Arrival

Getting Here
Directions from Airport: The Colorado Springs Airport is located south of Peterson AFB. Following the road exiting the airport, turn right on Powers Boulevard. Stay on Powers approximately six miles. Turn right at the Airport Road intersection. Turn right at the next light. This is the access road to the Peterson AFB West Gate. If you wish to enter Peterson AFB through the North Gate, stay on Powers Boulevard until you reach Platte Avenue (U.S. Highway 24). Exit right; the exit for the North Gate is approximately one mile east of Powers Boulevard. Directions If Driving: Entering Colorado Springs on Interstate 25 from south or north, exit on Academy Boulevard Proceed towards the center of the city, turn east on Platte Avenue (U.S. Highway 24). The Peterson AFB North Gate will be on the right, approximately one mile east of Powers Boulevard. If coming from the east on Highway 24, the Peterson AFB North Gate will be on your left, on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs.

Sponsor Information
Your sponsor can help make your arrival and in-processing procedure smooth. Talk with your sponsor about your needs and ask for assistance with transportation, maps and base procedures. The Air Force established the sponsor program to make reassignment easier. Your sponsor has experienced the relocation you are about to make and has answers to many of your questions. If you don't hear from your sponsor within 60 days of your reporting date, call your new unit's orderly room.

Arrival and Signing In
Peterson AFB has three visitor control gates. The West Gate is open 24 hours a day. The North Gate hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., closed weekends and holidays. The East Gate hours of operations are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. To sign-in at Peterson or Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, report to the Military Personnel Flight in Building 350. People assigned to Schriever must report to their unit orderly room, which will schedule them for in-processing. The base dorm manager can be called at (719) 556-3832. The number for the billeting office, located in Building 1042, is (719) 556-6293.

Telephone and DSN Instructions
The Colorado Springs and vicinity area code is (719). Peterson's DSN prefix is 692 for numbers with a 554 commercial prefix. For numbers with a 556 prefix, the DSN prefix is 834. Schriever's DSN prefix is 560. To reach Schriever from a commercial line, use a 567 prefix. Cheyenne Mountain's DSN prefix is 268. To reach Cheyenne Mountain from a commercial line, use a 474 prefix.

Locator
Some of the following telephone numbers may be helpful:
Peterson Operator
(719) 556-7321 or DSN 834-7321

Schriever Operator
(719) 567-1110 or DSN 560-1110

Cheyenne Mountain Operator
(719) 474-1110 or DSN 268-1110

The Visitors Center is a good place to meet sponsors. It is located at the West Gate on Stewart Avenue.

Post Office
Peterson's Post Office, located in Building 1466, offers complete postal services, including money orders, stamps, parcel post, express mail, international mail service and registered, certified and insured mailing and limited service for people who collect stamps. The post office also rents lock boxes. A stamp vending machine is available 24 hours a day in the lobby.

POSTAL SERVICE CENTER
To ensure uninterrupted mail service, send your sponsor a copy of your orders and your sponsor can have your mail held at the Postal Center until your arrival, or call (719) 556-4865 to request a box number.

Identification Cards
Identification card applications for DEERS—eligible people and civilian contractors are issued at the Military Personnel Flight customer service center in Building 350. For more information, call (719) 556-0007.

Vehicle Information
Temporary License Plates: Personnel with temporary license plates can't register their vehicle until they receive permanent tags; however, they are still required to maintain proof of current vehicle registration, insurance, and valid military or civilian employee identification. 

Automobile Titles: In order to title your vehicle, you must show proof of insurance, proof of purchase with sales tax paid in a previous state, or you will be subject to Colorado sales tax. You will be assessed state tax of 3 percent, plus county and city tax at your home address. City and county tax varies and can amount to as much as an additional 1.5 percent of the purchase price. The total sales tax can be as high as 7.5 percent. If you purchased a vehicle overseas within the last six months, it is subject to Colorado sales tax when registered. All others are exempt.

