DBIDS upgrade provides faster, secure gate flow

As visitors to Dover AFB go through the base gates, they may soon notice traffic is flowing faster, but what they may not notice is security is also stronger.

Thanks to a Defense Biometrics Identification System 5.0 upgrade, which is due to be implemented the first week of May, ID card scanning speed has been reduced to a single second or less and the DBIDS equipment footprint is 40 percent smaller.

DBIDS is a card-scanning tool that uses barcodes and biometrics to identify cardholders. The system verifies authorizations and assigns access privileges based on identity, affiliation and the current threat level.

“That equates to rapid identity proofing and vetting of personnel requesting access onto our installations and allows Security Forces to stop potential threats at the base perimeter,” said Derrick Austin, Air Force Security Forces Center Chief of Police Services and Installation Access Control.

Security Forces have been using the devices since 2009, but they were not always as quick to provide scanned data results.

One of AFSFC’s missions is to provide functional implementation guidance for Police Services, which includes DBIDs.  Program goals are to improve the system’s availability, usability and affordability for installation commanders and Security Forces.

Dover AFB’s installation DBIDS program manager Robert Helms, 436^th Security Forces Squadron pass and registration section supervisor, is looking forward to May for the new 5.0 system to be implemented.

“Traffic flow is going to get a lot better,” he said. “The more dependable system is going to be a lot more reliable.”

Helms stated that he expects to receive the new hardware and software soon. The new equipment includes handheld scanners and all-in-one computers.

“The new system is tied in to the NCIC (National Crime Information Center),” Helms said. “So if some gets in trouble, we know about it; it is linked to their DOD ID number.”

The new DBIDS Scanner responds faster and with more accuracy than a human checking an ID card. This means with the heavy volume of traffic entering a base during peak traffic hours, entry controllers can now scan credentials instead of relying on visual ID card inspections, and it lessens the bottleneck or choke point at base entry control points.

On an average month, Dover AFB defenders process and scan more than 270,000 ID scans through the base’s three gates.

He added it allows Security Forces Defenders to identify personnel with wants and warrants, which makes the perimeter and base safer.

Austin said DBIDS is installed at every Air Force installation stateside and overseas, to include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard bases.

“If a person’s status changes for any reason, like being barred, once the status is updated in DBIDS by the barring authority, all installation entry controllers will see the person was barred,” Austin said. “In six years, DBIDS annual scan statistics increased from 1,000,000 scans per year to 86,000,000 scans in 2016.

He said Scott Ulrich, Melia Goodman and Travis Cambern from the Air Force DBIDS Development Team had a vision of transitioning Security Forces from visual ID card inspections to electronic interrogation of all credentials.

“They imagined a system that’s easy to employ, interconnected globally and capable of continuous screening of DBIDS records,” Austin said.

The system is maintained by the Defense Manpower Data Center, owners of Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, and the Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System, or RAPIDS.

When a DoD credential is initially scanned at an installation entry control point, the cardholder is automatically registered in DBIDS once the ID Card is validated in DEERS. Also, information is screened by the FBI National Criminal Information Center.  DBIDS is interconnected with DEERS and NCIC for continuous vetting.

In 2016, entry controllers detected 4,000 people with warrants, flagged 233 armed and dangerous, 71,000 personnel with terminated ID Cards, 3,500 barred, 73,000 expired ID cards and 22,580 ID cards reported lost or stolen.  Austin said that in 2009, it was impossible to detect these categories of unauthorized personnel. “Now, Security Forces are able to stop potential threats, protecting our people and warfighting assets.”

Looking to the future, Austin said experts are already working on the next generation of DBIDS, to include a web-based virtual visitor center to allow DoD card holders to request visitor passes online. Also, DBIDS scanners will be able to read REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses, making visitor passes obsolete.

“If you see your entry controllers using the DBIDS scanners during peak traffic hours, assist them by having your credentials ready to be scanned and understand if minor delays occur, there’s a good chance an unauthorized person has been detected,” Austin said “It’s for everyone’s safety.”