As with any major initiative rollout across five military services across hundreds of installations, granting access to millions of new eligible users is challenging. This is especially true for the thousands of front-line access control and service providers who are getting acquainted with the new access guidelines and authorized credentials. Do it over a holiday when manning and procedures differ from daily operations, and it invites some opportunities for inconsistency. Throw in a global military situation that puts all U.S. military installations on heightened alert, to further affect access guidelines and procedures?

Welcome to the first few weeks of implementation of Section 1065 of Title 10, United States Code.

The military services appreciate your patience and understanding as they work through the challenges they have encountered so far.

DoD and the military services are working out the bugs and refining communications to continue to welcome newly eligible categories of Veterans and caregivers to commissary, exchange, and authorized MWR facilities.

DoD has provided basic information regarding expanded access through the recently updated fact sheet at http://www.militaryonesource.mil/expanding-access. This fact sheet is not DoD policy, but it does attempt to provide the most accurate known information based on DoD policy. As implementation continues and snags are identified, DoD continues to update and refine the fact sheet content, so check back frequently (and make sure you refresh your browser to access the most current version).

The following are what you have said are the issues you’ve experienced. We’ve provided information to help you manage expectations:

Installation Access

  • Firearms. Leave your firearms and any other weapons at home. Firearms are not permitted on military service installations. If you travel with them, you will need to find somewhere secure to store them in accordance with applicable laws and regulations before you get to the installation. Introducing a firearm onto a federal reservation is a serious offense.
  • Vehicle operation. Some installations have local traffic enforcement regulations that require visitors to provide proof of vehicle registration and insurance, along with a valid motor vehicle operator license if they are driving onboard the installation. Newly eligible Veterans and caregivers who do not have access to installations through another authorized affiliation, such as DoD civilian or contractor employment, should be prepared to provide the required traffic enforcement documentation at the visitor control center when you initially stop for access vetting. The documents you may be asked to produce may include a state-issued driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
  • Varying access procedures between installations. While all installations must comply with overarching DoD installation access policy, each military department has the authority to apply additional or unique policies depending on the security factors related to the service or the installation. If you are denied access, or if access control personnel tell you something other than what is contained in the most current version of the expanded access fact sheet, please comply with their direction. As disappointing as it may be for you, these personnel are doing as they have been trained and must act to protect the assets and mission of the installation. They are following orders and procedure, so an individual outside of their chain of command telling them to change what they’ve been trained or directed to do is not an option. Note that threat conditions may affect access by otherwise authorized individuals.
  • Scanner won’t read Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). DoD has learned that some of the eligible VHICs issued by VA (displays PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW, or SERVICE CONNECTED) cannot be read by DoD scanners because the barcode is missing some required data. If you’ve got one of these VHICs, expect installation access personnel to deny your access; please accept that this is an unfortunate circumstance. If the installation allows presentation of another credential to prove identity and will still accept the VHIC as proof of purpose for that visit, you may be authorized access if you have another acceptable credential to present, like a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or a U.S. passport. Not every installation is guaranteed to offer this single access exception. A VHIC that does not scan is not enrollable for recurring access, so Veterans who possess them will have to stop at the visitor control center each time they visit an installation and may not be permitted installation access every time. Installation access personnel cannot bend the rules for you, they are following procedure and their job is to protect installation assets and the mission. If you’ve got one of these VHICs that DoD is not able to scan, please take your card to a VA medical center to correct the issue by requesting a new one from the Enrollment and Eligibility Office.  A new card will be mailed to you in about two weeks.
  • VHIC versions. There seems to be some confusion about the different versions of VHICs and which are acceptable. The oldest version of the VHIC has a vertical barcode along the short right side of the card and is not acceptable for installation access. There are two versions of the current VHIC that feature the barcode horizontally along the bottom of the card, both of which are acceptable for installation access as long as the card also displays PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW, or SERVICE CONNECTED below the photo. The barcode on the current versions of the VHIC must be readable by installation access scanners in order to validate identity and purpose for the Veteran’s visit to the installation. If the card cannot be read by installation access scanners, there is no way to validate that the card is not fraudulent, so if you’ve got an unscannable card, it’s best to get it corrected through a VA medical center. You’d be surprised how many people try to fraudulently access installations, so installation access personnel are always on high alert for things that seem out of the ordinary. You may request a new VHIC from the Enrollment and Eligibility Office. A new card will be mailed to you in about two weeks.

Accompanying visitors (because “guest” means something specific in military security-speak)

It’s probably best to call ahead to find out the local policy for visitors accompanying Veterans or caregivers who are eligible for access under Section 1065.

