By Vicky Falcón
NAVAIR Public Affairs

You were twenty minutes late to a high level meeting at the Pentagon last week.

The traffic crawling across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Virginia didn’t cause your delay – you were stopped at the door and denied access while the guards tried to track down your point of contact.

Experienced Pentagon visitors will tell you that success is in the planning. For those of you without that expertise, here are some helpful hints to avoid this embarrassing scenario.

Debbie Vamosi is an Information Systems Analyst at NAVAIR’s Washington Liaison Office and her responsibilities include coordinating Pentagon visits for NAVAIR personnel.

“Make sure you have a visit request (OPNAV form 5521/127) drawn up and faxed to the Pentagon at least three days prior to your visit – a long-term visit request can be submitted,” Vamosi suggests. Long-term visit requests must be re-submitted every six months.

Vamosi says to make sure to include the Pentagon contact name and phone number when filling out the form, and include your individual height, weight, race, gender and authorizing signer’s name and phone number. The form should then be faxed to 703-697-9085 at least three days in advance.

“And make sure you carry two IDs and your Pentagon point-of-contact’s name and phone number,” she added.

According to Vamosi the photo identification cards can include the Common Access Card (CAC), a driver’s license or site identification card. “Upon arrival at the Pentagon,” said Vamosi, “make sure to tell the guard that a visit request is on file.”

“There are ways to address short notice visit requests,” Vamosi said, “but the best way to insure a uneventful visit is to submit a visitor request form in advance.”

OPNAV form 5521/127 can be found at http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/Directives/forms/5521_27.pdf.