CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- All active-duty military, family members, Master Labor Contractors, Indirect Hire Employees, local national contractors and retirees must register for the Defense Biometric Identification System at Kadena in order to continue accessing Kadena Air Base.
Registration for DBIDS began Aug. 2 and will run through March 1. All Department of Defense identification card holders must be fingerprinted and registered in person. Any personnel on Okinawa for 90 days or more, requiring access to Kadena, must register into DBIDS, said Master Sgt. Raymond Marsh, 18th Security Forces Squadron superintendent of plans and programs.
According to Marsh, the DoD program is being instituted Air Force wide to enhance force protection.
"DBIDS provides capabilities that will enhance the safety and security of everyone on Kadena," said Marsh.
Active duty members will have to bring all of their DoD identification 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 Marsh. "If the sponsor is TDY or deployed that is not a problem. The dependent wife or husband (and children 10 and above) will come into one of our locations to register and become a sponsor in the system until the member returns. When the member returns he/she must register and link their dependents."
If the sponsor is not TDY or deployed, then the sponsor must already be registered in the system for the family members to register without the sponsor present, explained Marsh.
"All MLC, Indirect Hire Employees and local national contractors with U.S. Forces Japan 98EJ identification on island who are authorized access to Kadena will have to bring their ID card to the visitor center at Gate 1. They will be issued a new DBIDS compatible 98EJ identification card," according to a release on the process.
Once registered, a simple barcode scan by a military guard will allow authorized entry to the installation. DBIDS enhances the military law enforcement mission by providing real time information on all personnel scanned. The scan shows the number of times a person has entered the installation, the times allowed and locations authorized. Guards are also notified of personnel not allowed entry and individuals with restrictions. DBIDS has the ability to digitally recognize biometric details including a photograph, height, weight, and fingerprints to name a few. It also has the capability to detect and log, lost or stolen ID cards, outdated personnel information and changes to base access, explains Air Force Master Sgt. Gary Gill, 341st Security Force Squadron.
Individuals can go to Pass and ID at the Kadena Gate 1 Visitors' Center from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for registration.
The Keystone Theater and the Schilling Community Center on Kadena will also be used for registration at the following times:
Keystone Theater: Now - Aug. 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.
For more information on the DBIDS implementation, call 634-3437 or e-mail 18SFS.pass.registration@kadena.af.mil.