Troop Talk
What does it take to make a civilian establishment “off limits”?
The director of emergency services is charged with heading the Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board as authorized by the installation commander. The board consists of several representatives, including the staff chaplain, staff judge advocate and inspector general. They are charged with ensuring establishments do not “adversely affect the health, safety, morale, welfare, or discipline of service personnel, regardless of status.”
Situations which cause concerns for establishments may include, but are not limited to: disorder and lack of discipline, prostitution, reports of sexually transmitted diseases, liquor violations, racial and other discriminatory practices, alcohol and drug abuse, presence of drug paraphernalia, criminal or illegal activities involving cults or hate groups, illicit gambling, areas susceptible to terrorist activity, unfair commercial or consumer practices, or other unsafe conditions which may adversely affect the health and well-being of military personnel or their families.
In the past several years, we have placed five establishments on the off limits list. The list is posted on the Fort Bliss Intranet and is run periodically in The Monitor.
What are the MPs doing to crack down on DWIs?
The DES is focusing various efforts to deter and prevent drivers from driving drunk. It also provides traffic safety and drunken driving prevention classes for units during their safety day stand downs. The Crime Prevention section provides driver awareness training for Soldiers, family members and civilians.
The DES conducts random safety checkpoints. These checkpoints are geared towards ensuring drivers have valid and proper documentation, are free of outstanding traffic warrants, follow all the rules and regulations of the road, and are not driving under the influence of alcohol.
The DES also conducts specialized enforcement geared towards the identifying and apprehending drunken drivers, and ensuring that they are off the streets and in jail. Remember, “Drunk Driving-Over the Limit, Under Arrest.”
DWI education and prevention begins at the junior leader level. IAW Army Regulation 600-85, Army Substance Abuse Program, commanders at the lowest levels are required to implement ASAP prevention initiatives and provide Soldiers with a minimum of four hours of alcohol and drug awareness training every year. The first step in battling DWIs should be education and prevention. Fort Bliss units compete for quarterly CG Saber Award recognition for having no DWIs for the quarter. Units that are successful for meeting the zero-DWI standard receive a streamer after a Saber Run.
What is being done to secure housing areas that are not surrounded by walls?
The DES has implemented specialized enforcement in the housing areas. There has also been an increase in patrol presence, both vehicular and walking, and also an increase in undercover police officers in the housing areas.
This specialized enforcement is geared towards preventing and removing the unauthorized entry into housing areas. The Crime Prevention section has solicited the implementation of neighborhood watch programs and a Crimeline. The Crimeline is a method for individuals with information of criminal or suspicious activity, to anonymously call in tips to law enforcement.
Why does it take so long to get a pass at Cassidy Gate?
The DES enforces all requirements for force protection and access control established by the U.S. Army and guidance established by the installation commander. The requirement for access control for the purposes of force protection requires that individuals not meeting certain criteria register for an installation temporary pass.
The DES has recently obtained approval to change access standards for those personnel who are affiliated with the military, but have not yet registered their car IAW AR 190-5 and therefore do not have a Department of Defense Form 2220 (installation decal) affixed to their car. In the past, these personnel were required to stop at a pass office and obtain a temporary pass.
Effective Aug. 28, personnel in possession of a DoD-affiliated form of identification (Common Access Card, DD Form 2, or DD Form 1172 Identification Card) will no longer be required to obtain a temporary pass to enter the installation. If they do not have a DD FM 2220 affixed to their vehicle, they will be allowed to present their DoD-affiliated form of identification for access to the installation. All passengers in the vehicle are required to show an official form of identification, but it does not have to be a DoD affiliated form of identification.
This procedural change will reduce pass office workload by an estimated 35 percent and allow the pass office staff to focus on providing temporary access passes to actual visitors to the installation.
Soldiers are still required to register their vehicles IAW Army Regulation 190-5 and affix a DD Form 2220 to their windshield. Soldiers may obtain decals at Bldg 505, Cassidy Gate, Biggs Army Airfield Gate, and Robert E. Lee Gate.
Maj. Gen. Robert P. Lennox
Fort Bliss Commanding General