Joint Base Balad improves security, base-access time

Photo By Master Sgt. John Gordinier | Security forces Airmen man the South entry control point here May 6. The ECP is undergoing construction to improve security and base-access time. New towers, extended roads aligned with T-wall cement barriers and a new badging office with extended search areas are a few of the projects taking place.  

BALAD, IRAQ

05.13.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. John Gordinier 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — All three entry control points here are in the process of construction to improve security and access time to enter the base, and are scheduled for completion by the end of the summer.

"Security forces, on-base agencies, contractors and Iraqis will benefit from the construction completion, said Capt. Joseph Yakubik, 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron East ECP officer-in-charge. "There will be an all-around increase in terms of better equipment, speed and much less wait-time for [base entry]."

For example, the ECPs are receiving new badging offices, which process identification badges for local-nationals who enter JBB.

"[The east ECP badging office] is being built to cut down on the wait-time to process mass groups of personnel onto the base. It will replace an older building that consists of a single lane of processing," Captain Yakubik said. "The new construction has four processing lanes, so it will speed up the process of entering the base by 400 percent.

"Due to the increase in local-national pedestrian traffic and the increase in local-national hires who are replacing third-country national workers, we will see an increase of approximately 20 percent more Iraqis processing onto JBB over the next year. The benefit of hiring local nationals is that it contributes to the overall counter insurgency efforts by helping facilitate the Iraqi First program at JBB, " added the Belington, W.V., native deployed here from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

The captain said they are replacing some of the current screening systems with more updated technologies that will allow better detection capabilities. It will also improve the mission allowing security forces Airmen to handle huge volumes of foot traffic without the 'bottleneck' in the screening and badging process.

While there isn't a lot of foot traffic at the South ECP, there is a lot of vehicle traffic, said 1st Lt. Jack McGonegal, 532nd ESFS South ECP officer-in-charge.

"The new badging office here will get a fresh look and new technology to enhance our security measures," continued the Fort Mohave, Ariz., native deployed here from McConnell AFB, Kan. "Also, next to the badging office is a state-of-the-art vehicle inspection system that views vehicles entering JBB. It searches the vehicles for terrorist devices in a timely and efficient manner."

For added security, the ECPs are constructing multiple layers of towers and checkpoints.

"The North ECP is undergoing a total reconstruction," said Capt. Mark King, 532nd ESFS North ECP officer-in-charge. "We are going to have new and larger search areas, new towers and new detection-and search capabilities.

"The reason for the reconstruction is to increase security and push all of the search areas outside the base boundary," added the Cuero, Texas, native deployed here from Lackland AFB, Texas. "Additionally, the new area will give us increased detection capabilities."

With more technology in place, the projects will benefit the entire base populace by giving the installation increased security at the wire of the base, Captain King said. They will also benefit incoming convoys by expediting their entry.

"Security will always take precedence over speed or convenience," Captain Yakubik said. "Security forces Airmen are simply attempting to improve security capabilities and set up the most impenetrable defense possible.

Totaling approximately $15 million, the projects will incorporate the latest technologies and best equipment available.

"The mix of people performing this mission is phenomenal," Captain Yakubik continued. "I think our folks take the risk and numerous hours a day in body armor as routine. The fact is, they are a critical line of defense in support of the base's coalition force mission to secure JBB residents."

• Date Taken: 05.13.2009
• Date Posted: 05.13.2009 03:11
• Story ID: 33539
• Location: BALAD, IQ