Know the rules for escorting visitors Published Aug. 7, 2008 By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AB, Japan -- Escorting off-base guests onto a military installation is a privilege and a responsibility, but members from the 18th Security Forces Squadron have noticed a disturbing trend of Kadena personnel abusing this privilege. "Since January, there has been a rash of escort violations on Kadena," said Tech. Sgt. Dana Council, 18th SFS police services NCO-in-charge. "People will sign-in a guest and somehow get the idea that once a person is signed in, the escort can just walk away from the guest." Sergeant Council said it is the escort's responsibility to always remain within arm's reach of their guest. "If an escort leaves their guest on base, there's no telling what they will do," said Sergeant Council. "These days with the heightened level of security, we can't allow these things to happen." If a guest is found on base without their escort, the member will be charged with an escort violation and subject to administrative action from their unit commander. "Corrective action for an escort violation depends on the unit commander," Sergeant Council said. "Actions may range from a letter of counseling, letter of reprimand, non judicial punishment or loss of escort privileges. Whether it's a first offense or a repeated offense, it's up to the unit commander to decide how serious the violation is and what the appropriate action should be." In addition to administrative action for leaving a guest, members may also face charges if their guest commits a crime such as taking unauthorized photos on the flightline or shoplifting while on base, Sergeant Council added. "People need to understand what their responsibilities are when escorting a guest on base," said Sergeant Council. All escorts receive a brief from Security Forces on their responsibilities when they're issued escort passes. "According to Kadena Air Base instruction 31-101, any I.D. card holder age 16 or older may escort visitors on the base," said Staff Sgt. Phuchristopher Nguyen, 18th SFS contractor pass section NCO-in-charge. "Also, all visitors must be physically escorted onto and off the base by their escort." Visitor passes are issued between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Guests must have legal identification including passport, visa, driver's license, government retirement pension card or national health card. "An escort may sign in up to four visitors at one time and up to 24 hours," said Sergeant Council. "Extended passes may also be issued, for example, for those with family members visiting from the States." Guests must keep their AF Form 75 Visitor's Pass with them for the duration of their visit on Kadena. For more information on visitor passes and escort responsibilities, call the 18th SFS visitor control center at 634-3437.