How did you get IN?!!

[MoxisPilot]

For those of you not familiar with the way the Exchanges on military bases work...you must have a military ID or a passport and your sponsor's orders to get in. (There may be other ways, but the gist is that you must prove that you are who you say you are to shop at the wonderful world of tax-free.)

That said, my husband and I were waiting in line at Customer Service - in the back of the Exchange - to buy our monthly ration of gas coupons.

Three guys are already at the counter; they're together, they're military, and they're trying to flirt one of the cashiers into selling them gas coupons.

Unfortunately, not one of the men is in the computer system. Not one of these men seems to have any ID.

Did I mention we were in the BACK of a store that REQUIRED you to show ID simply to get in?!

So they go back and forth, flirting and pleading, and the girl is adamantly refusing. Obviously, she can get fired for selling them anything like gas coupons if they don't show proof that they're military or military contractors; she calls over her manager, who looked like the toughest old bird I've ever seen.

The woman marched up, and when they tried to pull the same crap on her, flat-out told them she was calling the base's security (not quite MPs?) if they didn't leave.

They didn't run off, but it was quite close.

I felt like I was back in the slums...

Anyway, anyone know how they could have gotten in?

[friendofjimmyk]

Three guys are already at the counter; they're together, they're military, and they're trying to flirt one of the cashiers into selling them gas coupons.

So they go back and forth, flirting and pleading

Anyway, anyone know how they could have gotten in?

Probably the same way they were trying to get gas coupons - flirting and pleading.

[Lachrymose]

Probably the same way they were trying to get gas coupons - flirting and pleading.

On a military base? That's pretty scary if true.

[crazylegs]

On a military base? That's pretty scary if true.

The average reading age of the British Squaddie upon joining is 7 years old. So I'll politely disagree with you there.

[Lachrymose]

Just to clarify, I meant it's scary if flirting actually got them in, not just the fact that they were flirting.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Considering base security these days, how in the name of Zeus's bollocks did they get on base without id?

That's the real question

M

[Canarr]

Well, maybe they DID have the ID to get on base, but not to purchase the coupons. Say, they've already gotten their monthly ration, and are trying to bum more than that?

[Bramblerose]

having done business around an air base, an army post, and a Nat'l Guard training center (it's still a fort, not sure why)....

POst 9/11 they're supposed to have really good ID to even get past the gate. That said, however, I know I can ooch into the the "base" closest to me, but I am also more familiar with teh terrain around there than around either of teh other military installations.

I do know that if you do enough civ volunteer work on base (the le leche league person got one) you can get a pass. I also know that pass does not get you into the PX/BX or the Commissary.

In all the times I have done my shopping on base, if I was carded coming into teh shop, it's been *years*, like pre-98. As a Nat'l Guard wife, I haven't been stamped for our only 2 days a month only card in years, ever. Husband swears up and down he's been tagged, but it's been forever. I don't think he's been issued the card in a few years (but then the nearest Commissary is 3 hours away).

Another horrible truth- if one person in the vehicle has a military ID, the rest can get by with just driver's licenses and no search.

[Mr Yuck]

Considering base security these days, how in the name of Zeus's bollocks did they get on base without id?

That's the real question

M

Some bases are open...like Fort Riley in Kansas where the average civilian can drive around (there's a lot of historic stuff there dating back to Custer, etc...), and the only places you need an ID are the PX, Mess halls, etc.....

Then there are closed bases like Fort Carson... in Colorado which is in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain (home of NORAD), where you need an ID to get in any gate.

Just throwing that out there......I was assigned to both bases in my long ago past.

[edible_hat]

I knew a guy who wandered onto the local airforce base and actually had people saluting him. His disguise: a suit and an airforce surplus greatcoat. No insignia or anything, just from the way he held himself people figured he must be somebody important. So in that round of army vs air force wargames, the army won... he got in, got the "secret" file, and got out without being challenged.

[dithers66]

The threat of an MP dealing with your sorry ass is way scarier than any threat of calling the cops. Way to go lady bird!

[Evil Queen]

I have a theory.

They used their +2 cloak of invisibility but it failed on them halfway through the mission from overuse.

[jerkface11]

They should have pulled out their psychic paper.

[Andrew B.]

They should have pulled out their psychic paper.

No, if they had psychic paper, it would have continued working and probably shown them to be officers.

[Bramblerose]

Some bases are open...like Fort Riley in Kansas where the average civilian can drive around (there's a lot of historic stuff there dating back to Custer, etc...), and the only places you need an ID are the PX, Mess halls, etc.....

Really? I got the impression all bases went defcon +1 as of 9-11 and the idea of an Open Base flew out the window. I mean really, *why* close Chaffee? Knowing teh degree of firing accuracy of nearby NG isn't that big a secret. LOst-in-the-Woods I can understand- Chem Core lives there, but Chaffee? SOme spy is going to take piccies of the building where Elvis got shaved is going compromise security???