Biometric IDs coming to Tinker Published Aug. 23, 2010 By 72nd Security Forces Squadron 72nd Air Base Wing Tinker Air Force Base -- Tinker will soon join the ranks of Air Force bases around the globe utilizing a new security system that will eventually be used across the Department of Defense. The Defense Biometric Identification System, or DBIDS, is a Homeland Security/DOD initiative to manage personnel, property and installation access. Personnel requiring access to Tinker for any reason will be required to register their ID card with DBIDS. This includes all active duty military, retirees, DOD contractors, dependents and civilians affiliated with Tinker AFB. There are more than 80,000 people who currently access Tinker AFB. Once registered in the system, individuals will not have to register again unless information or status of their DOD ID card changes The system will allow security personnel to see more than just the information printed on the ID card. Scanning a DBIDS registered ID card will bring up real-time biometric information, such as an individual's finger prints and photo. "The system draws upon information already loaded in government databases and it's going to cross-reference as much information as possible," said Dallas Stroud, 72nd Security Forces Squadron chief of S5R and DBIDS program manager, "It tells whether you're permanently assigned to base, TDY, visitor or contractor. It identifies and allows base access for mission critical personnel during increased force protection conditions and denies entry to those not authorized access. It will tell who is barred from base or whether you are currently suspended from driving on base, etc." "DBIDS is an integral tool in hardening the perimeter of Tinker Air Force Base and ultimately makes us a harder target for people who wish to do us harm and makes us a safer community. It gives us a more in-depth tool in the law enforcement community. It broadens the spectrum of force protection for the base commander and defense forces," Mr. Stroud said. Installation of hardware for the system will begin later this year with registration and full implementation to come sometime in 2011. "This will be an amazing tool that will provide our security forces a degree of awareness of potential threats that they have never had before. We expect there to be some glitches during initial implementation, but hopefully these will be minimized as we are getting lessons learned from other CONUS bases that have already installed the system," said Lt. Col. Troy Roberts, 72nd SFS commander.