Commercial photography
illegal on Fort Bragg

by Eve Meinhardt
Paraglide

You see cameras all over Fort Bragg: at change of command ceremonies, outside the barracks on a Friday night, during training and at many of the events that take place in this diverse community. While taking a picture of your friend’s promotion is okay, commercial photography on post is strictly prohibited.

Currently, the entire installation is considered a restricted area. Anyone who is not a Department of Defense identification card holder needs permission to take photos on and of Fort Bragg.

According to a Department of Army all Army activities message, it is a crime for unauthorized persons to photograph any defense installation without the permission of the commanding officer. Also, any photo of the installation cannot be reproduced, published, sold or given away without the installation commander’s permission. While this may seem extreme, it is to protect the Soldiers, Family members and civilians on Fort Bragg.

To ensure installation security, everyone working and living on Fort Bragg needs to maintain situational awareness.

“Always question what is going on if you see somebody with a camera,” said Kellie Neuschwanger, operational security officer, Security and Intelligence Division, Directorate of Emergency Services. “It could be legit, but it is not worth the risk of ignoring it when it comes to operational security. Sometimes a Family taking photos or someone conducting surveillance can look exactly the same.”

Neuschwanger said that questioning someone with a camera who is not readily identifiable as an ID card holder is always the right thing to do. If they aren’t ID card holders and they say they have permission, they should be able to produce a memo signed by the Security and Intelligence Division authorizing them to photograph specific areas. If they do not have a memo, they are committing a criminal act.

“One of the places you always see people taking unauthorized photos is at the new construction sites across post. Contrary to popular belief, there is no reason for anyone to be taking pictures of new construction,” she said. “If someone is taking unauthorized photos, you should immediately call the military police.”

Soldiers, Families and civilians need to pay attention to what is in the background and think twice when taking pictures. Even posed photos of a bunch of buddies goofing around may give the enemy valuable information about Fort Bragg if the photo also shows weapons, motor pools or even different buildings on post. Think about what you’re doing with your photos and where you are posting them. Photos linked to social networking sites can be viewed by more than just your friends and those photos may even end up hurting a friend if they are seen by the wrong person.
Call the military police at 907-4803 to report any suspicious activity.