Open House permitted, prohibited items

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  McConnell will open its gates to the community for the Open House and Air Show Sept. 25 to 26, however, members of the 22nd Security Forces want to remind visitors that although they are welcome, certain prohibited items are not.

A list of permitted items has been released. However, in order to expedite the entrance to the air show guest are strongly recommended to minimize the number and size of permitted items.

"If you have been through an airport and can understand their concept of security screening and the reasoning behind that, then it is not too far off to understand why we do it for [the Open House]," said Master Sgt. Robert Lang, 22nd Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent.

Prior to entering, Open House guests can expect to see members of the local community working in partnership with security forces.

"We will have the privilege of having the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department, the Wichita Police Department, Transportation Security Agency and air marshals to assist with security," said Sergeant Lang. "Security forces always strives to ensure public safety and the safety of guests at the Open House is priority one."

All bags will be inspected for prohibited items and if any items are found, security forces personnel will give guests the option to return them to their vehicles to store the prohibited item(s).

The list of permitted and prohibited items, available for immediate view at www.mcconnell.af.mil, includes but is not limited to the following items:

Permitted Items
· Cellular phones, pagers and FRS transceivers
· Handheld portable televisions, radios and scanners
· Fanny packs and purses
· Cameras and camcorders
· Folding chairs and lawn chairs
· Umbrellas and sunshades
· Wheelchairs
· Baby bags and strollers, if attending with an infant or small child
· Bottled water in clear plastic containers
· Small coolers for medication and baby formula are permitted, but must be identified to security forces members at the entry control points

Prohibited Items
· Weapons (regardless of permit) including firearms and knives (including pocket knives and multi-tools), and replica or toy weapons
· Alcoholic beverages (except those sold by the event vendors)
· Pets, other than service animals
· Glass containers
· Ice chests or coolers
· Bags larger than a small purse or fanny pack
· Backpacks/Camelbacks
· Bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, kick or electric scooters
"If they choose not to return the prohibited items then they will be placed into our amnesty box and will not be returned," said Sergeant Lang. "This is why we highly stress to our public to follow the instructions of our posted signs and our security forces members when it comes to these items."

Despite these restrictions, the members of McConnell's security forces ensure that these measures are only in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all Open House guests.

"Guests at the Open House should keep in mind that the security personnel are not there to make things difficult for them; they are there to keep them and their families safe, ensuring that they can fully enjoy their Open House experience," said Maj. Melissa Alblinger, 22nd Force Support Squadron operation officer and Open House ground boss.

For more information about the open house, visit www.mcconnell.af.mil.