Insurance: Vehicle insurance coverage is mandatory in the state of Colorado. It must be verified at the time of vehicle registration. The mandatory liability minimum in Colorado is $25,000 bodily injury, $50,000 per accident and $15,000 property damage.

Driving Regulations: The speed limit on Peterson is 30 mph, unless posted otherwise. In the family housing areas, the limit is 15 mph. Base regulations require the use of seat belts at all times while riding in a car.

Restraints: The operator of a motor vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all individuals in the vehicle properly use appropriate restraint devices while the vehicle is in motion. All adults will wear a seatbelt and all children will be properly secured in a child safety seat or adapted seatbelt configuration, as appropriate, and as stated below.

All children are required to be properly restrained on and off base. Four Steps for Life.
Step 1—Rear facing child seats for children
from birth to at least 1 year old and at least 20 pounds (keep child rear-facing for as long as possible).
Step 2—Forward facing child seat for children
more than 20 pounds and one year old to at least 40 pounds and four years old.
Step 3—Belt-positioning booster seats for children from more than 40 pounds and four years to about 80 pounds and 4 feet 9 inches. If the child cannot sit all the way back in the seat and still bend his or her knees, then he or she needs a booster seat.
Step 4—Seat belts for older children large
enough to fit correctly. Children less than 12 years of age should not sit in a position where there is an air bag unless it has been deactivated, and it is recommended children 12 and younger ride in a back seat. Also, effective Aug. 1, 2010, all children 8 years old or younger must be restrained in a booster seat (new Colorado law).

Driving on Peterson AFB
To operate a vehicle of Peterson AFB, drivers must have proof of ownership or registration, a valid driver's license and proof of current vehicle insurance with at least minimum liability limits in accordance with any applicable laws. Drivers cited for not having proof of insurance must bring proof to the security forces squadron, Building 350, suite 1253, within 24 hours, or the next duty day. Failure to do so can result in a suspension of their base driving privileges. Additionally, drivers may not use a cellular telephone while operating a motor vehicle unless using a hands-free device or hands-free operating mode. The operator may not wear any form of portable headphones, earphones, or other listening device while operating a motor vehicle on base except for a hands-free telephone headset or a single ear bud piece. Finally, the use of speed detection devices is prohibited on Peterson AFB.

The U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program requires operators of motorcycles, motor scooters or mopeds to wear an approved motorcycle helmet, eye protection, long pants, long sleeved shirt or jacket, full-fingered gloves, sturdy over-the-ankle boots, brightly colored or contrasting vest or jacket, and reflective materials at night. Although Colorado is a no-helmet-law state, all Air Force military personnel must wear the protective equipment outlined in AFI 91-207 whether riding on or off base. All military personnel, on or off a DoD installation, and all DoD civilian personnel on a DoD installation or off an installation in a duty status who operate a motorcycle on a roadway, are required to attend and complete an approved motorcycle rider education course. Contractors and family members are encouraged, but not required to attend an MSF course.

Firearms Registration
People living in base dormitories or temporary lodging facilities must register and store privately owned weapons in the armory in Building 1376. You can check out your weapons temporarily, but they must be returned for storage within 72 hours unless you're going on temporary duty or have written permission from the first sergeant or commander. Base housing residents may keep their privately owned weapons in their quarters but must register them at the armory (556-7066). Concealed weapons permits issued by civil authorities are not valid on Peterson without written approval from the 21st Space Wing commander. Don't transport weapons on Peterson unless driving directly to and from the security forces armory for storage or your residence in base family housing. Advise the gate guards if you have a weapon and where you intend to take it. Weapons must be unloaded and transported in a vehicle's trunk. Don't leave weapons unattended at any time. They must be under the control of a person 21 years old or older.

Giant Voice System
In addition to broadcasting Reveille and Retreat, the Giant Voice system plays a critical role in notifying base members of severe weather warnings and operational notifications such as force protection condition changes. For example, if a tornado is spotted in Colorado Springs, a tornado siren warning would be a steady three-to five-minute tone. If an announcement for "lockdown" is heard, seek shelter and lock all doors to your location. There is a weekly base siren system test every Friday at noon. An announcement is made prior to, and immediately after the test, informing base personnel to disregard the sirens.

