Pendleton

Or long hair tucked in a hat!

Especially the Marines. I was stationed on Camp Pendleton and there's no way this would have worked.

Or my isn't name...

That isn't entirely true. Hang around Ft. Bragg for a while and you may catch some guys with a lot of facial hair.

The story arc was lame.

I guess that I will pile on. The absence of guards or military police is absurd while working their heist plan. The kid would not have been sent on his way after encountering the perimeter guard. My parents knew a gentleman who worked on a major military installation and it was near impossible to freely go about the base even when you are recognized as "supposed to be here." Failure to stay in your assigned area as a civilian would get you placed in a dark room with a bright light shined in your face for 24 hours. I can't speak for Camp Pendleton but the two perimeter guards normally should have other guards who would be checks if the first pair were not to follow procedure so those two should not be in a position to make calls on their own. I don't think that the security would be close to being that soft at good old Camp Henderson from Gomer Pyle, USMC.