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Disabled American Veteran (DAV) ID

A Federal/DoD ID that has various benefits at military bases.

NOTE:

Benefits of the DAV ID

The DAV ID offers several benefits:

  • Easier access to military bases;

  • Access to the Commissary;

    • The commissary credit/debit card user fee is also NOT charged!

  • Expanded access to Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities;

  • Access to PX/BX and shopettes;

  • REAL ID compliant form of identification; and

  • Space-A Travel (limited to flights between and within the continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • If you want to bring a guest/someone without a DoD ID onto base, they MUST still get a visitor's pass at certain bases, and those passes are at the discretion of the local command.

  • The ID does NOT give you privileges of using base medical.

Eligibility

Both Veterans and their dependents can get the ID.

Veterans

Veterans MUST have an honorable discharge; AND

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Dependents

The following dependents of Veterans who are rated 100% or awarded TDIU are eligible:

  • Children under 21 years of age;

  • Children 21 and older, but under 23 years of age, enrolled in college full time AND you provide over 50% financial support;

  • Children 21 and older, who are incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical incapacity, and need over 50% financial support from the Veteran;

  • Parents (this includes in-laws) that need over 50% financial support and live with the Veteran; and

  • Spouse.

The following dependents are NOT eligible:

  • Children who are married; and

  • Children who are in the military.

Obtaining a DAV ID

Getting your hands on a DAV ID is fairly straight forward.

  1. Click Here to find your nearest ID Card Office and schedule an appointment.

  2. Get you paperwork together.

Veterans need to bring ALL of the following:

  • Benefits letter showing award of a combined rating of 100% or TDIU;

  • Commissary letter;

  • DD214 showing an honorable discharge;

  • Two forms of valid ID;

    • This includes, but is not limited to: drivers licenses, state ID, original SSN card, passport, and original birth certificate.

Dependents need to bring ALL of the following:

  • All the above Veteran stuff;

  • Documentation showing relation to Veteran;

    • Be it their marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption decree, etc.

  • Two forms of valid ID; and

    • This includes, but is not limited to: drivers licenses, state ID, original SSN card, passport, and original birth certificate.

  • Evidence showing proof of special circumstances (if applicable).

    • So your proofs of college enrollment, financial support, disability, etc.

NOTE:

  • You can expedite the process by filling out the required forms online, along with any supporting documentation, but still bring everything with you to your appointment.

3. Attend your appointment with the required documentation.

Be advised, some bases WILL require you to first go to the visitor center to get a pass, for your dependents/self - even if you already have a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) that says 'service connected'.

Which means get to your appointment early! Sometimes their background checking systems 'go down' or are very slow. Which can make getting onto the base take a long longer than you'd otherwise expect.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • Veterans who are P&T will get an ID that does NOT expire. The expiration date will be "INDEF".

  • All dependents, along with Veterans who are NOT P&T, will get an ID that does expire, usually in around four years.

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Yes, just know green suiters get priority all the time so doing a walk-in can take hours - if you get in at all.

    • No. The military retiree ID is superior in terms of benefits anyway.

      • If someone got both in the past, it was a MISTAKE and generally does cause issues in DEERS.

References