Time crunch for minors

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica Stamps
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- --  Summer time calls for sun-filled days which gives Team Holloman the opportunity to soak up some Vitamin D. After-hours calls for all night-crawlers under the age of 18 to head back home before curfew.

Now that children are off from school, parents need to ensure they are rallied up between the hours of 11 p. m. - 5 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 12 a.m. - 5 a.m. Saturday.

Children leaving the doorsteps of their homes require the company of their parents or legal guardians.

Exemptions include: going to or returning from a school-sponsored, civic organization-sponsored or religious function; going to or coming back from work with a letter signed by their parents identifying the name of their employer, their parent's name, home address, home number and normal hours of employment; under 18 and emancipated by marriage.

"Our military communities need to understand that while a military installation is a wonderful and safe environment to raise a family, it does not immune them from tragic accident or criminal activity resulting from an unsupervised child," said Master Sgt. John Sweeney, 49th Security Forces Squadron Operation Support NCO in-charge. "This policy is in place to save a parent or guardian from such a horrible ordeal."


Although staying indoors ensures the installation procedures are being followed, behind closed doors requires children to be of a certain age to be left without an adult.

When the sun sets and it's time to shut the lights off, anyone less than 15 years of age must have an adult under the same roof. Plans for a sleep over or a movie night without an adult are acceptable as long as there is someone who is at least 16 who and reach an adult in case of an emergency.

Children having a get-together or interested in babysitting on base must get permission from their parents and be at least 12 years of age to look after those 11 years old and under.

Each time a minor chooses not to follow their curfew the first, second or third time, the consequences become more severe each time.

When these rules get broken the first time, the carriages don't turn into pumpkins.

"For a first offense, juveniles that live on base will be taken to their residence and SFS will make contact with an adult," said Tech. Sgt. Chad Ryan, 49th SFS flight chief. "Juveniles that are non-military or reside off base will be transported to Security Forces Squadron to be released to their parents or a responsible adult. If the juvenile possess a driver's license and resides off base, their parents will be given the opportunity to authorize the child to drive home."


"For the second offense, the patrolman will transport the juvenile to [Base Defense Operations Center] and they will be held until released to a parent or legal guardian," said Ryan. "If the juveniles possess a driver's license and reside off base, their parents will be given the opportunity to authorize the child to drive home."


In any case, when the curfew is broken or a child is left behind, the SFS will record the incident onto a SFS blotter and notify the sponsor' s first sergeant.


Getting caught the third time results in a Department of Defense Form 1805, United States District Court Violation notice. Following the violation, security forces will write an incident report and have it sent to the legal office where it will be used in a civilian criminal proceeding.

"Security Forces Squadron will initiate a barment letter restricting access to the base, but permitting access to appear before a Federal Magistrate," said Ryan. "Security Forces Squadron will then forward a copy of the incident report to the appropriate commander and also notify the Family Advocacy Office."

In any of these instances, if the parent or legal guardian cannot be reached within two hours of their child being turned into BDOC, those under 16 will have their sponsor's unit contacted and will be detained until they can be handed over to their parents or guardians.

Non-military dependents under the age of 16 whose parents cannot be reached off base will be driven to New Mexico's Children Youth Families Division.

When the child is between the ages of 16-17 and unable to make contact with their parents or guardians, they will be released on the child's own pledge to return home.

Longer days keep the sun out, but the clock still ticks its hours that bring curfew closer.

"The curfew policy is important for many reasons," said Sweeney. "First, it aligns Holloman's child care laws with local, state and federal guidelines. More importantly, military installations historically have a poor track record concerning the instances of child neglect cases. Unfortunately, Holloman is no exception."