[FORT HUACHUCAS GATE/ACCESS CHANGES FAQ] May 1, 2015

Significant changes to installation access at Fort Huachuca will begin Aug. 3 including a return to the original
gate names and background checks for all individuals 18 years and older without an approved form of DOD
identification.
What is now known as the Main Gate, will return to its historical name, Buffalo Soldier Gate, and will be open 5
a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed weekends and holidays beginning Aug. 3.
The Buffalo Soldier Gate was designated May 21, 1993 in a ceremony that was part of Buffalo Soldier Day, an
event co-sponsored by the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce and Fort Huachuca to honor African/American
units that served at Fort Huachuca.
The current East Gate, will return to its memorialized name, Van Deman Gate, dedicated July 2, 1992 to Maj.
Gen. Ralph H. Van Deman, the father of modern U.S. military intelligence.
The Van Deman Gate will be open 24/7 beginning Aug. 3 and will be the site of the Fort Huachuca Visitor Control
Center, or VCC, to facilitate background checks of all visitors in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential
Directive 12.
What to know about access
Beginning Aug. 3, visitors, contractors and vendors 18 years and older, entering Fort Huachuca, who do not have
a DOD identification card, will be subject to a background check before being allowed entry to the installation.
Those who present a Common Access Card, or CAC; Military ID; Military Dependent ID; Gold Star ID or other
valid DOD credential wont be affected.
This change is to ensure that Fort Huachuca is in compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12,
which requires that 100 percent of visitors be vetted prior to entering the installation. While this is a DOD-wide
initiative, we are doing all we can to streamline the process for accessing Fort Huachuca, yet ensure the safety
and security of the installation, said Dan Ortega, director of Emergency Services.
How to request an access badge
To complete a background check and be issued an installation access badge, visitors must go to the VCC located
the Van Deman Gate beginning Aug. 3 and complete an access request form. All installation access badges will
be issued from the Van Deman Gate only. There will be no background checks or badges issued at the Buffalo
Soldier Gate.
Contractors and vendors requiring long term access (over 30 days) will require a government sponsor. Visitors
seeking short term access (less than 30 days) do not require a government sponsor. In either case all applicants
undergo a background check.
By submitting the form, individuals are agreeing to a background check, which uses the National Crime
Information Center Interstate Identification Index, or NCIC III, a Federal Bureau of Investigation database that
provides criminal histories.
Be aware that all individuals 18 years and older entering the installation are required to have a background
check and installation access badge before being allowed to enter the installation. Visitors, contractors and
vendors with an installation access badge can access the installation at any gate or Access Control Point.
1|Page

[FORT HUACHUCAS GATE/ACCESS CHANGES FAQ] May 1, 2015

Badges are valid only for the timeframe authorized on the badge and all personnel 18 years and older in the
vehicle must have a valid installation access badge.
About the background check
In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 and Army Regulation 190-13, all visitors and
uncleared contractors desiring unescorted access to Fort Huachuca, must be vetted through NCIC III, the Armys
baseline background check for entrance onto Army installations for non-CAC or non-DOD ID card holders. Upon
successful completion of a background check the individual(s) will be issued a Fort Huachuca installation access
badge. This badge is only good for access onto the installation and to be available for presentation to
Installation Security personnel. It is not to be used as a form of identification for other purposes.
The installation commander will, in the absence of an approved waiver, deny uncleared contractors,
subcontractors and visitors unescorted access to the installation based on the results of the NCIC III check that
contains credible derogatory information indicating the individual may present a threat to good order, discipline,
or health and safety on the installation.
Factors that would constitute an access denial:
The NCIC III contains criminal arrest information about the individual that causes the Installation
Commander to determine that individual presents a potential threat to the good order, discipline, or
health and safety on the installation.
The installation is unable to verify the individuals claimed identity based on the reasonable belief that
the individual has submitted fraudulent information concerning his or her identity in the attempt to gain
access.
The individual has a current arrest warrant in NCIC, regardless of the offense or violation.
The individual is currently barred from entry or access to a federal installation of facility.
The individual has been convicted of crimes encompassing sexual assault, armed robbery, rape, child
molestation, production or possession of child pornography trafficking in humans, drug possession with
the intent to sell or drug distribution.
The individual has a US conviction for espionage, sabotage, treason, terrorism or murder.
The individual is a registered sex offender.
The individual has a felony conviction within the past 10 years, regardless of the offense or violation.
The individual has been convicted of a felony firearms or explosives violation.
The individual has engaged in acts or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. Government by force.
The individual is identified in the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) as known to be or suspected of
being a terrorist or belonging to an organization with known links to terrorism or support of terrorist
activity.
Individuals who are not cleared and denied access, will be given a denial access waiver packet to be completed
and returned to the VCC. The denial waiver committee will review the packet and determine suitability for
access to the installation.
As a reminder, all vehicle operators are required to have a valid state drivers license and valid motor vehicle
insurance.

2|Page