Base pass length extended for civilian employees' dependents

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Recent changes to installation access here now permit civilian employees to sponsor their children under the age of 21 and spouse for up to one year.

The passes, only allowing access to Mountain Home Air Force Base, will be issued following completion of favorable ID proofing and vetting. The previous policy only allowed passes up to six months.

Rich Fox, chief of plans and programs for the 366th Security Forces Squadron, explains previously dependents of civilian employees were authorized to receive access for up to three years through an Air Force Form 354. However, as ID cards became automated, the ability to issue manually produced IDs was eliminated, which left civilian employee dependents without the ability to receive a card.

In order to allow access they were issued local Defense Biometrics Identification System cards valid for a period of six months. The recent change approves an extension to this period for civilian dependents to one year.

"There is no change to who is granted access," said Fox. "Rather, the extension in time just saves dependents from having to come in every six months to renew their pass."

Civilian employee spouses and dependents currently in possession of a local pass will be re-issued a new, one-year pass upon expiration of the current pass.

To renew or receive a new pass, civilian employees need to accompany their dependents to the Visitor Control Center at their convenience Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dependents will complete a short form with necessary information to conduct a background check, and once cleared, a pass will be issued for one year from the date it was received.

Civilian employees will need to bring their Common Access Card to verify their status and then sign the request as a sponsor.

"The process is really easy, and depending on how many visitors are waiting, it generally takes less than 15 minutes to issue dependents a new pass," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Buntin, 366th SFS NCO-in-charge of pass and ID. "The extension makes the process even smoother for all involved."

For questions concerning this change, please contact Mr. Rich Fox at (208) 828-1262.

[Editor's Note: Additional articles regarding base access and passes will be published in the future.]