  • Installations. The information DoD published about accompanying visitors was the general DoD-level policy, but it only applied to authorized VHIC holders. DoD apologizes for not making that clear from the beginning. In general, newly eligible Veterans with an eligible VHIC cannot escort or vouch for accompanying visitors that cannot establish their own identity and fitness for installation access. Once the accompanying visitor completes the required checks at the visitor control center, they can accompany the eligible Veteran onto the installation and they can enroll their credential, just as the eligible Veteran, to facilitate future visits with the eligible Veteran. Please understand that while this is the DoD-level policy, conditions vary from installation to installation and visitor access may be restricted as a result. It is best to contact the installation ahead of your visit to find out if accompanying visitors will be authorized. Unfortunately, DoD policy does not currently authorize other individuals authorized to access DoD installations with other-than DoD-issued credentials to bring accompanying visitors.  DoD is actively pursuing a policy change that will allow newly-eligible Veterans with a VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A or Primary Family Caregivers with an eligibility letter from the VA Office of Community Care to also bring visitors who can establish identity and fitness to enter the installation.
  • Retail Facilities. The information DoD published about guests is the DoD-level policy. The military departments and installation commanders have the authority to apply more restrictive policy than the DoD-level policy. If a retail organization’s guest policy restricts guest access, then the restricted access policy applies. For example, only authorized shoppers are allowed into the commissary store at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Not allowing guests into the store here is the same for all authorized shoppers. Newly eligible Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers are not being singled out.

Credentials when individuals have both an authorized VA and DoD affiliation

  • Uniformed services retirees, Medal of Honor recipients, Veterans with 100% service-connected disability ratings, or Veterans with 100% unemployability due to a service-connected conditions. If you are a newly eligible Veteran or Primary Family Caregiver and also have eligibility through one of these DoD affiliations, you should obtain and use the DoD identification card for installation and privilege access. This affiliation also makes you eligible for broader DoD benefits that the VA affiliation does not.
  • Other individuals with DoD-issued credentials. If you are a newly eligible Veteran or Primary Family Caregiver and also have a DoD-issued credential, you can use the DoD-issued credential for access to whatever you are entitled to access through your DoD affiliation. For example, a DoD civilian employee assigned to an installation on a transportation agreement in a U.S. territory or possession is authorized installation, commissary, exchange, and MWR access with their DoD-issued credential, so they should use the DoD-issued credential for access, even if they have an authorized VA-issued credential through their authorized VA affiliation. However, a DoD civilian employee assigned in the United States may use their DoD-issued credential for installation and MWR access, but they will have to use the authorized VA-issued credential to shop the commissary and exchange because a DoD-issued civilian employee credential is not valid for commissary or exchange access in the United States.

Online Access

Access to the online exchanges was minimally affected by expanded patronage, because newly eligible Veterans already have had access since Nov. 11, 2017, through the Veterans Online Shopping Benefit.

  • AmericanForcesTravel.com. Because American Forces Travel was a new privilege as of Jan. 1, 2020, authentication data for all newly eligible users had to be coded and pushed to the authenticating agency. That data transfer did not go as smoothly or as quickly as expected due to hundreds of thousands of records with incomplete coding data. Progress is being made daily to correct these records, but it takes time. Your patience and understanding is appreciated while the records are being corrected. There is no way to contact individual users when their records are corrected, so you’ll just need to continue to access the site.  If you are still getting denied access, refresh your browser. If that doesn’t work, give it a few more days and try again.
  • Commissaries.com. The same coding and data transfer issues affected the commissary website. Again, please refresh your browser if you are still not able to create an account and if that doesn’t work, please try again in a few days. Accessing commissaries.com will allow you to see the sales flyers with pricing. Of course, online authentication issues does not prevent you from accessing the commissary in person, provided you bring all of the necessary documentation for accessing the installation and facility, so swing on by and check out the deals first hand.
  • My.Commissaries.com. If you’re trying to set up an account at My.Commissaries.com to manage your rewards card, download coupons, or order from a Click2Go-enabled store, you’ll have to wait until early spring. This portal requires additional programming to interface with the online authentication and couldn’t begin until the user coding was completed.  You’ll know when it is ready for you when they remove the message that explains it is not currently available to you from the login screen.
  • Recreation and other lodging reservation systems. While not all of the military service lodging programs have updated their online reservation systems yet, Navy Lodge has. Newly eligible Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers can book at https://www.navy-lodge.com.

