Strong looks to ease arsenal gate issues
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Rules prohibiting military installations from using contract personnel for security may be on the way out as Rep. Dale Strong looks to streamline traffic at Redstone Arsenal.
Why it matters: With Space Command on the way, the focus locally is on whether community infrastructure is ready for even more pressure.
Zoom in: Strong announced Wednesday that a provision he added to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 would allow military installations to use contract personnel for security guard functions.
- The language, proposed by Strong on Aug. 28, would give the arsenal flexibility when enlisted soldiers aren't available.
What they're saying: Strong said in an announcement that the arsenal doesn't have a large population of junior enlisted personnel to man gate security positions for the nearly 50,000 people who come to the arsenal every day.
Catch up quick: Recent workforce reductions have forced the arsenal to limit hours at Gate 3 this month, closing it at 1pm.
- At a roundtable following the Space Command announcement, Martin Traylor, deputy garrison commander for the arsenal, noted that "gridlock at the gates causes traffic to back up" into neighboring cities' roadways.
- He pointed out the "statutory limitations on us. We can't use contractors. We can't use civilians."
- "We took the soldiers that we did have, which in our case are ... very senior officers," he said at the event. "You typically would not see them on a gate, and we're able to put them on there for just a couple of hours in the morning."
Yes, but: Officials contend this issue does not affect Redstone's readiness for Space Command.
What we're watching: The bill must still pass the Senate, conference negotiations, and be signed by President Trump.
Go deeper: Redstone "ready to move dirt" for Space Command HQ
