KODIAK — The Coast Guard base in Kodiak is beefing up its security with a new system that will affect the military installation’s civilian visitors.
All vendors, contractors and anyone seeking a day pass at the base will need to register through the new security system starting Sept. 1. Chief Warrant Officer Dale Stauffer said the new RAPIDGate security system from Sure ID Inc. is being adopted by all Coast Guard bases and helps standardize access for the Coast Guard and military branches, The Kodiak Daily Mirror reported.
Pamela Lo, Sure ID’s marketing manager, said a company doing business on the base would need to go online to get credentialed through the system prior to entry.
As part of the registration, company employees will need to input their personal information into a kiosk and agree to the terms and conditions. The registrant’s photo and fingerprints will also be taken.
There is a 10 to 12-day waiting period before a registrant receives an email instruction on how to schedule an appointment with Coast Guard police to obtain credentials.
“Credential holders will need to renew their credentials annually,” Lo said.
The new system also increases security for those seeking a day pass, who will be required to have their state IDs scanned before getting access.
Los said the RAPIDGate system is already used at all Navy and Marine installations, 14 Coast Guard bases and several Army installations across the U.S.
