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SECURITY ALERT: What I witnessed today at an Army Reserve Center was deplorable.
allenwest.com ^ | April 18, 2015 | Allen West

Posted on 04/18/2015 2:32:54 PM PDT by don-o

snip

And so it was when I drove onto the Army Reserve Center at Grand Prairie for a visit yesterday, I was met by a lone unarmed female contract security person who did not even take my ID and match it to my face. She came out of the shack and waved me right onto this military installation.

Yes, the Army Reserve Center at Grand Prairie is a military installation. Not only is the Army based there but also a U.S. Marine Reserve artillery unit — and the majority of their equipment is located on this installation. But, as I saw during my visit , their unit arms room and intelligence sensitive items are there as well.

So let me ask the simple question: why was the force protection status for this installation, especially during a drill weekend not higher? Why weren’t there armed U.S. military guards at the entry point to this installation? I was briefed that the Grand Prairie Police Department has jurisdiction over this installation — so where was the armed patrol unit to monitor the entry point to this installation on drill weekend?

Do you all know how serious this was? This is a pure example of a “soft target” and a “gun free zone” where our men and women in uniform were stationed. Would we allow this to happen at the Pentagon? Shall we be reminded of what happened at Ft. Hood and the Navy Yard in Washington DC?

Now, what I don’t want to happen is that some higher-up — who should be as concerned as I am — takes retribution against the leadership who was there today — who knew of my coming– and I briefed them that I was concerned about the security of the Reserve Center — they nodded in agreement.

(Excerpt) Read more at allenbwest.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: allenwest; army; military; security
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And the Texas Army National Guard Commanding General knew of my visit — the real question is what are we going to do to correct this failure in force protection and security for our soldiers? I am a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and a former Member of Congress who served on the House Armed Services Committee. If I saw this, and did not raise the issue it would be deplorable.
1 posted on 04/18/2015 2:32:54 PM PDT by don-o
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To: don-o

I don’t think thr Army is based there, but he is spot-on


2 posted on 04/18/2015 2:36:37 PM PDT by GeronL (Clearly Cruz 2016)
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To: don-o

Back in the 60s and probably later, Eglin was an open base.

Anyone who wanted to enter was waved right in. I guess if you looked really suspicious they might have stopped you.

On the other hand there were places on Eglin which were guarded by a guy with a rifle and they would not let you in unless you had darn good reason.


3 posted on 04/18/2015 2:37:37 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: don-o
I drove onto the Army Reserve Center at Grand Prairie for a visit yesterday, I was met by a lone unarmed female contract security person who did not even take my ID and match it to my face. She came out of the shack and waved me right onto this military installation.

There is a scene from the 1949 movie Twelve O'clock High when the new camp commander, Gen. Savage, enters his new command's main gate for the first time as commander, and experiences the same thing. To see his reaction, go here and fast forward to 36:00.

4 posted on 04/18/2015 2:39:05 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: don-o

Puritan Work Ethic:
“...It makes every job consequential by regarding it as the arena for glorifying and obeying God and for expressing love (through service) to a neighbor.”

You can’t have the Work Ethic if you kick out all the Christians.


5 posted on 04/18/2015 2:40:44 PM PDT by donna (Pray for Revival)
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To: yarddog

The Presidio of Monterey was an open post even in the 90s when I was there. It didn’t close until 9/11.


6 posted on 04/18/2015 2:45:52 PM PDT by Azeem (There are four boxes to be used in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury and ammo.)
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To: don-o

I’ve been trying to attend courts-martial at two military bases recently...one in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut.After months of phone calls I succeeded in getting the support of an Air Force JAG officer to gain admission to the base in order to attend trials there.But the Navy refuses,in spite of my having cited the Rules For Courts-Martial manual stating that the civilian public has a right to attend *most* courts-martial,to allow me to enter Groton in order to attend trials *there*.I absolutely agreed to a background check,the production of several forms of ID,full searches,etc...but still no dice.


7 posted on 04/18/2015 3:04:18 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Obama;A Low Grade Intellect With Even Lower Morals)
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To: don-o
Fortunately, ISIS is a long way away from Grand Prairie.

We hope.

But don't bet on it.

8 posted on 04/18/2015 3:05:17 PM PDT by Gritty (It's obvious to me 'racism' is 99% fake and hatred of religion is 98% real - Jonah Goldberg)
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To: All
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9 posted on 04/18/2015 3:07:13 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: don-o

Sounds like the security around the White House lately.


