As detailed in the Real ID Act of 2005, certain state driver's licenses and identification cards do not meet federal regulations and cannot be used as primary forms of ID to gain access to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and other federal installations.
Some states remain on the list; Illinois now meets federal regulations.
In April, some driver's licenses and identification cards from some states and territories in the United States became unacceptable as primary identification for persons to gain access onto Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and other federal installations.
The Real ID Act set minimum standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting them from states that do not meet the standards.
In June, Illinois was removed from the list of States that are not compliant with the Real ID Act, leaving Missouri, Minnesota, Washington and the territory of American Samoa as currently non-compliant.
There are a couple of exceptions to the rule, according to Tracie Miller, physical security specialist at JBM-HH's Directorate of Emergency Services.
Although Minnesota and Washington are not currently Real ID Act compliant, they participate in a program called the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), which produces IDs that surpass Real ID Act standards and therefore can be used to access the joint base as well as other federal properties, she said.
But not every ID card issued in Minnesota and Washington is an Enhanced Driver's License, so visitors from those states will have to check to see if their license denotes whether it is an EDL.
"If a person's driver's license denotes that it is in fact an EDL, it will be accepted," Miller said.
But if a person's ID card isn't an EDL, or if they have a license from Missouri or American Samoa, they'll need to use a different form of primary identification to access the joint base.
"If you're coming on for a special event -- a funeral, to attend church service -- for any reason where you do not have an authorized form of DOD identification or an [Automated Installation Entry] pass, there are documents that you can use," Miller said.
She added that if people from any of those states have a Common Access Card or another form of an authorized DoD ID, they will be granted access.
Acceptable documents and other federal ID cards that are authorized and accepted for access include military ID cards, U.S. passports, Personal Identification Verification cards, Veterans Health ID cards issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, driver's license issued by the U.S. Department of State; a U.S. certificate of naturalization or citizenship; a U.S. military or draft record; Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID card (Global Entry, NEXUS, Sentri, FAST) and native American tribal photo IDs.
Miller said the list of states or United States territories that are or are not accepted under the Real ID Act will change.
"We may see states added or removed as they come into or out of compliance," she said. "We would certainly update the public as soon as possible to let them know which documents are no longer accepted or are now currently accepted."
And drivers should still carry their licenses, even if they are not Real ID compliant. "These are still documents that you need to drive," she said.
She added Real ID non-compliant driver's licenses are used by JBM-HH law enforcement personnel to help conduct background checks on personnel entering the base.
"We will still ask to see them as a secondary form of identification to complete a background check requirement for base access," said Miller.
To check your state's compliance level, visit dhs.gov. For more information and frequently asked questions about Real ID compliance, visit www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs. The DHS website offers users the chance to sign up for by-state email updates that alert users to changes in their state's compliance status with the Real ID Act of 2005.
JBM-HH DES has been phasing in new access regulations since January 2015. According to JBM-HH Regulation 190-16: Installation Access Control, which is available on the joint base website, those without acceptable forms of DoD identification who desire escorted or unescorted access to Army installations will enter the installation through an authorized access control point, and they must be vetted utilizing the National Crime Information Center and the Terrorist Screening Database.
For more information, call 703-588-2800.
Related Links:
JBM-HH Control Regulation 190-16
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