays." said Tennant.

 

The sponsor takes full responsibility of the actions of their guest while on base. If a visitor is caught on base without a pass and the sponsor is not in the vicinity, he or she will be detained until their identification can be verified. The sponsor is identified and the sponsor may have their sponsorship privilege taken away.

 

For further information call the VCC at 256-6663.