March 29, 2013 - Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group

4 MOUNTAINEER — March 29, 2013
Electronic access control receives upgrade
Mountaineer staff
Fort Carson officials will upgrade
the electronic access control capability
to the RAPIDGate RCx/JGS systems,
Monday.
The system leverages technology
for security guards and military police
at the gates by using hand-held scanners
to electronically authenticate a range of
identification credentials for personnel
accessing the installation.
The RCx component provides the
Directorate of Emergency Services with
the capability to vet driver’s licenses
issued by all 50 states and all U.S.
Homecoming
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even through the harsh environment, there were
a number of re-enlistments and promotions.
The unit also supported the Afghan
National Army on two fronts by training
medics on food sanitation and protection, as
well as on rabies control and risk reduction,
which included vaccinating sentry dogs. The
unit directly supported the Farah Provincial
Reconstruction Team and Farah Department
of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock by
providing veterinary training and advanced
veterinary classes.
During their deployment, 438th Med.
Det. Soldiers tested food from 50 dining
facilities in Afghanistan, using the first
surveillance lab ever established in theater,
which helped identify food safety issues
before they affected personnel. They also
conducted food inspections for more than 130
forward operating bases and combat outposts
throughout Regional Command South,
Southwest and West, saving the government
more than $15 million.
As the Soldiers filed into the SEC, cheers
Furlough
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months of fiscal 2013. IMCOM realizes and regrets
this hardship on employees.
For those employees who are enrolled in
the Thrift Savings Plan through payroll deductions,
TSP offers some relief. Go to its website at
https://www.tsp.gov/lifeevents/entering/enteringGov
Service.shtml and explore the nonpay status options.
While on furlough, there will be strict adherence
to employee standards — for example, overtime and
compensatory time are curtailed, and no employee
will be allowed to volunteer
services to their
organization during the
furlough. Telework and
the use of government
issued electronics, such
territories against open source law
enforcement databases such as the
FBI Ten Most Wanted; FBI Most
Wanted Terrorist; FBI Crimes Against
Children; U.S. Marshal’s Most
Wanted; International Criminal Police
Organization Wanted Fugitives;
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives Most Wanted; and
U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Most Wanted lists.
The JGS component will validate
Department of Defense-issued ID
cards such as comman access card,
dependent ID and retired ID against
the Defense Enrollment Eligibility
and screams of joy erupted from their
Families and loved ones. Soldiers sang the
Army Song, before being released to reunite
with their Families.
Friends and Family rushed to reunite with
their Soldiers with smiles, tears and open
arms once the ceremony concluded.
“I am so relieved,” said Elizabeth Sager,
spouse of Staff Sgt. Thomas Sager, animal
care specialist, 438th Med. Det. “The hardest
part of him being gone was keeping him in
the forefront with the kids. Letting them
know that he was thinking about them, that he
missed them, that he was doing his job and
what had to be done; but he still thought of
them, still loved them and was missing them.
“I’m just glad they’re home safe and this
is over,” Elizabeth Sager said. “We can get
back to living our lives. I’m glad the worrying
is over.”
After the long wait, Families left the SEC
to spend long overdue quality time together.
“I feel very relaxed now that I am home
with my Family,” said Sgt. Nathan Kuhnle,
animal care specialist, 438th Med. Det. “I
can’t wait to spend as much time as I can
with them.”
Reporting System database to verify
if the ID presented is still a current
and valid ID. Additionally, the system
allows DES to upload the installation
roster and validate entry requests
against this list.
The new upgrades will seamlessly
integrate with the existing RAPIDGate
program, which has been in use at the
gates since March 2007 and is used by
contractors and vendors on a daily basis.
The handheld scanners are FIPS
201 compliant and no personally
identifiable information is stored.
There is no registration requirement
for DOD IDs, unlike the previous
as mobile phones, laptops or tablet computers, will
not be permitted on furlough days.
During the furlough period, the accumulation of
annual and sick leave will be slowed. Leave is earned
each pay period depending upon the pay status of the
employee and the number of hours worked. With
fewer hours comes a proportional decrease in
the accrual of leave hours. Employees can obtain the
exact status on their leave and earnings statements.
Some scheduled annual leave during the furlough
may be cancelled by the commander to fulfill
manpower shortages. Management will be looking
closely at leave schedules to balance the demands of
Automated Installation Entry system.
This system will also be installed at the
DES Vehicle Registration Office located
at building 6012 outside Gate 1, allowing
visitors to be screened and issued a
pass prior to coming to the gates if the
security situation changes, requiring
additional security measures.
Incorporating these technologies
will enhance the installation’s security
posture by helping to identify fraudulent
and forged ID cards, personnel who
have been barred from installation
entry and wanted felons. Contact the
DES Security and Access Control
Division at 526-5543 for more infor-
Spc. Bozena Weber, animal care specialist, 438th Medical Detachment
(Veterinary Service), 10th Combat Support Hospital, reunites with her
son, Derek, and daughter, Danica, at the Fort Carson Special Events
Center during the 438th Med. Det. redeployment ceremony March 21.
The detachment deployed to Afghanistan in June 2012 in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom.
For more information on how sequestration and furloughs affect the IMCOM
workforce, go to http://www.imcom.army.mil/Organization/G1Personnel.aspx.
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the mission. Employees are reminded to work closely
with supervisors on leave schedules, especially
around these upcoming federal holidays: May 27
(Memorial Day), July 4 (Independence Day) and
Sept. 2 (Labor Day).
Before seeking any part-time employment in
the civilian sector, employees should discuss with
their supervisor to assure they have met all ethics
requirements.
While health benefits, flexible spending accounts,
federal group life insurance, vision and dental plans, and
federal long term care plans are not impacted during this
furlough period, the employee will still be responsible
for the full premiums due
for these benefits.
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No decision has
been made regarding the
termination of temporary
and term employees.
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