Air Force discontinues decals

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
As of Feb. 9, Whiteman Air Force Base no longer issues the DD Form 2220 or registers privately owned vehicles. 

Prior to the actions that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, the way to enter an installation was the simple process of an individual at the gate seeing the current decal visible on a vehicle and waving them on. 

"No personal contact, no ID check. In retrospect, this was a very flawed system since we didn't care if the person was authorized on base, just the vehicle," said Master Sgt. James Osban, 509th Security Forces Squadron Police Services non-commissioned officer in charge. 

"We verify the member as having the need or privilege to enter the installation by having personal contact with 100 percent ID checks," Sergeant Osban said. 

This increases public contact, which is more of a deterrence than allowing a person on base just because the vehicle is authorized. 

"We have removed a costly way of you being identified as having a military affiliation," Sergeant Osban said. 

This increases personal security by not publicly displaying your military affiliation. 

509th Security Forces use the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System to determine the owner of a vehicle even before the new policy went into effect, Sergeant Osban said. 

People have the option of removing their decal or keeping it until it expires.
 
Once the decal expires it will have to be removed, Sergeant Osban said. 

Properly dispose of the DD Form 2220 by cutting them into pieces if they do not break into pieces before putting them in the trash, Sergeant Osban said. 

Visitors no longer have to get vehicle passes. They will however still need to get a personal pass from the visitor center, Sergeant Osban said.