Posted on Jul 6, 2015
GOOD IDEA? Veterans ID Cards could replace DD-214. Bill Passes House & Senate
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Share your thoughts on a Veterans ID Card replacing the DD Form 214.
On Monday, the U.S. Senate amended and passed with unanimous consent a bill from a Florida congressman which ensures every veteran receives an ID card from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs without burdening taxpayers. The House passed the bill last month with 402 representatives backing it and no votes cast against it.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., introduced the Veterans ID Card Act earlier this year. Buchanan’s bill would ensure all veterans receive ID cards from the VA instead of just those who served 20 years in the armed forces or are seeking medical treatment for service-related wounds.
In pushing his bill in recent months, Buchanan has noted veterans are forced to carry DD-214 paperwork, which contains sensitive information including Social Security numbers, and an ID card would be more convenient and would do a better job of keeping their personal information secure.
“A simple, standardized ID card will make life easier for our veterans and serve as a reminder that our brave service men and women deserve all the respect a grateful nation can offer," Buchanan said on Tuesday.
Buchanan insisted his bill was budget neutral since veterans who opted for the ID card would have a small fee which the VA secretary would examine every five years.
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/buchanans-bill-replace-dd-214-veterans-id-card-passes-senate-without-opposition
On Monday, the U.S. Senate amended and passed with unanimous consent a bill from a Florida congressman which ensures every veteran receives an ID card from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs without burdening taxpayers. The House passed the bill last month with 402 representatives backing it and no votes cast against it.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., introduced the Veterans ID Card Act earlier this year. Buchanan’s bill would ensure all veterans receive ID cards from the VA instead of just those who served 20 years in the armed forces or are seeking medical treatment for service-related wounds.
In pushing his bill in recent months, Buchanan has noted veterans are forced to carry DD-214 paperwork, which contains sensitive information including Social Security numbers, and an ID card would be more convenient and would do a better job of keeping their personal information secure.
“A simple, standardized ID card will make life easier for our veterans and serve as a reminder that our brave service men and women deserve all the respect a grateful nation can offer," Buchanan said on Tuesday.
Buchanan insisted his bill was budget neutral since veterans who opted for the ID card would have a small fee which the VA secretary would examine every five years.
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/buchanans-bill-replace-dd-214-veterans-id-card-passes-senate-without-opposition
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 100
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This is the new one, the should have sent one to you if you had the old one.
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Just another feel good bill which really serves no purpose. As LTC Yinon Weiss indicates, it may be good for verification on RP but what else will it be used for? I have a VA Health Care System ID card, I have my retired ID card and in Rhode Island I have my drivers license adorned with Veteran. I can probably even get my retired Air Force civilian ID card. And I don't believe most veterans are carrying around their DD214's. I would certainly bring copy to an emplyment interview or processing but thats about it, either i left a copy or it went home with me. And todays 214's have an ID number, they are no longer using the SSN.
Unless a new ID card had more than just my name and branch of service on it, I would have no use for it.
Unless a new ID card had more than just my name and branch of service on it, I would have no use for it.
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I think it is about time. Also have your medical records on a chip that is embedded on the card so when traveling you can use the card to get help when you have an issue. I have 2 DD-214s and do not like to have other people handle those. I have been fighting for years to get help from DAV and now have the American Legion working on getting me help. All in all after 1987 I never looked back and asked for help but the time has come to try and get some..I have to dig to find info that seems to not be there. I left and never had a card of any type and still do not have one. To me it would be nice to show it when needed.
P.S. Sorry for any typos..hands and brain not functioning as supposed to.
Chuck D
P.S. Sorry for any typos..hands and brain not functioning as supposed to.
Chuck D
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How about just stick with incorporating it into drivers licenses and State IDs.
I haven't had any issues with mine!
I haven't had any issues with mine!
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Even with a Retiree ID Card, I have encountered dimwits at various low-level government positions that think the only proof of military service is a DD214. I applied for a Retiree license plate, with my retiree ID in hand, and was denied because the clerk misinterpreted the regs (proof of service, such as a DD214) as the only acceptable means of weeding out wanna-be types. This is a great idea only if the uneducated public knows what they are looking at.
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I like the idea. Who wants to carry your DD-214 into Great Clips on Veterans Day to get your free haircut or to the multitudes of places that give discounts to us Veterans? I have my old reserve card but lets face facts...those pictures on those sure are bad and OLD for some of us. I have been out since August 1981. I dont look anything like I did then. Oh and BTW our Reserve cards also contain our SSN. Next question is how do us oldies but goodies get our cards??
