FORT DRUM, NYÂ — After many months of hard work, the future of Fort Drum is a lot more welcoming to those seeking to visit or do business on post.
The new Fort Drum Welcome Center, located next to the Cerjan Gate off of U.S. Route 11 and connected to Interstate 781, opens June 3.
Visitors to Fort Drum will be able to receive access to post without waiting at a busy gate or getting a sponsor to bring them on post to the Directorate
of Emergency Services building. Visitor access passes will be available by appointment or on a walk-in basis. The new Welcome Center also will provide
an area inside for individuals waiting to get their vehicle inspected before entering post.
Fort Drum also has updated its visitor access policy. The update enables visitors to receive a day access pass between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. without a sponsor. These passes will only be issued at the Fort Drum Welcome Center. Visitors wishing to access the installation may do so by providing valid photo identification and voluntarily submitting to a National Crime Information Center-III (NCIC-III) background check.
There is no change for visitors wishing to remain on Fort Drum after 11 p.m. Visitors wishing to stay on Fort Drum overnight must have a sponsor in addition to
submitting to the aforementioned screening process.
Visitors who frequently need access to post can apply for a local access badge at the new Welcome Center. Local access badge requestors will still require a sponsor and a successful return of NCIC-III background check prior to issuance. A local access badge grants unescorted access to the installation for a period not to exceed one year. This pass is issued to individuals who have a recurring need to access the installation for a period greater than 30 days.
The updated policy also enables commercial transportation drivers (taxi cabs, Uber, and Lyft) to apply for a local access badge.
Since 2001, installations have implemented necessary security measures to ensure the safety of the installation. Consistent with Fort Drum’s Ready Now
and Relevant Tomorrow Campaign, this policy implements a balanced approach between security and supporting important community relationships with our
North Country neighbors.
