Qualifying Veterans and Caregivers Get More Access to Military Bases
The Department of Defense has partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to facilitate access to military bases and the potential services they offer vets and caregivers.
The DoD and the VA have streamlined the rules and procedures for military base access, allowing veterans better access to medical appointments, shopping at commissaries and exchanges, and using Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) services on military bases.
Expanded Access to Military Bases
November 1, 2024, was the first day of this expanded access, with veterans and caregivers offered a simplified enrollment process to get on base. Instead of needing a VA-issued Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) or presenting various forms of documentation, eligible individuals enroll for base access using their REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or non-driver’s identification card.
Veterans without a VHIC and eligible caregivers no longer have to show documents like a VA-issued caregiver patronage letter or VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A.
“Our veterans and their caregivers deserve a smooth experience in accessing installations,” said Ashish S. Vazirani, acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
“We are glad to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs on this initiative and look forward to continuing to welcome eligible veterans and VA caregivers to military exchanges and commissaries, and at eligible facilities like golf courses, movie theaters and clubs.”
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Who Qualifies
The term “eligible veterans” is simple enough for many to understand (retirees, those with a qualifying VA disability rating, etc.) but what does “eligible caregivers” mean? Who qualifies for expanded base access under that definition?
According to a DoD press release, “Currently — for purposes of MWR, commissary, and exchange shopping — eligible caregivers are those who are approved and designated as a primary family caregiver of an eligible Veteran under VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.”
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Signing Up For Expanded Base Access
The registration process uses electronic verification to confirm eligibility during the installation access process. Base visitors should know that although enrollment is simplified, veterans and caregivers must still present VA-issued eligibility documentation at commissaries, exchanges, and MWR facilities.
This is because not all military bases can verify eligibility electronically. To enroll for recurring base access, visit the visitor center of the military installation and be prepared for a one-time enrollment process:
- Identity: Present a REAL ID or VHIC.
- Security: Undergo a background check for security purposes.
- Purpose: Eligibility for on-base benefits is verified electronically. If the purpose is for healthcare at a DOD installation without a commissary, exchange, or authorized MWR service, proof of appointment will be required.
Once enrolled, accessing the base becomes much simpler. Visitors may proceed directly to the installation gate and present their enrolled REAL ID or VHIC for access. Enrollment is typically valid for up to three years or one year after the last visit to the installation.
This collaborative effort between the DOD and VA aims to improve the overall experience for veterans and caregivers accessing the benefits and services they deserve.
“The VA-DoD partnership will make it easier for our nation’s veterans and their caregivers to more easily access benefits and services on military installations, including VA medical appointments,” said Tanya Bradsher, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
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About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
