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New ID card scanning system at McEntire

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson
  • 169th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, South Carolina --  If you've come through McEntire's main gate recently, you've most likely noticed a new system that has been put into place. It is a new ID card scanning device called the Defense Biometrics Identification System, which the 169th Security Forces Squadron has been utilizing since March 28.

DBIDS can speak directly with the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, through your Common Access Card. The 169th SFS is in the process of fully executing DBIDS at McEntire, which will help ensure Department of Defense personnel and resources are protected.

"When any ID card issued by the Force Support Squadron is presented to personnel at the gate, DBIDS automatically checks locally to make sure the individual is registered here on base. If they're not, the DBIDS database is checked to see if they're registered elsewhere, or the individual will be automatically registered in DEERS, validating the ID card," said Master Sgt. Claude Turner, noncommissioned officer in charge of plans and programs for the 169th SFS.

"It's a Force Protection measure. Because of DBIDS, only those authorized valid ID cards will be allowed on the base," mentioned Turner.

"If by chance you have an ID card that has expired or an extra one that you may keep in your car, it will show up as lost or stolen and will be confiscated. That has already happened. And it will work the same way when identifying dependent ID cards," said Turner.

Because this is a new system to McEntire and not all personnel have been registered, you can expect slightly longer delays entering the base. Nearly 2000 ID cards have been scanned so far, in less than a week.

"It can take anywhere from three to 20 seconds when your card is initially scanned," stated Turner. "After you are in the system, it shouldn't take more than three to five seconds for your card to be recognized."

Traditional guard members will need to be registered in DBIDS as well. You can expect DBIDS scanning at the Church gate for the next drill weekend.

"If the incoming traffic starts to get too backed up, usage will be terminated to allow personnel to get on the base without too much delay. Physical identification of your ID card will authorize entry until the flow of cars coming through is back to a manageable pace," said Turner.

The 169th SFS has the equipment for the system to go into practice at the Morrell gate. However, there are infrastructure upgrades that need to take place first.

The system is not being put into place for accountability, as much as it is for force protection, though there is that capability. According to Turner, data from DBIDS is stored and the 169th SFS has the ability to run reports to see who has been verified on the base and at what time. So, if your commander wants to know if someone was verified on base, or a personal vehicle was broken into, 169th SFS personnel can check the database.

"DBIDS can check any ID card issued by the military, but also manufactures its own ID cards," said Turner. "Contractors and civilian personnel that work on base and do not carry CACs are in the process of being issued DBIDS cards."

The times those personnel are authorized entry is mandated and will show up when their DBIDS card is scanned. "Contract employees are placed on an entry authorization list after they are vetted with their sponsor on base," said Turner.

Turner also stated that this is not just a McEntire or Air National Guard specific program. It has been directed from the Defense Manpower Data Center. This DOD program is already in use on active-duty and ANG installations. It is also being used at DOD installations overseas.

Getting DBIDS started at McEntire was a concerted effort between the 169th Communications Flight and the 169th Civil Engineer Squadron. 169th CF maintenance personnel installed all the equipment to interconnect DBIDS in its four locations: main gate, visitor center, Church gate and 169th SFS.

"The crew worked after hours and down days to accomplish the DBIDS installation requirements," said Senior Master Sgt. James D. Rider, cyber systems branch chief for the 169th CF. "Comm flight was told by the vendor that McEntire was the most flawless and well-coordinated install, to date, with the communications portion," he concluded.