Privilege Access

  • Clarification of “on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. Section 1065 provides commissary, exchange, and MWR retail facility access on the same basis as the members of the armed forces who are entitled to retired and retainer pay, but it does not authorize access to installations on the same basis, access for family members on the same basis, or access to any other facilities or services on installations on the same basis. To facilitate access to the authorized facilities on installations, DoD had to prescribe procedures for installation access, to include identifying the acceptable VA-issued credentials for individuals in these new categories of authorized Veterans and caregivers. DoD has also authorized access to temporary duty and permanent change of station lodging facilities on a space available basis, which is in addition to the access prescribed in Section 1065. While family members are not given access in their own right, DoD has clarified that the newly eligible Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers may have visitors accompany them onto installations and into facilities (subject to the limitations mentioned earlier). DoD has also been very clear that this access in overseas foreign countries is subject to applicable host-nation laws and applicable international agreements, like status of forces agreements. Neither the DoD nor the U.S. Government has the authority to unilaterally change these laws or agreements.
  • Installation commander authority to restrict access. Installation commanders have the authority to restrict access when they determine it is in the best interest of the installation and the mission. That includes access to specific facilities, certain hours of operation, or limits on quantities of products. They can also revoke access when abuse and unauthorized activity is discovered, such as making purchases for other-than personal use.
  • Alcohol and tobacco products. Yes, newly eligible Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers are authorized to purchase alcohol and tobacco products.
  • List of recreation lodging and RV/campground locations. DoD is in the process of compiling and updating such consolidated lists and expects them to be available in the spring of 2020. In the meantime, find the current list of Marine Corps recreational lodging locations at https://www.usmc-mccs.org/services/lodging/recreation-lodging/
  • Special interest clubs. If operated as revenue-generating MWR activities, then newly eligible Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers should be allowed access to special interest clubs like flying clubs, rod and gun clubs, riding stables, etc. If you try to access a special interest club and are turned away, it’s probably a private club, not an MWR activity.

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36 Comments

  1. Gary K. Bradley February 25, 2020 at 18:40

    Good evening,

    I still have the old VA card, and have yet to receive the new card. I’ve reached out to the office where I took my picture last month, and was told I will have my vhic within 7 to 14 days. Here we are over a month later and no card. Now I’m getting the run-around about a vhic. Seriously, is it that difficult??!!.

  2. Buscadon February 22, 2020 at 14:47

    Gracias por la info!

  3. Michael Pintabona February 20, 2020 at 14:58

    Thanks for this updated information. I’ve experienced being denied by my local base. They stated that the H623A form stating that I’m in priority group 8E is not sufficient since the form does not explicitly state that I am “service connected”. I think I’ll just sit back for now while the dust settles, but if this continues and there isn’t a simple way for bases to authenticate and validate access for newly eligible veterans I don’t see how this is going to be sustainable for these military installations without increasing staffing to meet the new demand.

    It’s not just saying “okay, you can come in” at the front gate. It’s also enforcing limited access once on-base and then further authorizing and validating newly eligible veterans within the on-base installations they’ve accessed (MWR, Commissary, Exchange, etc.) to be able to make purchases.

  4. bernard wunder February 17, 2020 at 08:24

    I am not following this statement of yours that:”The information DoD published about guests is the DoD-level policy. The military departments and installation commanders have the authority to apply more restrictive policy than the DoD-level policy.” Where does this authority derive? The statute passed by Congress (P.L. 115-232) provides that: ” A veteran with a service connected disability shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retied or retained pay. ” There is no exception in this law authorizing installation commanders to adopt a more restrictive policy. I was told yesterday when attempting to go to the exchange at a military installation near me with my wife that the commanding officer of the installation had determined that service connected disability veterans such myself would be permitted no guests. Only I could come on the base by myself. Do installation commanders have the authority to preclude retirees from bringing guests(e.g spouses) with them? If so then, I can follow it . If not, then service connected disability vets are not being treated the same as retirees as the law appears to require. Where am I off base if I am at all? I have the new card

    • Tom Kellogg February 28, 2020 at 14:48

      I have waited in hopes that things would get worked out before taking my wife out with her Caregiver Letter Of Approval. First issue was letter was not like the example provided to Pass and ID. Second, would have to show letter each time she came on base with me for a Day Pass FYI -Pass and ID not open on weekends. Way too much trouble.

  5. Mary M. Kleaver February 15, 2020 at 17:42

    I have a VHIC card and my spouse has a United States Uniformed Services card for spouses with exchange, commissary and MWR privileges. I do not golf, but can he use his card to play golf at military bases with golf courses. Thank you.

