What do you make of Camp Lejuene's recent crackdown on the display of DOD vehicle decals?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 06:54:07 -0400

Officials at one of the country's largest Marine bases are doubling down on efforts to get troops to comply with vehicle decal requirements despite several Defense Department-wide warnings to service members and their families to conceal their military affiliations following recent terror threats.

Marine officials at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, issued an advisory reminding all personnel working or stationed aboard the base to properly display DoD vehicle decals. Going without may result in a ticket, according to Lejeune officials, who say recent heightened security measures have revealed that many on base don't comply with the decal requirement.

The policy, which applies to the whole Marine Corps, contrasts with guidance issued by the Pentagon's Force Protection Agency to all DoD personnel in October in response to threats from the Islamic State group. The agency recommended that all DoD personnel "remove any [military] decals or identifiers from clothing and vehicles."

This decal requirement has become increasingly controversial. Because of the stickers' prominent windshield placement and the information they convey, some believe they jeopardize the safety of troops and their families instead of protecting it.

The Navy got rid of vehicle decals in 2013, citing similar security concerns. The Army and Air Force have also dispensed with them. A decision regarding the Corps' decals policy is pending at Marine Corps Installations Command, but officials say no new rules have been implemented yet.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/06/19/decal-confusion-prompts-policy-crackdown-lejeune/28858437/

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 20 at 2015 7:02 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 07:02:57 -0400

I believe our Marine brethren are behind on this one! While I get it, it is nice to be able to park in those reserved parking places at the PX/BX, it is time to get rid of those stickers and get with the program.

If you must keep the sticker, change the presentation of the sticker onto a card that can be kept in the glove compartment, displaying it only while on post and removing the card prior to departing post....this is not something hard to figure out!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2015 7:16 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 07:16:47 -0400

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 20 at 2015 7:21 AM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 07:21:47 -0400

Being a Marine myself, this is a hard-headed decision that may not change until something happens...that would be a preventable leadership failure. General Dunford should consider making this change official prior to assuming his Joint Staff duties.

The Marine Corps is a very prestigious and proud organization that should do better to protect its Marines from potential homegrown threats...every other service does.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2015 7:29 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 07:29:07 -0400

Haven't had stickers on cars at our base for years.

Seems to me to be a case of one having a little authority and that one making sure you know it.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2015 7:43 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 07:43:39 -0400

It's a requirement. Much as its a requirement to have your vehicle decals for parking and access to civilian business facilities and parking lots. If I'm not mistaken, most apartment complexes, college campuses, and other permanent or regularly visited places require decals or signs on your vehicle for access and parking. I believe the debate is much about nothing. At most it's a lot of hypersensitive naysayers that believe that a terrorist will look onto a vehicle windshield and decide to attack the occupants. Newsflash....terrorist could care less about your decals.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2015 8:03 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 08:03:24 -0400

Playing both sides of the fence here. Being from the Law Enforcement side, it has helped numerous times in indentfying the owner of the vehicle for things like illegal parking, abandonded vehicle, unauthorized driving to even a couple of misappropriated vehicles. It also helps to a degree in keeping many honest with current registration and insurance.

Many times I have seen it where no DOD decal led to no current registration or insurance or a suspended license, etc... The Marine Corps makes it a big deal in certain situations, not to tow a vehicle or similar without using all means necessary to contact the owner.

That is very difficult when you look up "John Smith" who has his home of record state with some address there. John Smith with DOD decal is serving with this unit and works in this shop.

People can use lots of different justifications and some make valid points about the decals. There is no excuse about terrorism awareness when your car has stickers about your status or affiliation with the military.

You cannot use such a excuse when you have your rank on a sticker, a stick figure family sticker to include your animals or your status as a servicemembers spouse. So many of those do not have decals. They can come up with alternatives, but no matter what they come up with, the population will complain on how it affects them.

