Veterans Access Requirements for Commissary, Exchange and MWR Patronage Expansion

Courtesy Photo | Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) - Authorized  

UNITED STATES

12.23.2019

Courtesy Story

Naval Air Station Pensacola

Commander, Navy Installations Command has established new installation access requirements to accommodate authorized veterans and family members in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

Commissary, Navy Exchange (NEX) and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) retail facility privileges are extended to certain eligible veterans and their caregivers. Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, or veterans who have a service-connected disability, and designated primary family caregivers of eligible veterans, are permitted to use these facilities on the same basis as a member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.

These new measure will take effect in phases:

Phase One: Starting on Jan. 1, 2020, veterans with a Purple Heart, former POW or a VA-documented service-connected disability with ratings of 0-90 percent who possesses a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) from the VA can sign up for access to Naval Air Station Pensacola (NAS Pensacola). The VHIC must display the veteran’s eligibility status. The designated primary family caregiver of an eligible veteran who has an official caregiver letter from the VA can also sign up for access to NAS Pensacola. To obtain a VHIC card, go to: https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhic.

Phase Two: At this time, the effective date is unknown. Veterans who qualify for privileges but are not eligible for a VHIC will be issued a letter from the VA indicating eligibility for access to Department of Defense installations to access Commissary, NEX and MWR facilities. For information on how to obtain a letter of eligibility, please call the VA at 1-877-222-8387.

While not all veterans are eligible for in-person privileges and base access to NAS Pensacola, all honorably discharged veterans are eligible for online military exchange shopping through the Veterans Online Shopping Benefit.

All VHIC cardholders MUST stop at the NAS Pensacola Visitor Control Center (VCC) to enroll in the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) before entering the station the first time. Primary family caregivers can present their letter of eligibility from the VA at the VCC and enroll in DBIDS for installation access. VHIC cardholders will need to bring their VHIC card, and a picture ID (i.e. driver’s license, U.S. Passport or any other REAL ID). For more information on how veterans can obtain a Real ID compliant identification card at https://www.dhs.gov/real-id. DBIDS authorization must be renewed annually.

Veterans must visit the VCC at all bases they wish to access. The NAS Pensacola VCC is expecting a significant increase of eligible veterans requesting access to the installation. The VCC is located at the Main Gate of NAS Pensacola. VCC hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday and 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, contact the VCC at [phone].

• Date Taken: 12.23.2019
• Date Posted: 12.23.2019 12:42
• Story ID: 357029
• Location: US