By Samantha Harms
Fort Cavazos Public Affairs
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Those looking to visit Fort Cavazos will officially have an easier, and now quicker time obtaining a pass onto the installation here. The Fort Cavazos Directorate of Emergency Services has installed self-service kiosks in the Marvin Leath Visitors Welcome Center.
The kiosks are available for anyone to obtain a pass, given that they can still pass security measures and have a legitimate reason for being on the installation.
“Up until about six, seven, months ago … You could wait anywhere from an hour to two hours (to get a pass),” Edgar Ford, chief of the access control branch, DES, explained. “And so what we’re able to do is with the kiosks, (this) is a self-service type of thing where the individual can go up. They don’t need to see an attendant if they’re just here for a specific pass. They go to the kiosk and they can be out in two minutes.”
All someone needs to do is walk up to the kiosk, scan a form of ID and the kiosk will walk
visitors through the appropriate steps. Visitors can access and use the kiosks during the visitor center’s hours of operation, between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily.
Despite the ease to obtain a pass, everyone is still subjected to the same level of security no matter whether someone chooses to speak with an attendant or use the kiosks.
“We’ve done so much this last year to really speed up but without losing security posture,” Ford highlighted.
At this time, Army and Fort Cavazos policy state that everyone who wishes to come onto the installation must be screened to determine any potential threat to good order and discipline and/or health and safety on the installation. Army senior commanders deny persons access to installations based on information obtained from the results of a NCIC-III check, using the “QWI” under purpose code C and the Terrorist Screening Data Base when available. These government-authoritive data source checks give that indication on whether someone will cause any potential threats.
This information includes, but is not limited to a person who:
(1) presents a threat to the good order, discipline or health and safety on the installation.
(2) has a claimed identity that cannot be verified based on the reasonable belief that the person submitted fraudulent identity information in the attempt to gain access.
(3) has a current arrest warrant in NCIC, regardless of the offense or violation.
(4) has a current bar from entry or access to a Federal installation or facility.
(5) has a conviction of crimes encompassing sexual assault, armed robbery, rape, child molestation, production or possession of child pornography, trafficking in humans or drug possession with intent to sell or distribute.
(6) has a conviction for espionage, sabotage, sedition, treason, terrorism or murder.
(7) is being registered as a sex offender.
(8) has a felony conviction within the last 10 years regardless of the offense or violation.
(9) has a felony conviction for a firearms or explosives violation regardless of when the conviction occurred.
(10) is engaged in acts or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. Government by force.
(11) has been identified in the NCIC KST file or TSDB report as known to be, or is suspected of being, a terrorist or belonging to an organization with known links to terrorism or support of terrorist activity. Installation access control personnel will strictly follow the FBI’s published engagement protocols.
Once someone has been screened against the proper protocols, they will then be issued a pass for the appropriate amount of time.
In addition to visiting the kiosks in person, visitors also have the option to go online and fill out a request for a pass in advance.
“The website is where you can go on and it’s called the pre-registration website,” Ford continued. “Basically you go on to that website, you put in your information and then you simply go to the kiosk and print your pass. All the stuffs already done for you.”
Visitors who wish to apply in advance for their pass can do so by visiting https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/pass_type_selection. Users will then select Army, followed by the installation they wish to visit, in this case, selecting Fort Cavazos.
Following this, users will need to accept webpage’s and DES’ terms, by clicking the “I accept these terms” button. Visitors will then need to click on “Visitor Pass.” Once they fill out their personal information, the webpage will tell users what to do including instructions on how to get their actual pass.
DES has been diligently working for the last year to implement this project. Their hope is that this will continue to improve the quality of life of the installation’s visitors, civilians, Soldiers and family members.
“The best part is we’re able to improve customer service and our quality of life for the Soldiers and family members and civilians on Fort Cavazos, and we’re also able to improve quality of life for our teammates,” Bob Adams, deputy director, DES, expressed. “It helps them have a better work environment, they’re happier coming to work. In turn, they make people happier. And the customers are happy because they don’t have to sit there and waste their time.”
