Base decals no longer required on Dyess

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Kuczkowski
  • 7th Security Forces Squadron
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Effective immediately, the 7th Bomb Wing and the 7th Security Forces Squadron no longer requires personnel entering Dyess Air Force Base to have a DD Form 2220/Vehicle Registration Decal affixed to their vehicles. 

This is the result of an initiative launched by Maj. Gen. David Clary, Air Combat Command vice commander. General Clary directed the discontinuation of privately owned vehicle registration Feb. 7, abolishing use of the once-mandated decal. 

"The Air Force has been strictly adhering to 100% credential checks at installation gates since 9/11, making the check of vehicle decals unnecessary. Additionally, vehicle owners are more efficiently tracked through state license plates, not military decal numbers. Finally, with 1.66 million Air Force registered vehicles, each renewed every three years, the costs to administer this system are enormous. In the fiscal year of 2005 alone, the Air Force spent $727,000 simply to print decals," General Clary said.
Ralph Hatcher, 7th SFS superintendent of administration and, explained the effects of the decision. 

"There are 30,000 vehicles registered through the 7th Security Forces Squadron pass and registration office. The office processes 10,000 vehicle registrations each year at a total cost of 667 man hours," Mr. Hatcher said. "This measure is geared toward not only alleviating the burden on the base populace to renew their base sticker every three years, but it also serves as a force protection initiative. DD Form 2220 is a clear indication to terrorists as to which vehicles are owned by military members." 

"Just because we are doing away with the stickers doesn't mean the requirements to enter the base have changed. People will still have to show their IDs at the gate, and all personnel are still required to maintain current state vehicle registration and insurance on their vehicle if they to plan to drive on base," Mr. Hatcher said. 

Although this is being considered by Headquarters Air Force, this is an ACC initiative. Personnel attempting to access non-ACC bases will still need to have DD Form 2220s. If they do not have valid vehicle registration decals, they will be required to get a visitor pass and be subject to the rules and standards of that base. Locally, Goodfellow AFB is following suit and no longer requires vehicle registration decals; however, Sheppard and Laughlin AFBs still require vehicles to have the decals. Lackland still registers vehicles, but the program is currently optional. 

There is no requirement for Dyess personnel to remove the stickers from their vehicles at this time.