10 posted on 04/18/2015 3:08:59 PM PDT by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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To: don-o

They’re busy looking out for Gyrocopters Piloted by Postmen.


11 posted on 04/18/2015 3:11:00 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Hillary, because it's time for a POTUS without a SCROTUS...)
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To: don-o
Reminds me of my tour of duty at the 6th Army HQ, Special Troops, at the Presidio of San Francisco from 11/61 to 9/63. No, it didn't have an unarmed guard at the gate, it had no guard or sentry. Anyone who wanted to enter just drove in.
12 posted on 04/18/2015 3:27:35 PM PDT by luvbach1 (We are finished. It will just take a while before everyone realizes it.)
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To: don-o

Complain to the commanding officer with copies to everybody else in the universe.

Sometimes National Guard bases get a little too casual. They need to be called on this because, for one reason, the Islamists are stalking anybody in uniform and would certainly love to find a soft target like this.


13 posted on 04/18/2015 3:37:07 PM PDT by livius
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To: luvbach1

That was then, but a lot has changed. It’s hard to imagine that we’d end up with a country where a lot of (leftist) people hate their own military, a rag-tag band of foreign Muslims, accompanied by a handful of traitors, is trying to terrorize us and striking at civilians and uniformed personnel both, and we have a president who is foreign born, has no US allegiance, and is allying with the powers that hate us.

Makes 1963 look like bliss.


14 posted on 04/18/2015 3:42:18 PM PDT by livius
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To: don-o

No surprise, I taught at a reserve center in Texas (not Grand Prairie) recently and they did not even have anyone manning the gate. Free access to the facility and adjacent rows of helicopters. No security in evidence anywhere.


15 posted on 04/18/2015 3:50:15 PM PDT by Reno89519 (For every illegal or H1B with a job, there's an American without one. Muslim = Nazi = Evil)
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To: Reno89519

You should have gone over to the helos and tied balloons to them. Just to show how close you could get.

Then post it on facebook.

Of course, you would be finished as a teacher. But it would be worth the laugh.


16 posted on 04/18/2015 3:59:38 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (When you are inclined to to buy storage boxes, but contractor bags instead.)
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To: Azeem

Ditto Fort Sam in San Antonio.


17 posted on 04/18/2015 4:19:49 PM PDT by Kozak (Walker / Cruz 2016 or Cruz/ Walker 2016 Either one is good...)
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To: Kozak

Ft Sam now has a gate and you’re required to show ID. For years traffic went right through the middle of it. Randolph and Lackland are secure as well.


18 posted on 04/18/2015 4:28:58 PM PDT by jagusafr
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To: don-o

Here’s another example, from just over a year ago. A convicted felon somehow got a job as a truck driver, and occasionally made deliveries to military installations in the Hampton Roads area. He had prior convictions for manslaughter and intent to distribute crack cocaine, but still obtained a transportation from the TSA—all perfectly legal, as long as you’ve been out of prison at least five years.

One night in late March last year, the driver, Jeffrey Savage, decided to go postal. Normally, the TSA credential would not be enough to get him onto the base, but the DoD civilian police officer at the gate waved him through. Savage parked his truck near the pier where the USS Mahan was docked, made it through another checkpoint and onto the vessel. He was confronted by the female petty officer of the watch (who was pregnant); Savage overpowered her and took her weapon.

She might have died if not for the actions of Petty Officer Second Class Mark Mayo, a master-at-arms who was on patrol in the area and followed Savage up the gangway of the Mahan. Realizing the petty officer of the watch had been disarmed and was lying on the deck, Mayo put himself between the shooter and the watch-stander. He was hit and mortally wounded, but returned fire, hitting Savage and killing the assailant.

To my knowledge, the DoD civilian cop who waved Savage onto NS Norfolk has never been punished. This week, the Navy announced the Lt in charge of pier-side security has been reassigned, and it’s a fair bet he received some sort of career-ending non-judicial punishment as well. Not saying the junior officer didn’t deserve some sort of sanction, but the civilian cop needs to be fired. Had he done his job, Savage would have never made it onto the installation.

Just another example of lax security at military bases and believe me, ISIS is taking notes.


19 posted on 04/18/2015 4:31:26 PM PDT by ExNewsExSpook
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To: don-o

Makes you just long for a good ole TSA groping. /s


20 posted on 04/18/2015 4:34:22 PM PDT by lightman (O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, giving to Thy Church vict'ry o'er Her enemies.)
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