Gate closures not ‘intended inconvenience’ Published May 7, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- It has probably happened to just about everyone who works here. On a Friday afternoon, you get in your vehicle to head home after a long, hard week. Just as you are approaching the gate to exit the base, a guard steps into the road, holds out a hand and orders traffic to stop. Then, for no discernible reason, everyone must sit there until the guard moves. It may be only a few minutes but could be much longer. Rest assured, this is not done arbitrarily. In fact, it is usually a mandatory step. Emergency gate shutdowns are most often the result of a triggered alarm. Certain buildings on base with munitions or classified information have alarms that, when triggered, automatically alert gate guards to stop all traffic. "We don't just do it; there's a reason behind it," said Tech Sgt. Ruben Martinez, a security gate supervisor. "We try to get the situation taken care of and the gates open as soon as possible." The alarms go off for a number of reasons, including someone entering an incorrect code, said Martinez. Whatever the reason, the gates must be shut down until the alarm is investigated and reset. Therein can be the problem. Each building with an alarm has people designated to reset it. During regular working hours, it usually only takes a few minutes to contact an authorized person and have the alarm reset. However, after hours and on weekends it takes longer to contact those people and when reached, it takes some time for them to get to the alarm. Martinez said those designated to reset alarms can help reduce the time gates are shut down by carrying a cell phone with them after hours.