LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Operation hours for the Valley Hi Visitor Reception Center will change beginning Jan. 16.
The Valley Hi VRC will no longer be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new operating hours on the conversion date will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. The Luke East VRC will remain open 24/7.
"Police Services has conducted an hourly count of customers over the past 42 weeks at both locations," said Jose Cooper, 802nd Security Forces Squadron installation access manager. "Based on the numbers, we have determined that a reduction in VRC operating hours can be attained without adversely affecting our ability to support visitor operations at Lackland."
The move is facilitated by an Air Force mandate that security forces squadrons change from 12-hour manning shifts to 8-hour shifts. SF squadrons have been operating on 12-hour shifts since 9/11.
"We're getting in step with the Air Force mandate for the transition to 8-hour shifts on Jan. 16," said Lisa Frantz, 802nd SFS installation security chief. "It takes more people to man out with 8-hour shifts. Eliminating one 8-hour shift every day will result in additional manpower savings for the squadron."
Ms. Frantz said the lowest peak hours from both visitor centers were considered. Access to Wilford Hall Medical Center was the top factor in changing the Valley Hi VRC hours.
"As time goes by, if we need to shift a little bit on either side of the 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. timeframe after we've collected more statistics, it will be considered," she said. "As it stands, the new Valley Hi hours will be the status quo although we will be monitoring its effect."