This is not a recent discovery of no DOD decals, there was no enforcement of rules and regulations. There are many Marine Corps bases that you will never get on without a decal or visitors pass. It just was enforced and the leadership turned the other way.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Jun 20 at 2015 10:29 AM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 10:29:28 -0400

I was recently at Lejeune a couple weeks ago on a VIP invitation. Although I did have to get a window card for the rental car, the amount and timing of personal information submitted bothered me a bit. I have also been onboard naval ships in the past and the lead time and amount of information required to do that background check was considerably more than at Lejeune. Perhaps technology has streamlined this but knowing the military's propensity for screwing things up I doubt it. Perhaps an innocuous 'stealth' sticker that can be laser scanned, but otherwise appears to be nothing of any consequence?

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 20 at 2015 12:28 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 12:28:02 -0400

The Corps is behind on this one. We should emphasize tactics over traditions.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 20 at 2015 12:47 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 12:47:43 -0400

Conflict of "orders." Escalate.

Although I disagree that the sticker is an actual indicator, and force protection concern, as there are just too many cars, and if you are in a locale that has a heavy military population... it's just easier to target at random...

That said, the sticker isn't that useful either, we generally require ID checks anyways to get one bases in addition to the sticker, therefore... let's get rid of the unnecessary step.

When there is a conflict of orders, you escalate it up the chain. It's really that simple. Now, the DoD "Recommended" not "Required" which means that until Marine Corps Policy changes, you leave them on, whether it is a stupid policy or not.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2015 1:12 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 13:12:49 -0400

This is the exact opposite of what the policy is up here at TACOM. All Military and DoD Civilians had to remove the decals because of guidance of the G-2. The CG agreed and so it was done.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 20 at 2015 1:35 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 13:35:16 -0400

I got my quality education from the oldest of schools. Those stickers aren't getting you on any installation without your military ID, so the only thing behind the insistance of this compliance MUST be that the base commanders spouse must have missed out on 'their' privlidged parking spot and had to walk the extra 50 feet. Let this horse die with dignity. Semper Fi, Marines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FClGhto1vIg

Sesame Street - One of these things - Circles

One of many "One of these things segments".This one abour circles.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2015 4:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 16:15:48 -0400

The Coast Guard also dispensed with them. Even required everyone to remove them. I don't get it; if all the other services required removal including the Navy, why is the USMC still a holdout since it under DON?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 20 at 2015 4:36 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 16:36:35 -0400

I find it amusing that they are cracking down on DoD stickers to "conceal" affiliation but are not doing anything about folks sporting service stickers, badges, Vet status stickers etc, on their back windshield.....

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 20 at 2015 8:44 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 20:44:17 -0400

DoD Decals assist the Base security personnel in making sure that vehicles on closed bases at least were registered by someone that is supposed to be there.
I understand that DoD wants to lower the visibility of military affiliation due to terrorist threats, HOWEVER, before blaming the DoD Registration Sticker, should we not remove the "201 File" off the back windows of our vehicles? Like on my Jeep, I have 82d AIRBORNE Division on the back glass, a set of Master Jump Wings, 82d Airborne Licence Plate frame and a "US Army Retired" North Carolina Licence plate.

Yep, you can remove the little base decal, but there are more Target Indicators on us and our vehicles than just the DoD Sticker.

Maybe and I am just guessing here, MAYBE, we should all be allowed to grow a beard and have long hair like we were a Sikh! With long hair and a beard, we would NOT look so much like a Soldier as we do with High and Tights and a sharply trimmed mustache. JUST SAYING.....

Response by PO1 John Meyer, CPC made Jun 20 at 2015 11:05 PM

PO1 John Meyer, CPC — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 23:05:02 -0400

That's just silly. I've never liked those stupid things. Isn't having a valid ID enough?

I've noticed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (where I work part time as a contractor now a days), the gate guard has a hand held device which is linked to DEERS so the gate guard can scan your ID card to verify that it's still good and that you have base access.

So what's the problem here????

