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Commander's Direct Line: Rambo gate

  • Published
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The following is a question to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Commander submitted by a member of Team Fairchild or the local community:

Question:
With all the construction going on between the main base and the U.S. Air Force Survival School, would it be possible to allow privately owned vehicles through the Rambo Gate?

This would do several things such as keep POVs out of construction areas, reduce possible damage to POVs who have to drive over the pot holed dirt road, and reduce time and save gas for those who drive from off base to get to work at the Survival School.

Thanks for your consideration.

Answer:
On Oct. 9, 2007, Fairchild's Rambo Gate closed to privately owned vehicle traffic to enable stronger force protection capability to search and to contain large vehicles making commercial deliveries to the installation. Rambo Gate operations require the force protection barriers to be in the engaged (upright) position to prevent large vehicles from circumventing base access procedures.

Previous gate operations permitted non-delivery vehicles to use Rambo Gate for base access as a matter of convenience. However, assessments from higher headquarters force protection teams advised our installation commander that this practice posed a danger to Fairchild. After several months of analysis, Fairchild elected to use Rambo Gate solely for the purpose of its design; to contain commercial vehicles that require greater search scrutiny prior to entering the installation.

We are focused on the condition of the existing road. Thankfully, conditions have improved with the warmer weather. The problem will be completely resolved in the next few weeks when the old section of road will be paved. This will occur after the asphalt plants open in mid-April.

Safety through the temporary construction area has also been a major consideration. The area is posted as a Construction Zone with a 20 mph speed limit to help protect the workers. The 92nd Security Forces Squadron has also increased patrols in the area to enforce the speed limit.

We thank you for your question, and do remain committed to both safety and force protection.