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60,000 must register to continue accessing Kadena

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Loftin
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  More than 60,000 people island-wide are required to register at Kadena for the Defense Biometric Identification System in order to continue accessing Kadena Air Base.

Registration for DBIDS begins Monday and will run through March 1 for active-duty military, family members, Master Labor Contractors, Indirect Hire Employees, local national contractors and retirees.

"DBIDS provides capabilities that will enhance the safety and security of everyone on Kadena" said Master Sgt. Raymond Marsh, 18th Security Forces Squadron superintendent of plans and programs.

The Department of Defense program is being instituted Air Force wide to enhance force protection through an expanded information-sharing network and access credential verification. Kadena, because of its size, is the last Air Force base in Japan to begin using the system.

"DBIDS has been a huge success in Korea," said Sergeant Marsh. "They have had it for many years. They have gone through all the trials to get us to where we are today."

Active duty members will have to bring in all of their ID card holder dependents, with their ID cards, to be fingerprinted and register.

"We scan the active-duty member's common access card and then link the dependents to the active-duty member," said Sergeant Marsh. "If the sponsor is TDY, their spouse still needs to come in and register along with the children."

All MLC, Indirect Hire Employees and local national contractors with USFJ 98EJ identification on island who are authorized access to Kadena AB will have to bring their identification card to the visitor center at Gate 1. They will be issued a new DBIDS compatible 98EJ identification card.

"It's a very large enrollment process and we have to capture everyone who requires access to Kadena AB," said Sergeant Marsh. "Right now we're focusing on Kadena proper. There is a plan in the works now to get the Marine Corps and other units on a schedule. Eventually every large unit will have a set block of time to register."

While individuals will be notified of a set date and time for their unit to get registered, they can still go to Pass and ID at the Gate 1 Visitors' Center from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for registration before the assigned time.

"We won't turn anyone away," said Sergeant Marsh.

The theater and the Schilling Community Center will also be used for registration. Registration will be available at the following times:

Keystone Theater: Aug. 2-13 from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Aug. 26, 27, 30 and 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Schilling Community Center: Aug. 16, 18, 20, 23 and 25 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

From September to March people can register for DBIDS at the Keystone Theater between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those newly assigned to Kadena will register for DBIDS during Newcomers Orientation.

For more information on the DBIDS implementation, call 634-3437 or e-mail 18SFS.pass.registration@kadena.af.mil.