TOPIC:

Hi all, new poster here. I am one of a number of service connected (SC) veterans that have recently gained right to base access for MWR, commissary and exchange uses. What I have run into is the difficulty in getting access to the few bases I've tried for entry. The common issue seems to be you have to get access to each and every individual base you want to visit - and that's the primary problem. Each base seems to have a different set of operating hours at the Visitors Center - most open function Monday - Friday 0800-1600 or there abouts. Miss those hours and your out of luck - as I found out at NAS Key West and Patrick AFB. I see that 100% SC veterans and purple heart or POW veterans are issued a DOD ID Card that automatically gets you access and wondering why this ID option can not be given to other SC veterans? I travel frequently in my campervan and would love to be able to just stop in at various bases on my trips but having to match those very limited hours can be daunting. Anyone else have these issues? Suggestions?

Craig Poole, RM1, USN and Lt.(O-3) US PHS Corps

Good question. Similar concerns for me. Also was an RM1, btw.

Same here, 4 th time to a Military Fam Camp since January. Today was easy at Grand Forks AFB, other bases are full of obstacles and issues. Sure wish DOD would come up with something. They seem to want us to shop at Exchanges etc.

Any update on this topic? I want to start using some of the Military campgrounds also but I keep hearing issues with access to different bases, nothing seems to be standard.

The info I got from Shaw AFB 12/2021 is that every base is different and background checks are good for 1 year for S/C entry.

Maze

Although the DAV may be authorized access to the base (and FamCamp), their family members are not. I recently heard that the DAV member can't sponsor their family members as guest, so they were not allowed entry to the base. Again, I know this isn't the same for all installations.

The DAV access is a joke. We were turned away at a NAS that I had reservations at because they could not run a security check on the weekend plus the fact that my wife under no condition would be granted access.

So now I have access to the commissary as long as I go during whatever hours they decide and I leave my wife at the gate.
Thanks for nothing...