The Department of Defense (DOD) in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today an improved installation access process for veterans and caregivers eligible for medical appointments, shopping at commissaries and exchanges, and taking advantage of certain morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) services. Veteran and caregiver eligibility will now be electronically verified during the installation access process.
Eligible veterans who do not have a VA-issued Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC), as well as eligible caregivers, can enroll for installation access at the visitor center using their REAL ID Act-compliant driver's license or non-driver's identification card. Starting November 1, 2024, Veterans without a VHIC, as well as eligible caregivers, no longer need to present a VA-issued caregiver patronage letter, VA-issued service-connected disability letter, or VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A to enroll for installation access.
Eligible Veterans who do not have a VHIC, as well as eligible caregivers, will still need to provide a copy of their VA-issued caregiver patronage letter, VA-issued service-connected disability letter, or VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A to show eligibility at the commissary, exchange, or authorized MWR services, since these facilities cannot electronically verify eligibility. 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.
"Our veterans and their caregivers deserve a smooth experience in accessing installations," said Ashish S. Vazirani, who is performing the duties of 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."
"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.
To enroll for reoccurring installation access, individuals must visit each installation's visitor center. As with all individuals seeking installation access, eligible veterans and caregivers must establish identity, fitness, and purpose on their first visit to each DOD installation by stopping at the installation visitor center, where they will:
(1) Present an acceptable credential (VHIC or REAL ID) to establish identity;
(2) Undergo an on-the-spot criminal record and terrorism check to establish fitness; and
(3) Have their eligibility for on-installation benefits verified electronically, to establish purpose. If your purpose is for health care, and the DOD installation doesn't have a commissary, exchange, or authorized MWR service, then proof of appointment will need to be provided.
Once a VHIC or REAL ID is enrolled for recurring access at an installation, at future visits the eligible patron can go directly to the installation gate and present the same VHIC or REAL ID enrolled at the visitor center to gain access. Enrollment is typically valid for one to three years, or one year after the last visit to the installation. If a patron's VHIC or REAL ID expires, they will need to reenroll with their new VHIC or REAL ID. The termination of eligibility under the Patronage Expansion Act will automatically result in the termination of installation access enrollment.
