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Base Pass Ridiculousity
By Chris | January 9, 2008
Yes, that’s a new word. I made it today. Learn it. Love it. Say it often.
In any event.. today I went with Eric to get a pass onto Charleston AFB. I needed a pass on base to get……wait for it…. wait for it….a BASE PASS. That statement in and of itself should let you know that the process I am about to describe is retarded.
From 1997 until 2003 I was active duty USAF. Had the pretty green card (until they went with the white College ID-esque looking ones) and the DoD form 2220 (the base decal) on my vehicles. I could come and go as I pleased. Makes perfect sense. Way back when, if someone needed to get on base, you called the gate (front or back) and they took it down as so-and-so, driving such-and-such vehicle was needing a pass to wherever, sponsored by whoever (me, generally). Pizza guy just needed a light on the roof and he was good to go. Now the flaw in the whole phone-in process was obvious… I could call from anywhere and setup a pass for whoever - but it worked at the time, so life was good.
Fast forward to current times (and yes, times have changed, so I understand it’s security). I have no silly sticker or ID. I accept this. I got out, yay. I need a pass to get on base. I accept this. The only business I have on base is to go to ERAU’s classes at the Education Center (Bldg 231, I do believe) and other than that, there’s nothing there that intrigues me to the point I feel I need to go to the base. Except the scenery..but then..not worth the drive. Back on topic: So I sign up for a class. I need a pass for the duration of the class. Well, in order to get on base to fill out the pass paperwork, I need a pass. So, in theory I would have to call ERAU’s office, they would send someone down to sponsor me on base and write me a pass. So I get on base and fill out the pass paperwork and then go on my merry way. The pass paperwork takes something like 3 or 4 days to get completed or whatever and then I would just go to the front gate and pick the pass up. Now, last year, they failed to have it ready (437th SFS fault) so I had to get someone to sponsor me on to base again for class night. The hope is that by next Wednesday they will have my pass ready, and I will go to the front gate, get the stupid thing and go on my way.
Now, the annoying thing is that they usually only write said pass for the date and times of the class, IE, in this case, each Wednesday from 1700-2200 or so. Um so what if I had to go to the ERAU office for something else on another day, or during a different time range? I’d need another fucking pass! AUHGHKSJDjhKLZADJlJLjldkhfjkshdkj!
Topics: General |
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