US to review security at military installations worldwide

Secretary Hagel spent much of the day on Tuesday collecting input from senior officials to define the parameters of the review, which could be formally announced as soon as Wednesday, according to the official.Word of the impending review follows news that a previously unreleased Department of Defence Inspector General (DOD IG) report detailed “critical flaws” […]

Secretary Hagel spent much of the day on Tuesday collecting input from senior officials to define the parameters of the review, which could be formally announced as soon as Wednesday, according to the official.
Word of the impending review follows news that a previously unreleased Department of Defence Inspector General (DOD IG) report detailed “critical flaws” in base security at Navy installations, including the practice of contracting out base guard duty to nongovernmental personnel.
The DOD IG report, dated for release on Sept. 16, the date of the Navy Yard attack, cites instances in which “52 convicted felons received routine, unauthorized installation access, placing military personnel, dependents, civilians, and installations at an increased security risk.”  This was the result of efforts on the part of Navy officials “to reduce access control costs,” according to the inspector general report.
The report levelled another critique as well ­– that the commander, Navy Installations Command was “non-responsive” regarding the recommendations of the Pentagon inspector general. These revelations about the DOD IG investigation in turn prompted calls for change.
In the wake of the Navy Yard attacks, “I am highly concerned that the access control systems at our nation’s military installations have serious security flaws,” wrote Rep. Mike Turner (R) of Ohio in a letter to the acting inspector general requesting further information regarding the DOD IG investigation.
“Potentially numerous felons may have been able to gain unrestricted access to several military installations across the country due to the insufficient background checks, increasing the risk to our military personnel and civilian employees,” Representative Turner wrote.