TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Oklahoma’s Department of Homeland Security extension that was set to expire Jan. 29 has been extended to June 6. On this date some identification cards, such as the Oklahoma driver’s license, will no longer be acceptable forms of identification to enter Tinker Air Force Base unescorted.
Oklahoma’s driver’s license is currently non-compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005, and the new DHS extension ends on June 6. While the state is working to remedy the non-compliance, a permanent fix is not expected for 18-24 months.
“This does not affect anyone already working here at Tinker AFB since those people have a common access card issued by the Department of Defense,” said Lt. Col. Keith Quick, 72nd Security Forces squadron commander.
According to Lt. Col. Gerald Yap, 72nd Mission Support Group deputy commander, not all bases will experience the same amount of issues with ID cards, Tinker and other bases in Oklahoma will feel the pinch as Oklahoma’s state issued driver’s license is not in compliance with the Real ID act. “We have a process to mitigate non-compliant IDs,” said Colonel Yap.
The Real ID act won’t affect employees with a current Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) or current Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) pass, but it will affect truck drivers, deliveries, and unescorted visitors who normally wouldn’t have base access. New employees will also be affected until which time they are issued a Department of Defense CAC or DBIDS pass.
Other forms of federally-issued identification will be accepted instead of a non-compliant driver’s license including:
• A U.S. passport or passport card
• federally-issued personal identification verification (PIV) card
• driver’s license issued by the U.S. Department of State
• Border crossing card (DSP-150)
• DHS “Trusted Traveler” card (Global entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Military ID
• Veterans Health Certification card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• U.S. Permanent resident card (Form I-551)
• U.S. certificate of naturalization or certificate of citizenship (Form N-550)
• Employment authorization document issued by DHS (Form I-766)
• U.S. refugee travel document or other travel document or evidence of immigration status issued by DHS containing a photograph (permit to re-enter form I-327 and refugee travel document form I-571)
• Transportation worker identification credential (TWIC)
• Merchant Mariner card issued by DHS/U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
• Driver’s license or ID issued by a state that meets the Real ID standards or has an extension (or interim driver’s license)
• State issued EDLs
• Foreign government issued passport
• PIV-I cards issued by non-federal government entities
Identification that will be accepted along with a non-compliant driver’s license include Social Security card, birth certificate, voter registration card, state issued concealed carry license, state issued vehicle registration, and Native American Tribal photo ID.
The Real ID Act of 2005 was intended to improve the security of driver’s licenses to make it more difficult for terrorists to obtain fraudulent IDs.
In a memo from Col. Stephanie Wilson, 72nd Air Base Wing commander, she states, “Tinker AFB will conduct identity proofing procedures using the Real ID Act implementation guide list of acceptable forms of ID independently or as supporting documentation for a non-compliant state ID. We will also continue to vet all unescorted visitors prior to granting access.”