    • JW February 27, 2020 at 07:27

      Mary, if your spouse has a Uniformed Services dependent ID card, you must have an affiliation with DoD that also qualifies you for a Uniformed Services ID card. DoD doesn’t issue dependent ID cards unless they have a qualifying DoD-affiliated sponsor. And if you have a DoD-affiliation that authorizes you to get a DoD-issued ID card, then you should use the DoD-issued ID card and not your VHIC to access privileges on DoD installations. And to answer your questions, yes, with a DoD-issued Uniformed Services dependent ID card, your spouse can access golf courses on military installations.

  6. Rick Davis February 14, 2020 at 04:55

    Another week went by and there has been no update. It is almost March. It is not implemente the Purple Heart and Disabled Veteran Equal Access Act in Japan yet. the base said the VA card is not implemented yet. Retirees with pay, grey area retirees, and 100% DAVs already have access in Japan.

    Secretary or Defense, President Trump, when will the Equal Access Act be implemented in Japan?

    Please POTUS, help, lease help us President Trump, Please help us Secretary of Defense, they didn’t implement the law yet. Please POTUS, break through the bureaucracy, please help us President Trump, White House, please help us with the Purple Heart and Disabled Veteran Equal Access Act.

    Please Help President Trump and Secretary of Defense, please help us, the system and bureaucracy is taking a long time, it is hurting disabled veterans. We are still waiting, they didn’t implement it in Japan yet. Thank you everyone.

    • JW February 27, 2020 at 07:25

      Rick, remember, U.S. law applies in the United States and in the U.S. territories and possessions, so there is no guarantee that host nations will agree to expanding access.

  7. Keyja Sims February 11, 2020 at 20:30

    So, just using my VA card should get me access to the commissary?

    • Fred Wilson February 12, 2020 at 14:41

      If you have registered at the welcome center and in BDIS system, then you can just use your VA card at the commissary. I have been since January 2, 2020.

      • JW February 27, 2020 at 07:25

        Fred, it sounds like you have a Veteran Health Identification Card that displays one of the qualifying conditions on the front of the card under your photo: PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW, or SERVICE CONNECTED. It’s important to be clear on this point as not everyone with a VHIC has a qualifying condition and the VHIC is not the only identification card that the VA issues.

    • JW February 27, 2020 at 07:24

      Keyja, your Veteran Health Identification Card must display at least one of the qualifying conditions on the front of the card under your photo: PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW, or SERVICE CONNECTED. A VHIC that does not display one of these qualifying conditions will not be accepted for access, and neither will a Veteran Identification Card.

  8. Mona K Boston February 9, 2020 at 17:57

    My husband passed away June 2019, our access cards were issued in Oct 2012, reissued Oct 2016 and due to renew for life Oct 2020, I have 2 questions, am I, as his survivor still eligible for this benefit and do I go to the same place to renew for the final time?
    Also how do I call the location that I need to go to? I am located in Kansas City, MO area.
    Thank you

    • JW February 27, 2020 at 07:23

      Mona, if you already have a DoD-issued identification card (it sounds like that’s what you’re describing, but I can’t tell for sure) then surviving dependents such as yourself would continue to be eligible for a DoD-issued ID card unless your dependent status changes (you get remarried). To renew your DoD-issued ID card, you will need to go to the nearest DoD ID card site for enrollment and ID card issuance. Please direct DoD ID card related questions via email to: dodhra.mc-alex.dmdc.mbx.dod-id-card-policy@mail.mil

  9. Kevin kelleher February 9, 2020 at 08:46

    Why not just give spouses of the newly eligible veterans access to military installations with a dod credential as with the 100 percent disabled veterans. This would make things easier and a lot less confusing…it seems a bit weird to me that a vet with 90 percent rating may have issues with his or her spouse getting on base but just another 10 percent allows that spouse to have a dod credential and allowed to shop on base…hopefully dod (congress) can fix it..

    • JW February 27, 2020 at 07:21

      Kevin, family members of the newly eligible veterans and caregivers were not given access under section 1065, only the qualifying veteran or caregiver. Access for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating or a 100% unemployability rating due to a service-connected condition (and their dependents) already had DoD privilege access under DoD regulation, so their privileges and eligibility for a DoD-issued identification card do not change.

  10. William Mars February 6, 2020 at 08:27

    Can a 100%, service connected, Purple Heart veteran stay at the MWR Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul, ROK? And use the exchange facilities there for sundry items while staying there? I had seen something where this facility, as well as Edelweiss in Germany was all of a sudden not allowing this for even the 100% vets with DOD ID cards. Is this correct, or has that been rectified? Thank you.

