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Military veterans with at least a 0% VA service connected disability rating are eligible to receive a Veteran Health Identification Card.
The Veterans Administration (VA) issues Veterans Health Identification Cards or VHIC that can be used to check in for VA health care appointments. Learn how to get your VHIC online on the VA VHIC site.
With the VHIC card, veterans can access Commissary and Base Exchange and US military bases. This is an easy way to visit friends and family on US military bases without the need for a guest pass or to be escorted.
I recently separated from the military and submitted a VA disability claim with the help of Disabled American Veterans.
Hawaii Military Base Access with VHIC
With the VHIC, you will need to register at each base to which you want to gain access. You will need to present your Social Security Number, a form of government ID such as a passport or unexpired driver's license, and the VHIC. You also need to complete a form SECNAV 5512, available on the JPBHH
A quick background check will be performed and you will then be entered into the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) for that particular base. The barcode on your ID will now scan for the gate guards and you will be allowed to access the base to utilize your Commissary and Base Exchange privileges.
In 2023 I went through the process of applying for base access to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on the Hawaiian island of Oahu near Honolulu.
The registration process at JBPHH was simple and took about 15 minutes from showing up to the JBPHH Pass & ID office located here.
1250 South Drive, Honolulu, HI 96818 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (Building 3455, adjacent to Nimitz Gate) 808-449-0865/0867
You will need to complete a form SECNAV 5512, which you can do at home before you go to the Pass & ID office. The SECNAV 5512 form is available on the JBPHH Nimitz Pass and ID site, or on the DOD Media site, or without fillable fields it is available below.
Information you will need before filling out the SECNAV 5512 form includes:
- Name, Race, and Gender
- Date, City, State, and Country of Birth
- US Citizen Yes or No
- Dual citizenship
- Social Security Number
- State ID, drivers license, passport, or alien registration number, issued date, and expiration date
- Weight, Height, Hair Color, Eye Color
- Home Address and Phone number
- Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
- Date and Sign
Each base has it's own policies, procedures, and forms to fill out before access is granted to a VHIC ID holder. Check with the Pass and ID office of the particular base you want to access before going in.
Veteran Health Identification Card FAQ
A VHIC card looks like a landscape mode ID card. On the front of the card, the top says “VA” and “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs” with a VA seal. A member ID, Plan ID, and Member name is on the left side. The branch most recently served in is in the middle of the front of the card. A DBIDS scannable barcode is on the bottom of the card and a photo of the member is in the upper right hand corner.
First, submit a VA disability or healthcare claim on the VA website. Then, go to the Get a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) page on the VA website. The entire process can be done online.
A VHIC card stands for Veterans Health Identification Card. It allows a veteran to access health care appointments, US military bases, and utilize veterans with service-connected disabilities Commissary and Exchange privileges.