Customs and Courtesies
On Peterson, Reveille plays at 7 a.m., followed by "To the Colors." Retreat, followed by the "National Anthem," sounds at 5 p.m. and "Taps" plays nightly at 10 p.m. Reveille and Retreat, respectively, signal the beginning and end of the official duty day while "Taps," signifies "lights out" or the beginning of quiet hours.

Regardless of whether they are in uniform or not, Airmen are required to stop and turn toward the flag at the first sound of Reveille or Retreat and stand at the position of parade rest. In the event the flag is not visible, they should turn toward the general direction of the music. Those in uniform should come to the position of attention and render a salute when they see the flag being raised or lowered or at the first note of "To the Colors" or the "National Anthem." Those not in uniform may salute, but at a minimum should come to attention and stand with their right hand over their heart. If not saluting, men wearing a hat should remove it with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder with their right hand over their heart. In accordance with 21st SW policy, these courtesies should be held until "To the Colors" or the "National Anthem" has finished playing or until the flag has been completely raised or lowered.

Airmen wearing the Air Force's physical training uniform should render the same courtesies appropriate when wearing other Air Force uniforms.

Vehicle operators also have a role to play in rendering respect during Reveille and Retreat.

Anyone driving a vehicle on base should come to a complete stop at the first note of "To the Colors" or the "National Anthem" and put their car or motorcycle in park. Everyone inside the vehicle should remain quietly seated.

While formal protocol procedures are not required during the normal playing of "Taps," "Taps" played at a military funeral or memorial honors ceremony are a different matter. Servicemembers attending these events should render a salute upon hearing the first note of "Taps" and hold their salute until the last note is played. Anyone not in uniform should come to the position of attention and place their right hand over their heart. As with Reveille or Retreat, men wearing a hat should remove it with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder with their right hand over their heart.

Inclement Weather Procedures
To meet mission requirements and still take the best possible care of people during inclement weather, delayed reporting, early release, and base closure procedures are in place for all military and civilian people assigned to Peterson.

For purposes of reporting during inclement weather, base members will be designated as either essential or non-essential.

Everyone should check with their supervisor to see which category applies to them.

Essential: The minimum number of people needed to keep critical operations functioning until additional support arrives.

These people include, but are not limited to, firefighters, security forces, command and control, snow removal, medical personnel, dining facility workers, designated childcare workers and shift workers.

Non-Essential: People who could be delayed for short periods of time (hours to days) without serious mission impact.

Notification: The Peterson Snow Information line (719) 556-SNOW(7669) will be updated by 5:30 a.m. Inclement weather decisions will also be relayed to selected radio and television stations for broadcast and be available at http://www.peterson.af.mil and the Peterson Facebook page.

Military members assigned to Schriever should call (719) 567-SNOW(7669) and members assigned to Cheyenne Mountain should call (719) 474-3333.

Delayed Reporting: This authorizes non-essential members additional time to safely report to work. The 21st Space Wing commander initiates delayed reporting when off-base driving conditions require additional time to arrive safely and gives on-base snow removal teams time to prepare the base for normal activity following a major winter storm.

People should not plan to arrive earlier than the delayed reporting time to minimize interference with snow removal operations. Base housing residents should consider walking to work to minimize traffic on streets and in the parking lots.

Delayed reporting is based on normal duty hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is mandatory for non-essential members to comply.

For example, in a two-hour delay, all non-essential members should plan to arrive at 9:30 a.m.

Phased Early Release: Non-essential people may depart their duty location at a specified time before the end of the duty day. Phased early release notification will be passed through unit commanders and will be completed in 30-minute intervals.

The 30-minute interval reduces traffic congestion leaving the base and helps ensure everyone makes it home safely. Based on mission requirements, supervisors should use their judgment in deviating from the phased early release plan.

Base Closure: This means only essential personnel must report to duty (or remain on duty) if weather is severe enough to prevent replacements from safely reporting.