JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
Members of the 502nd Security Forces Group have been working hard to develop procedures that will grant base access to veterans and primary family care givers since the Department of Defense expanded commissary and military service exchange access as well as Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities and programs.
Access will be granted to Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, veterans with service connected disabilities and eligible caregivers with Veterans Administration issued memorandum.
“This new program is a great way to honor the sacrifices of our disabled veterans,” said Tim Heintzelman, 502nd Security Forces Group Plans and Programs chief. “Our Security Forces members throughout JBSA are ready to implement this program.”
Veterans interested in gaining access to JBSA locations will first need to obtain the new Veterans Health Identification Card, or VHIC. The VHIC must be presented at any Visitor Control Center, along with one of the following forms of identification to complete the registration process, which will include a criminal history check. Once registered, the veteran will only need to present the VHIC at the Installation Entry Control Point to gain access.
- REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or non-driver’s identification card issued by a State, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia
- Enhanced driver’s license issued by a State, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia.
- U.S. passport or passport card
Eligible caregivers will need to present a current VA caregiver letter at the VCC along with the same required identification. Upon registration, permissions will be added to the REAL-ID Act driver’s license. The caregiver will subsequently gain access to the installation by presenting their REAL ID Act driver’s license at the Installation Entry Control Point.
“With the large veteran population here in the greater San Antonio area, we expect a large influx of personnel wanting to get registered immediately starting Jan.1, 2020,” Heintzelman said. “We ask that eligible members be patient with the registration process and that they have in their possession either the Veteran’s Health Identification Card or the caregiver letter along with proper documentation in order to expedite the process.”
Veterans are being asked to arrive at the installations after 8:30 a.m. to avoid the heavy traffic that’s associated with service members reporting to duty. In additions, JBSA-Lackland requests veteran’s against visiting the VCC on all Thursdays and Fridays between 6 a.m. to 10: a.m. due to increased patronage for the Basic Military Training graduations.
Please visit one of the following VCC to register the VHIC. VCCs will be closed for the holidays Jan. 1, but open to register cards Jan. 2.
JBSA-Lackland:
Ø Luke Blvd Gateway VCC: 2602 Luke Blvd., JBSA-Lackland
JBSA Fort San Houston:
Ø Walter Street Gate VCC: 892 Hood St., JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
Ø I-35 SAMMC VCC: 3551 Roger Brook Drive (building 3704) JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
JBSA-Randolph:
Ø JBSA-Randolph VCC: Hermon Drive, JBSA-Randolph
For more information on REAL-ID visit https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/1409065/real-id-act-compliance.