Many people have reason to visit the Seaplane Base on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island: They want to use their base privileges to shop the Commissary, the Navy Exchange, or perhaps they have need of other offices located there.
However, a number of people who desire to visit may not have base access. These can include veterans and family members who need to consult with the Disabled American Veterans office in Building 13, or they may be civilians who have never served in the military but desire to pay a visit to the PBY Memorial Foundation Naval History Center in Simard Hall, Building 12.
Planning ahead can help speed these individuals on their way. A change in policy, which took effect last autumn means people without base access will need to show photo identification, car registration and proof of car insurance to gain entry.
The new gate policy seems to have resulted in different outcomes, depending on where those would-be visitors are heading.
Mark Takaoka, a DAV employee, said that the change has had little effect on DAV visitors.
“Most people without a military or government ID will just need to show the guard their driver’s license, proof of insurance and car registration, and tell where they’re heading,” said Takaoka. “We’ve seen a number of people do that already.”
By contrast, volunteers at the PBY Memorial Foundation have seen a noticeable decrease in the number of visitors to their Naval History Center since the new gate policy took effect.
Will Stein, director of operations for PBY Memorial Foundation, said he hears varying accounts both from visitors and the volunteers who staff the center.
“One day they seem to let anyone in to visit the museum,” said George Love, a volunteer. “The next day, with a different guard in place, they are turned away.”
Whidbey Crosswind was unable to reach Navy public affairs officials for comment before press time.
At the PBY Memorial Foundation’s monthly meeting on Tuesday at the CPO Club, Stein estimated that since the new policy took effect, he had seen the number of visitors drop from “a couple of dozen to almost none” on some days.
Stein said the foundation’s website has listed the new requirements, along with a recommendation to use the Torpedo Gate, so those planning a visit there know what to expect and can prepare accordingly. But visitors who are unfamiliar with the island might still find themselves at a disadvantage, he said.
“A number of them, never having visited the Seaplane Base, don’t know where Torpedo Road is, and that can be challenging,” said Stein. He noted that those who are directed away from the Maui gate, which is well within view of Building 12, face a roundabout detour to find their way to the Torpedo gate. Once there, they must trek along a winding road to approach Building 12 and the Naval History Center from the other side of the base.
Stein emphasizes, however, that they can still appreciate the reasons behind the Navy’s security procedures and gate policy.
“The policy has only been in place a couple of months. Whenever anything is new like that, it understandably takes a little time for things to filter down to everyone, and for the bugs to be worked out,” he said.
In the meantime, Stein mentioned some steps taken jointly by the base and their organization to streamline things.
“We’ve managed to secure one-year passes for many of our volunteers who are non-military,” he said. “Those are issued by the Navy, and they’ve helped.”
