Army tightens base security

The Army is tightening up security at its bases. In May, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Erik Shinseki sent a message to all major commands asking them to step up security measures at Army bases. Specifically, Shinseki told commanders to register all personal vehicles driven onto Army bases by military and civilian personnel and to take any other necessary measures to control base access. "We're not in any way closing our bases to the civilian population. The goal is just to make sure we know who is on post and that they have a valid reason for being there," said Maj. Tom Collins, an Army spokesman. Collins said it would be up to each base to decide how to register the automobiles. The security measures are likely to require visitors at any Army base to stop at a security office and get a pass before entering the base. Collins said about half of all Army bases already have such precautions in place. For years the Navy and the Air Force have had stricter rules than the Army about who can enter their bases.