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 21 at 2015 2:44 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 02:44:48 -0400

Just get rid of the decals and save the money. I was glad to get rid my decals when I left Fort Hood, TX.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 21 at 2015 2:53 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 02:53:12 -0400

The Marines fear change?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 21 at 2015 10:42 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 10:42:05 -0400

It's the person, not the vehicle, that is permitted access to the installation. Once everybody started checking IDs at the gates everywhere, the decals became useless. All they serve to do is put a target on the vehicle. Marines need to get on board with the rest of the Services.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 11:54 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 11:54:33 -0400

Just another observation. I still see cars with the stickers even though they are no longer issued. I even recently saw one in a used car lot.

Back in the day one had to remove the sticker from a car if it was sold.

Obviously didn't always happen.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 12:56 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 12:56:44 -0400

This to me is hilarious. The Air Force did away with base decals years ago and there has been no anarchy resulting in Airman Basic's parking in General officer parking spots. Seriously, get it together and lose the decals.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 1:04 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 13:04:58 -0400

They need to make everyone scrape them off......they provide unnecessary intel to potential "bad guys".....so the gate slows down a little bit....who cares leave for work a little sooner.

Response by MSgt Tim Parkhurst made Jun 22 at 2015 11:38 PM

MSgt Tim Parkhurst — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:38:31 -0400

"Because that's the way it's always been done!" I'm sure that's the thought process of the base commander and the civilian (retired Marine) GS employee who serves as the base security officer. Let's not worry about real-world threats against our Marines. Let's just make sure everyone's stickers look nice so the SgtMaj's can life out junior Marines who park in the wrong spot, or so the officer's wives can get a salute coming through the gate. Typical.

Response by SSG Thomas Brousseau made Jun 23 at 2015 12:24 AM

SSG Thomas Brousseau — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 00:24:40 -0400

Because of fact that the enemy is encouraging lone wolf attacks on US Military Personnel my opinion would to be get rid of the decals and to increase the training in conducting a proper security screen. Training is the key to security not stickers.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 23 at 2015 12:49 AM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 00:49:09 -0400

Most places (The Army) did away with the DOD decals. There is no force protection or security value. They actually cause force protection issues. And last, they cost a lot of money.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 4:07 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 16:07:16 -0400

Growing up in the 80s, it was an expeditious means to let the guards know the ID of who was coming on base/post. They used to just waive people on with the exception of the monthly 100% ID card check and the one time we had our car searched randomly.

Now that we always have 100% ID card checks, the decals have little purpose anymore.

Response by GySgt Jim Bishop made Jul 6 at 2015 11:04 AM

GySgt Jim Bishop — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:04:00 -0400

I can see the concern from a security stand point as to not having them in plain view, but there are visor attachments that allow for a non visible aspect while off base but can display them while on. On a further note, I wear my retired hats and shirts with pride! If they really want a piece of me let's see what they chew on, I currently live in a state that allows open carry.

Response by MGySgt Terry Beck made Nov 11 at 2015 10:17 PM

MGySgt Terry Beck — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:17:06 -0500

The DOD Decal is no longer required at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Ca. All you need is your DOD ID Card.

Response by Stephen Terry made Aug 21 at 2017 6:00 AM

Stephen Terry — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 06:00:59 -0400

Has the DOD thought about visor signs? They can be attached and then flipped up out of sight. They can also be tied to an LPR. That way costs are reduced; cars are not readily ID'd; and you can then spend funds for scanning ID cards with Facial Recognition for base entry. Sounds like the DOD needs a sign guy/project manager to design; implement; and control-modify as conditions change.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Aug 21 at 2017 2:44 PM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 14:44:02 -0400

I suppose that I can answer the question about “What do you make of Camp Lejeune’s recent crackdown on the display of DOD vehicle decals?” better than most because some years ago I helped do a study on counterterrorism security and one of my recommendations was to do away with all the Department of Defense stickers. The reason is that in my professional opinion all they actually accomplished was to put targets on service members, dependents and civilian employees. I live in Northern Virginia and there are so many civilian government employees and civilian contractors around here that if you randomly toss a brick you will hit one of them and these people wear their security badges all the time. That does not count the politicians they breed just like rats!