TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In an ongoing effort to make Tinker Air Force Base more secure, the 72nd Security Forces Squadron and the Tinker Integrated Defense Council voted to implement several initiatives to keep Tinker a safe and secure place to live and work.
First, effective immediately, as authorized by Tinker AFB supplement to AFI 31-116, anyone who attempts to enter the installation without showing proper credentials, better known as a “Gate Runner,” will have their on-base driving privileges suspended for a period of 30 days. The base has experienced a trend of people who live or work on Tinker AFB not paying attention when they approach the gate and try to drive through without stopping to show their ID card, whether intentional or not. This trend also led to the installation of “STOP/SHOW ID” signs in each inbound lane of traffic at all gates.
“The bottom line is a small number of people who live and work on Tinker AFB have forgotten the first and most important step of showing their ID card when they reach the gate,” said Lt. Col. Keith Quick, 72nd Security Forces commander. “In several of these cases, the driver admitted to being distracted and just plain ‘forgot’ they were supposed to stop and show their ID. This is a crime, it is unlawful to enter a military installation without showing proper ID, and it is both serious and dangerous.”
Additionally, the IDC voted and approved to initiate a new Random Antiterrorism Measure at the Tinker AFB Main Gate Visitor Control Center. The RAM includes an inspection of personnel entering the VCC using a walk through or handheld metal detector and an inspection of any hand carried items they have with them. As the term “RAM” implies, this inspection will only take place randomly, not 100 percent of the time. While VCC customers may experience a slight delay in service, this is a necessary step to help ensure the safety of the base workforce and residents. This new security measure will help to safeguard against people bringing unauthorized items or weapons onto Tinker AFB.
Also, in line with this effort, and as a friendly reminder to all personnel on Tinker AFB, as annotated in the Tinker Integrated Defense Plan 31-101, “No person shall carry a concealed firearm or dangerous weapon on Tinker AFB. This prohibition also applies to individuals with state concealed firearms licenses as well, as these permits have no authority on federal installations. Such licenses are not valid on any part of Tinker AFB.”
Finally, the IDC discussed and voted to adopt new hours of operation for the Liberator gate, which is on the east side of base off Douglas Blvd. near Bldg. 3705. The current hours for the gate are Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The new operating hours, starting on Monday April 3, are Monday through Friday 5:30 to 8 a.m. and 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. After evaluating a gate traffic study accomplished in 2016 and taking into consideration there are three gates on the east side of base, the IDC determined traffic could support these reduced operating hours at one of the gates. This change provides the 72nd Security Forces flexibility to move manpower to other locations during the period of time the gate is closed, allowing for an increased force protection presence at other critical facilities within the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex. Colonel Quick confirmed that the 72nd SFS have taken steps for official Union notification for this change.