  11. Ysg February 5, 2020 at 18:13

    I just hope if I get to UK I will be able to get UK bases. Not sure if it plausible?

    • JW February 27, 2020 at 07:17

      Ysg, remember, U.S. law applies in the United States and in the U.S. territories and possessions, so there is no guarantee that host nations will agree to expanding access.

  12. Dan Bridges February 5, 2020 at 08:50

    Am I correct that only 100% service connected veterans are eligible for the expanded access? In some articles I see “Service Connected Veterans” and other places I see “100%”. Thank you

    • JW February 5, 2020 at 14:21

      Dan, the expanded access does not apply to veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating or veterans with a 100% unemployability rating due to a service-connected condition, because these 100% veterans already have DoD installation and privilege access through a DoD credential. This expanded access DOES apply to veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, veterans who are former prisoners of war, and veterans with a service-connected disability rating between 0%-90%.

  13. James February 5, 2020 at 08:12

    Does the DoD have any update on the status of implementing the Equal Access Act be implemented in Japan yet? Retirees with pay, grey area retirees, and 100% DAVs already have access in Japan. We are waiting and see that Korea, Germany, other countries already implemented it a few weeks ago. The visitors center in Japan this week said it isn’t implemented yet and they had no idea what is going on to the point felt bad for for them not knowing anything, but after all it is a law and DTM-19-012 is the DoD implementation guidance already on the books. DoD, please update everyone on the status overseas by country, I see others are asking about UK too, many people are in the dark.Thank you everyone.

    • JW February 5, 2020 at 14:18

      James, remember, U.S. law applies in the United States and in the U.S. territories and possessions, so there is no guarantee that host nations will agree to expanding access.

  14. Wlllard Charles Dawkins February 4, 2020 at 13:28

    Why can’t 100 percent disabled vet get tricare

    • Fred Wilson February 4, 2020 at 15:13

      Why can’t any of us with a service connected disability be eligible for Tricare? This would be a great benefit.

    • John Jackson February 5, 2020 at 20:19

      I agree, not for me but my family. Champva is difficult to navigate and no one wants to take it.

  15. LEE BEAR February 4, 2020 at 00:50

    I would like to know why those of us who are not eligible to get dental work done because we were not in during a hot war
    (I was in 1/56 to 1/ 60) can no longer get a second opinion from a VA dentist as to weather the work that our dentist wants to do is needed or necessary. This was a very useful benefit as I have found that some dentists will tell you you need work done that you really do not.As expensive as dental work is it is really a crime that a dentist will do this but I have used this second opinion benefit in the past was very happy to have it..I was told at the VA dental clinic that this was discontinued about a year ago.To pay another dentist for a second opinion could get you the same bad story because they do not want to go against another dentist. Also it seems to me that if the VA is going to take care of your health they would include dental work for everyone when you consider how important dental health is to your over all well being.Thank you for any information you can give me on this.

  16. joe starnes February 3, 2020 at 15:32

    Still trying to find out if we can use UK bases. Can’t get an answer from anyone

    • JW February 4, 2020 at 15:56

      Joe, I don’t believe the current status of forces agreement with UK allows access by veterans or caregivers eligible for privileges under Section 1065 of Title 10. Remember, U.S. law applies in the United States and in the U.S. territories and possessions, so there is no guarantee that host nations will agree to expanding access.

  17. James January 31, 2020 at 21:48

    When will the Equal Access Act be implemented in Japan? Retirees with pay, grey area retirees, and 100% DAVs already have access in Japan. We are waiting and see that Korea, Germany, other countries already implemented it a few weeks ago. The visitors center said it isn’t implemented yet, but how long will it take? We understand SOFA, but the legal basis for retirees and DAVs in Japan is already well established. Thank you very much.

    • JW February 4, 2020 at 15:57

      James, remember, U.S. law applies in the United States and in the U.S. territories and possessions, so there is no guarantee that host nations will agree to expanding access.

  18. marlon carino January 31, 2020 at 16:45

    why are the new veterans are not allowed to use the GYM? GYM should be included so veterans will be in good physical condition and mentally.

    • JW February 4, 2020 at 16:01

      Marion, gyms on military installations are provided as support to the mission to ensure our active duty Service members remain fit and ready to serve. These facilities are funded with appropriations and they are only funded to the level to support the military mission.

  19. Bruce Draganjac January 31, 2020 at 16:42

    Excellent information! There is still a lot of confusion on this subject, and information like this can help plow through some of the issues and inconsistencies. Thank you!

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