IDs required for children over 10

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  What's the best present to give your dependent children for their tenth birthday? A Department of Defense identification card. 

According to the 96th Security Forces Squadron, all personnel must produce proper credentials to access the base using 100 percent ID checks. 

"This includes all juveniles10 and older regardless of parental escort," said James Johnston, Eglin DOD Guard Section. 

Single active-duty military parents and military married to military can get ID cards for children less than 10 years old because of their vulnerability to deploy at a moment's notice. 

"The child will need an ID Card while their parents are gone," said David Fitzgerald, 96th Mission Support Squadron. "Any extenuating circumstances where the parent requests an ID Card for the child can be decided by the section chief." 

Mr. Johnson said the DOD police continue to find when they stop cars at the gates the sponsors are not aware of that requirement. 

"It seems that everyone thinks there is a 16-year-old rule when it comes to children and ID requirements," Mr. Johnson said. 

Also required is a visitor's pass for anyone in a vehicle who does not have an ID card. The Visitor Control Centers are open 24 hours a day for this purpose. 

"If you are bringing a non-military affiliated guest onto the installation it is the sponsor's responsibility to stop by the Visitor Control Centers at the East or West gates to obtain a proper visitor pass for your guests," Mr. Johnson said. 

Eglin is considered a "closed installation which positive access control measures.
The gate guards are following established procedures to enforce the base's force protection plan. 

"Our goal is to ensure all entry points are manned by professional DOD security personnel who look sharp, can communicate with the public and have completed appropriate training," said 96 SFS chief of investigations, Paul Chapelle. "They help ensure personnel safety and stand as the first line of defense in protecting Air
Force equipment and resources."