Obtaining a Recreational I.D. at Redstone Arsenal can be done in as little as 15 minutes. Garrison Commander Col. Kelsey A. Smith walked us through how to properly obtain one.
“The application process, when I went through it 3 different times, took me 15 minutes,” said Col. Smith.
The first step to receiving a recreational badge is to stop by the Redstone Arsenal Visitor’s Center located to the right of Gate 9 off exit 14 of I-565.
From there, paperwork will be given out to whomever is wishing to receive the identification. In the paperwork packet will be a 3-page, front and back, policy reference sheet. Policies include, but are not limited to: criminal arrest information, unverified identification and felony conviction within the past 10 years.
A background check is mandatory for every individual interested in receiving a badge. Redstone Arsenal takes safety and security very seriously. Individuals will need to sign a paper authorizing Redstone to screen their backgrounds.
Individuals looking to obtain one of these I.D.’s will also need to fill out a short information sheet giving personal information such as home address, SSN, and Vehicle Tag number.
Once this information is processed and approved by Redstone, the individual can receive his or her Recreational I.D. The entire process can be done all in one day at the Visitors Center.
“What that Recreational Badge gives you is the authority to come on the Arsenal and see what the Army is doing here each and every day,” Col. Smith said.
The process is free of charge and welcomes families to join as well. Each badge is limited to the issued carrier, however, children under the age of 18 are allowed to be escorted on with an issued adult.
Once an individual has access inside the Arsenal, they are asked to enter through Gate 8 located on Goss Road. This is where the majority of the access points for Recreation holders are.
“If you’re off the beaten path, you will likely be visited by a white cruiser with big green stripes that says ‘Military Police.’ And they will redirect you back to the place that you wanted to go in the first place,” Col. Smith added.
Access will be granted to most of the recreational buildings on base. Those include: the Bowling Center, Bike trails, and athletic fields.
For more information, reach out to the Redstone Arsenal Visitor’s Center at (256) 876-7738.
