Some IDs may be invalid starting Sept. 15

  • Published
  • By Staff Report
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Beginning Sept. 15, 2016, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, will not accept forms of identification from non-compliant REAL ID Act states and territories.

Individuals affected must provide alternative forms of identification at the visitor center in order to be granted access on base. Approved alternative forms of identification include:

  • 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 (Personal Identification Verification) or federally-issued PIV-1 cards issued by the federal government.

  • PIV-I card (Personal Identification Verification-Interoperable issued by non-federal government entities).

  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “Trusted Traveler Cards” including Global entry, NEXUS, Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST).

  • Merchant Mariner card issued by DHS/U.S. Coast Guard.

  • 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).

  • U.S. refugee travel document or other travel document or evidence of immigration status issued by DHS containing a photograph.

  • A foreign government issued passport.

The security of service members and their families is one of the Air Force's top priorities.

This new change aligns MacDill with requirements of the Real ID Act, which focuses on improving the reliability of state-issued identification documents in order to prevent a person’s ability to evade detection by using a fraudulent form of identification.

“It will have little effect on common access card, retiree, and dependent ID card holders because their card is an authorized credential to access the base,” said Kevin Siharath, the visitor control center supervisor assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron. “The only time it will affect them is, for example, if they do not have their military ID on them and have a non-compliant license.”

Individuals 16 years and older without a proper military ID, compliant driver’s license or other approved forms of ID will be denied base access.

Guests of military ID card holders, who are being escorted on base in the same vehicle, do not need a compliant license. However, guests traveling in a separate vehicle from their escort will be required to undergo a background check, get a visitors pass, and have a compliant license or other approved form of identification.

Common questions and answers:

Q: I have guests attending a personal event for someone on base, do they each need an Enhanced ID and background check?

A: Assuming your Department of Defense (DOD) ID is valid, you may escort visitors in your immediate vehicle without each person having to be issued a base pass. If you have guests that need to travel unescorted onto MacDill, each vehicle occupant 16 years and over will undergo a background check, and will be issued a base pass based on the need of the visit.

Q: If I am getting married on base, how do my guests and I get on base with these new regulations?

A: The DOD sponsor for your event will need to provide an attendee list to the Visitor Control Center (VCC) at least three duty days prior to the event that will include names and ID’s that are REAL Act compliant. The DOD sponsor must contact the VCC to obtain the proper template and information. All vehicle occupants 16 years and older that are unescorted will undergo a background check.

Q: Why are some states still not compliant? Isn’t this law?

A: It is federal law. REAL ID is federal law requiring federal agencies to restrict the circumstances under which they may accept state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards for official purposes. Participation by states is voluntary, although federal agencies are prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses or identification cards from noncompliant states for official purposes.

Q: Will visitors be able to access the base if they do not have an Enhanced Driver’s License or other approved form of ID?

A: No, visitors who do not possess a valid REAL ID Act credential will be denied access.

Q: Can the installation commander make an exception to policy?

A:  No, federal law does not allow commanders to approve extensions or exceptions.

As MacDill moves forward, the base takes the safety of service members, civilians and their families very seriously, and continues to examine ways to make the installation and facilities safer.

For more information on which states are compliant, please visit https://www.dhs.gov/current-status-states-territories.