Latest news with #VeteranHealthIdentificationCards
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
TSA trained to accept military IDs in lieu of REAL IDs, officials say
Military-connected travelers should be able to board domestic flights simply by showing their military ID, as Transportation Security Administration officers are trained to accept them in lieu of a REAL ID, a TSA spokesman said. As of May 7, individuals must show a REAL ID, or acceptable alternative, to board domestic commercial flights, visit military installations and access certain federal facilities. REAL ID driver's licenses are identified by a star in the upper right-hand corner. DOD ID cards, including those issued to dependents, are among the forms of identification listed on the TSA website as acceptable alternatives to the REAL ID. Still, some travelers told Military Times their military IDs have been rejected at U.S. airports. The issue has come up with military retirees, particularly those with old-style ID cards featuring an 'INDEF', or indefinite expiration date. One Air Force retiree said his retiree ID card wasn't accepted when he tried it out while flying to Virginia on May 10. The card has an 'INDEF' expiration date. 'Our officers are trained to accept military IDs at our security checkpoints,' TSA spokesman Dave Fitz told Military Times. 'In the unlikely event that an officer would not accept a military ID, the passenger should ask to speak to a supervisor.' Although the TSA page detailing the list of acceptable identification doesn't specifically mention retired military IDs, Fitz said, 'U.S. Department of Defense IDs, to include IDs for active and retired military, are acceptable forms of ID, even if they do not have an expiration date.' Military-connected passengers may also use any of the other acceptable IDs listed, Fitz noted. Among other options listed on the TSA site are U.S. passports, Veteran Health Identification Cards (VHIC), state-issued Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) and Enhanced IDs (EID). Meanwhile, policies for accessing military bases for those who already have military or DOD-issued credentials, such as military retirees, dependents and surviving spouses, have not changed. But those with an old-style ID card should be aware that while they will still be able to access military bases with that ID, it's uncertain for how long. These IDs are blue, pink or tan DD Form 2, DD Form 1173, DD Form 1173-1 or DD Form 2785. More than 5 million military family members, retirees are getting new ID cards The Defense Department is working to replace these IDs with the NextGen ID. Officials advise getting the NextGen ID now to avoid any problems with installation access. For more information about the NextGen ID and how to replace it, visit this Defense Finance and Accounting Service page. DOD hasn't yet announced the deadline for the replacements. DOD previously said the transition to NextGen ID is expected to be completed by January 2026 for the 5 million non-CAC holders, primarily retirees and military family members.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Plan extra time at the airport' without Real ID, says airport official
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways A sample of a Montana driver's license. Get to the airport early if you're hopping on a domestic flight and don't have a REAL ID card — or another acceptable form of identification, for example, a U.S. passport. That's the advice from Brian Sprenger, president and CEO of the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration will start enforcing a requirement that traveler identification, such as driver's licenses, comply with federal security standards from the REAL ID Act. In an email, a TSA spokesperson was more optimistic about the transition. The spokesperson said 81% of passengers already use their REAL ID or other acceptable forms of ID, 'so we do not expect there to be any inconveniences or wait times at all.' The TSA website lists other acceptable forms of ID, including passports, Veteran Health Identification Cards, and a photo ID issued by a federally recognized tribal nation, including Enhanced Tribal Cards. The TSA spokesperson said security officers will enforce REAL ID to ensure 'no impact to wait times or TSA screening,' especially for passengers prepared with a REAL ID, passport or other acceptable form of ID. 'Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant at TSA checkpoints and who do not have another acceptable alternative form of ID will be notified of their non-compliance, may be directed to a separate area and may receive additional screening,' the spokesperson said. A REAL ID looks like a driver's license but has a gold star in the righthand corner, according to the Montana Department of Justice's Motor Vehicle Division. It offers guidelines for acquiring such identification. Summer is a busy season for Montana travelers. In Bozeman, Sprenger said TSA has indicated it has processes in place for passengers who don't have REAL ID, and it will handle travelers 'expeditiously.' 'But it will take additional time, so we're recommending anybody that does not have REAL ID, that they plan extra time at the airport, especially at this point,' Sprenger said. He said whether delays take place remains to be seen. 'We'll know a whole lot better after tomorrow,' Sprenger said Tuesday.
