Identification Cards

When I was growing up in the late nineteen hundreds, there was a saying: If they don’t know who you are, then they don’t know what you’ve done. But now, in modern times, the saying should be: If they don’t know who you are, then they don’t know what benefits you’re eligible for. This brings us to this topic: Identification Cards.

We get a lot of questions about the different types of IDs, and hopefully, this will answer some of the most frequently asked questions and offer a little insight.

California Driver’s License

Eligible veterans have the opportunity to add the word “VETERAN” to the front of their Driver’s License/ID card to indicate that they have served in the United States military. The VSD-001 (Veteran Status Verification) form is used to add the "VETERAN" designation to your California Driver's License or ID card. The DMV does not provide this form. Our Veterans Services Office is happy to assist with the VSD-001 form.

Medal of Honor recipients, American Ex-Prisoners of War, and 100% disabled veterans due to a diagnosed disease or disorder that substantially impairs or interferes with their mobility are eligible veterans who may also get a Disabled placard. This benefit waives registration fees and provides a free license plate for one passenger motor vehicle, one motorcycle, or one commercial motor vehicle with an unloaded weight of less than 8,001 pounds. Please note that the DMV may charge a fee.

Veteran Health Benefit Card

When you’re enrolled in VA health care, you get a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) that you use to check in to your appointments at VA medical centers. You may also use this card to get discounts offered to Veterans at many stores, businesses, and restaurants. If you have a VHIC, you don’t need to request another type of photo ID card to prove you’re a Veteran or to get retail or business discounts.

Military Base Access

Another popular question we get is, “Can I get on base once I’m service-connected?” Every military institution has its own rules for gaining base access. I am speaking only of Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore. The veteran must have “service-connected” on a VHIC. An award letter will not suffice. MUST be VA health card. NAS Pass and Decal will run a background check, which will take 7-10 business days. Spouse is eligible but also must complete a background check. Contact NAS Lemoore at (559) 998-3386 for more access questions.

As always, be kind to one another.

Cecil Webster, the Veterans Services Officer for Tulare County, is a former U.S. Navy Photographer’s Mate 3. Contact him at the Veterans Services Office at 3348 W. Mineral King Ave. in Visalia, by phone at 559-713-2880, or by email at TCVSO@tularecounty.ca.gov.