The Air Force Academy has increased security measures regarding visitor access rules. 

As of June 14, non-military ID holders will now only be allowed to enter through the academy’s South Gate, located off of Interstate 25’s Exit 150. Visitors must be sponsored by an ID-holder, the academy’s athletic department, admissions department or other sponsoring organization to be granted access, according to a news release from the academy. 

All Department of Defense ID cardholders are encouraged to use the North Gate. 

Employees and visitors to the academy are warned to expect longer wait times at the gates, and increased security measures. Among those new measures: All persons and vehicles attempting to enter or are already on academy grounds are subject to random searches.  

The section of the Santa Fe Trail that crosses academy land is closed to all personnel. The 10th Medical Group, academy exchange and commissary remain open to all beneficiaries.

The tighter academy security recommendations were announced the same day the U.S. Northern Command sent out a press release calling for increased security protocols at all U.S. military installations in the continental United States due to “world events.” The announcement calls for “Increased Force Protection Condition” measures to be taken by installation leadership as they see fit. Norcom’s statement included that the DOD was not currently aware of specific threats to installations.

Peterson Space Force Base and Schriever Space Force Base have implemented similar measures, with a spokesperson telling The Gazette that visitors should anticipate increased security and delays in getting onto the base. 

As of Monday evening, no increased security measures have been put in place for visitors at the Fort Carson Army Base, according to a Fort Carson spokesperson.

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station was not available for comment regarding possible changes to base access and security.