RE: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,148087,00.html Good idea, but around here theres several Army and Navy base's that still require stickers so the Air force people are caught in a situation when visiting another services base.
I was a military dependent in the late 50s---we had base decals then, & during alerts we showed our ID cards also. Decals were not invented in the 70s.
So the AF doesn't require base decals anymore...does this mean they never plan on visiting a Coast Guard, Navy, Army or Marine Corp base? You still need stickers to get on these bases. What are our fellow Airmen going to do when they are made to park their vehicles and get a parking pass?
Removing the decal makes service members less inconspicuous? What about all the bumper stickers and window decals that are plastered over most soldiers cars showing their patriotism and service affiliation? I do agree though, I will miss the decals if they are completely taken away.
WOW! All I can say is that I've had decals on my cars since 1961 when I returned from Germany. Yes I will keep mine on until they rot off or I can no longer transfer them to a new car or windshield by using clear packing tape and a little care. I learned this from the glass guy who replaced my windshield ten years ago.
But wait a minute. Just before 9/11 everyone had free access to the base with no sticker or ID required except in times of alerts. There were no gate guards. It was called the "open base concept" are they making another mistake just to save money?
They had them in 63 when I was in the AF. So now you can sit in line at the gates waiting for them to check each drivers ID. Was an AF Cop so know the rules at the gates.
I know the reason. They did away with the stickers to try to make our AF members blend in and not stick out. I agree with what you said 14316688 in that most service members have stickers "showing their patriotism and service affiliation", which in my opinion would make us still stick out no matter if the stickers were there. There will still be AF members going to other millitary bases no matter what. It will just take a lot longer at the gates to get a vehicle pass if they will actualy give to them for a short period of time.
Being retired from the Air Force I would like very much to be able to keep a Air Force decal on my windshield. Being they want to do away with Air Force decals they shouls have a decal for retired people identifing there branch of service so that they may be able to go on other bases that are not Air Force and not have to wait in line to get a pass.
I don't see the big deal. The Air Force has been out of step with the other military services since they abolished their warrant officers. I have had base decals since returning from Germany in 1962 and it doesn't bother me to get new decals for new cars. I am proud to display the decal.
The last time I had to renew my base sticker it took a grand total of 5 minutes, including the filling out of the form, showing registration, insurance and everything else. The visit to PSD was not with an appointment, and the government employee who handled our request was very nice and courteous as well.
The location we went to was Fort Jackson, SC, but I have similar experiences at 32nd St. Naval Station, San Diego; Fort Benning, GA and Charleston AFB, Charleston, SC. Heck, the last sticker I received at CAFB was right at the gate, the base security officer noticed my sticker was faded and had a tear in it, so he told me to pull over, and they replaced the sticker right on the spot. I wasn't even late for work, and I never had to get out of my car.
I WANT the stickers to stay, I am PROUD of my sticker, and if we ever get to where it is dangerous to have the stickers, then it is time to change the US, not the military sticker system.
In 1961 at Wurtsmith AFB Michigan I was in ADC. It was a SAC Base. I had to buy the SAC sticker for 50 cents, and the ADC sticker for 25 cents. The SAC sticker went on your bumper and the ADC on the windshield. If you had to put them on in the winter you used a blow dryer to heat the surface before they would stick.
Also because I didn't have all my insurance papers or ability to pass the on base vehicle inspection (cracked tail light lense) I had to park off base. A guy outside the gate had a dirt lot and he charged $5 a month. I then caught a ride in to the squadron.
My oldest son was born Sep 15th 2001... just 4 days after the attacks. I was then stationed at Ft Leavenworth, which up until the attacks was an open post. However, it was optional to get the decals put on your vehicle. My point being, Despite that hour I might have spent in the PMO waiting my turn to obtain a decal, I wish I would have gone ahead and done it while it was still just optional, because sitting there at the 7-11 across from the main gate at Ft Leavenworth for almost 4 hours with a screaming infant and a sore wife, watching traffic crawl "like a snail on qualuudes" as one of my NCOs put it was almost as bad as watching her go through that 18 hours of labor just a couple days prior...Happy Patriots Day Everyone!!!
and Happy Birthday "Bam-Bam" although you've driven me crazy, and I know I've still got at least 12 more years of it, Daddy still Loves You and cant wait to get home in November!!!
I think having the base stickers removed from the vehicles is just one more way to remove the "integrity" from our military as a whole. I don't know how things are done in the Air Force, but in the Marine Corps, those stickers identified who was civilian, enlisted or officers. It also required that us enlisted Marines had to salute an officer's vehicle. This was very irritating, but it taught us all about "respect", which obviously the ones supporting this removal know nothing about!!
I'm happy to see I'm not the only person sentimental about base decals. After a life-long desire to be in the military, my husband at the age of 39, with an age-waiver, joined the Navy Reserve. We live very far from the nearest Naval base, but we live near the reserve center where my husband drills, and also near a large AFB where I frequently shop, therefore we have AF decals and not Navy decals.
I love being a military wife - as it was always my husbands desire to serve in the military, it was always my dream to be a military wife. Now that I am, I am very proud of it.........right down to my base decals! I was disappointed when I read that the AF was discontinuing their use. I'm leaving mine on until they're too tattered to remain.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: mcfamlee,
therefore we have AF decals and not Navy decals.
I was disappointed when I read that the AF was discontinuing their use. I'm leaving mine on until they're too tattered to remain. 