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LTC Stephen F.
PO2 Mark Saffell, since the VA states they will charge a small fee to a veteran who wants the card, I think this will be a voluntary program to get cards to those who don't have a military retiree ID card or a VA Disability ID card. I know a WWII veteran who doesn't have any card and a marine from the 1960's who uses his 2LT ID Card from 1964 which is way beyond its expiration date. For veterans like that the card could be beneficial for proof for discounts.
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PO2 Mark Saffell
same problem I have. I have an old reserve card with a picture on it from January 1980
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PO3 Sherry Thornburg
PO2 Mark Saffell - yeah, mine is from 1990. I have had to show my dd 214 on a number of occasions. a few jobs interviews and when I went back to college. The State of Texas lists me as a vet on my Driver's license. That also required me to produce it. That addition to my license doesn't include any information, from my DD 214. The card just has an added line that says I'm a veteran. Not the same and not usable as proof of service anywhere.
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PO2 Mark Saffell
In Missouri I have the US Navy Veteran Plates. That required both my DD214 and proof of Honorable Discharge. But doesnt do me any good to get discounts offered to us Vets
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I feel they should Make the VA ID more readily available for all veterans, something like make everyone going through TAPS enroll in the VA to get one VA application only takes a couple of minutes to fill. The new VA cards already have bar codes on them to sign into appointments with and pull information from in the computer, I think it would be a lower cost solution to slightly modify something that already exists.
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PO3 Jody Wangen
been using my VA medical card for years. never run into anyplace that did not take it as proof of prior service.
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LTC Stephen F.
SPC Andrew Lucas The VA says a small fee for each veteran who wants to have one issued to them.
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I think both would be good. You still should have DD214 to have list of awards etc so you have a record of that. I know a few people who got off active duty and lost the certificate for an award but it was on DD214 so they were able to use it for points when they came back in.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC (Join to see) For the US Amy HRC keeps a record of all active duty soldiers and holds them for an indefinite amount of time online.
For the US Amy, HRC keeps a record of all points for reservists and retirees. When I was still a drilling IMA I would routinely have to send corrections to get my points credited. I ended up with 7515 because I had lots of active duty time. I check every year and my points have not changed.
https://www.hrcapps.army.mil/portal/default.aspx
I recommend to each every NG and Reserve soldier, sailor, marine and airperson that you check your points recorded at whatever personnel system supports you. When I was drilling they mailed annual statements to me and I used them and other documents to correct the recorded points.
For the US Amy, HRC keeps a record of all points for reservists and retirees. When I was still a drilling IMA I would routinely have to send corrections to get my points credited. I ended up with 7515 because I had lots of active duty time. I check every year and my points have not changed.
https://www.hrcapps.army.mil/portal/default.aspx
I recommend to each every NG and Reserve soldier, sailor, marine and airperson that you check your points recorded at whatever personnel system supports you. When I was drilling they mailed annual statements to me and I used them and other documents to correct the recorded points.
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Suspended Profile
Sorry for additional post....but just realized i've been retired for several years now and aside from applying for VA benefits have never been asked for my DD-214 so again i'm failing to see any benefit to this....can someone education me please. The life of retiree is different that that of a veteran and maybe i'm missing a key piece of information.
CPT John King
Often, on Veterans' Day, you can get discounts and free stuff with proof of being a veteran. Last Veterans' Day I got a free, did I say FREE?, cup of coffee at a hardware store. I didn't have any proof, but I guess my face said I was honest. Glad I didn't pay for that coffee, though. ;)
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SFC Rollie Hubbard
I looked but this is all I found.
Veterans requesting the IDs would have to pay a small fee, to be determined by Veterans Affairs officials. That fee would cover the cost of the program.
Veterans requesting the IDs would have to pay a small fee, to be determined by Veterans Affairs officials. That fee would cover the cost of the program.
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PO3 Jody Wangen
LTC Stephen F. - all you have to do is take your proof of service to a VA medical center and they will issue a VA medical card. this will serve as proof of service in most places.
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LTC Stephen F.
PO3 Jody Wangen, I have had a VA Disability Card for a couple of years already based on my service-connected disabilities. That and my retired reserve ID card both contain personal information on them which can be skimmed with software on portable devices. I tend to be very careful when I show those cards.
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