An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Sept. 7, 2016

JBSA to implement REAL ID Act Sept. 15

The REAL ID Act was enacted to implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance…of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act prohibits Federal agencies from accepting, for official purposes, driver’s licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards. 

In January 2016, Department of Defense installations stopped accepting driver’s licenses from American Samoa, Minnesota, Missouri and Washington as proof of identity. 

Starting Sept. 15, Joint Base San Antonio will no longer allow unescorted access of individuals with the above licenses. Visitors, vendors and contractors requiring access with IDs from the above listed states must be escorted by the organization or individual sponsor or must possess and present an alternate form of identification as required by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance.

Additionally, as part of DHS REAL ID phase implementation, starting Jan. 10, visitors, vendors and contractors seeking access to JBSA using a driver’s license or identification card from the following states will be denied access or must be escorted if they cannot present an alternate identification credential: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, N. Marianas, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and the Virgin Islands.

The above phase will only apply if further extensions are not approved.

What does this mean? Visitors, vendors and contractors will no longer be able to use one of the above listed states driver’s licenses as proof of identity to gain unescorted access onto Department of Defense installations and facilities, including JBSA. The installation will no longer authorize unescorted visitor passes or credentials for anyone without a REAL ID complaint credential. However, visitors, vendors and contractors may be escorted by individuals with an authorized credential under the Trusted Traveler policy, which allows for up to five individuals to be escorted onto the installation. Additionally, they may obtain access by presenting an alternate form of identification. 

While ID’s that do not meet REAL ID security and data-collection guidelines will not be accepted, alternate forms of identification will be accepted. You only need one of the following: 

  • U.S. Passport
  • U.S Passport Card
  • Permanent Resident Card/Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
  • A foreign passport with a temporary (I-551) stamp or temporary (I-551) printed notation on a machine readable immigrant visa
  • An employment authorization document that contains a photograph (Form I- 766)
  • Identification card issued by Federal, State, or local government agencies, provided it contains a photograph and biographic information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
  • U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Cards/Credentials
  • PIV or Federally-Issued PIV-1 Cards (Personal Identification Verification) issued by the Federal Government
  •  PIV-I card (Personal identification verification-Interoperable Issued by Non-Federal Government entities)
  • DHS “Trusted Traveler Cards” (Global entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) • Merchant Mariner card issued by DHS/ United States Coast Guard (USCG)
  • Border Crossing Card (Form DSP-150); U.S. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-550) and U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)

There is no change for installation access to individuals who already possess military issued credentials. Non-DoD personnel without installation access credentials will be the largest demographic affected by REAL ID Act requirements.

Families attending BMT and other graduations, for the most part, will not be affected by the REAL ID implementation. The current process allows access credential to be issued in advance.

For families seeking care at medical facilities, access to these facilities falls under emergency situations and special procedures, which have been set to allow access to families and patients.

For more information, please contact the Security Forces Visitor Control Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston (210) 221-2650, JBSA-Lackland (210) 671-6174 and JBSA-Randolph (210) 652-3939.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the REAL ID Act of 2005 all about?

A: The Act establishes minimum security standards for State-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from States that do not meet these standards.

2. When will REAL ID implementation start at Joint Base San Antonio?

A: The implementation of REAL ID will begin September 15, 2016.

3. When implementation begins, what driver’s licenses or identification cards will no longer be accepted for unescorted access to Joint Base San Antonio?

A: Identification from Minnesota, Missouri, Washington, and American Samoa will no longer be acceptable for unescorted access to any DoD facility, including Joint Base San Antonio.

4. Does REAL ID change access for those with a military, retiree, dependent or CAC ID?

A: No. There is no change for access to individuals who already possess DoD credentials.

5. Who does REAL ID affect?

A: The Act affects non-DoD credentialed personnel with a driver’s license or identification card from a non-compliant State or Territory.

6. How can affected personnel enter the installation?

A: Individuals with non-compliant identification may still be able to access Joint Base San Antonio. However, to do so, they must either present approved alternative sources of identification, or be sponsored by a DoD credentialed escort.

7. What are acceptable alternative forms of identification?

A: Acceptable alternative forms of identification are: U.S. Passport; U.S Passport Card; Permanent Resident Card/Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551); foreign passport with a temporary stamp or temporary printed notation on a machine readable immigrant visa; employment authorization document that contains a photograph (Form I-766); identification card issued by Federal, State, or local government agencies provided it contains a photograph and biographical information including name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address; U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Cards/Credentials; Federally-issued Personal Identification Verification (PIV), PIV-1, or PIV-I Cards; DHS “Trusted Traveler Card” (Global entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST); Merchant Mariner Card issued by DHS/United States Coast Guard; Border Crossing Card (Form DSP-150); U.S. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-550), U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551); and U.S. refugee travel document, or other travel document or evidence of immigration status issued by Department of Homeland Security containing a photograph.

8. Who is going to be responsible for escorting affected personnel?

A: Individuals with non-compliant identification must be escorted by a DoD credentialed sponsor.

9. Are other states affected by the REAL ID Act of 2005?

A: Yes. Unless Department of Homeland Security approves further extensions, driver’s licenses and identification cards from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Northern Marianas, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, will become non-compliant on October 10, 2016.

10. What happens to personnel from non-compliant states after October 10, 2016?

A: Personnel presenting State identification from non-compliant states must show an approved alternative source of identification for unescorted access. In cases where alternative identification is unavailable, the individual must be sponsored by a DoD credentialed escort (DoD ID holders may escort up to five individuals at a time), or will be denied access to the installation.

11. How will families attending BMT graduation or other JBSA-sponsored events gain access to the installation if they are from non-complaint States?

A: While REAL ID implementation affects all visitors to JBSA, additional access procedures have been instituted to preclude impact to families attending BMT graduation. While similar procedures may also be instituted for other JBSA-sponsored events, visitors should contact the applicable JBSA Visitor Control Center or event POC to verify installation access requirements.

12. How will individuals gain access to medical facilities for treatment or patient visits?

A: Procedures have been instituted for both emergency and visitor access to medical facilities located on JBSA. Contact the applicable Visitor Control Center to verify installation access requirements.