DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Starting Jan. 9, 2017, the Air Force will begin implementing REAL ID Act requirements, thereby limiting access to the base by holders of certain state-issued identification cards.
The REAL ID Act, established in 2005, requires all federal and state issued identification to meet certain standards to ensure credibility. More than 30 states, including Texas, are listed as non-compliant and identification holders from those states will soon experience difficulty accessing many federal installations, including all Air Force bases.
“The changes were enacted in 2005 with the passage of the REAL ID Act,” said Maj. Mark Breed, 7th Security Forces commander. “The Department of Homeland Security chose to phase in the requirements to allow other federal and state agencies the necessary time to plan for the compliance requirements.”
The Department of Homeland Security has extended the deadlines to allow states more time to become compliant with the REAL ID Act. Identification issued by the state, to include the driver’s license, is to continue being accepted when attempting to enter Air Force installations. The Texas Department of Public Safety plans to begin issuing compliant identification in the first quarter of 2017.
“For Department of Defense affiliated members who are already in possession of any type of DoD identification card or Common Access Card, there are no changes,” said Breed. “For visitors to Dyess Air Force Base with approved and compliant identification, there will be no change to entry requirements. For visitors that do not have compliant identification, it will require their sponsor or sponsoring organization to physically meet them at the installation entry control point and take responsibility for the guest for the duration of their visit.”
For any additional questions about the REAL ID Act, please visit https://www.dhs.gov/current-status-states-territories