Servicemembers receive expedited screening at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

WASHINGTON–Airport security screening at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will soon be much easier for men and women in uniform and their family members under age 12.  According to an announcement earlier this month by the Transportation Security Administration, screening processes at the airport for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including reservists and National Guardsmen, will be significantly streamlined upon presentation of a valid Common Access Card.

According to the announcement, if TSA is able to verify a service member is active and in good standing with the Department of Defense, the service member will receive expedited screening benefits including not having to remove the following items for screening:

• Shoes


• 3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on


• Laptop from bag


• Light outerwear/jacket


• Belt

“Members of the U.S. Armed Forces are entrusted to protect the security and values of citizens with their lives,” said the announcement posted to TSA’s website, www.TSA.gov, “TSA recognizes that these members pose very little risk to aviation security. As part of our intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security TSA will soon offer TSA Pre-check expedited screening benefits to active duty service members at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).”

To be eligible for expedited processing, Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard members must present a valid CAC card to the TSA Travel Document Checker, along with their boarding passes in the TSA Pre-check lane at the security checkpoint for gates 10-22.  Once TSA verifies the service member is active, they will receive streamlined security processing.  Eligible service members do not need to be in uniform to take advantage of TSA Pre-check. DOD travelers are reminded that TSA’s random enhanced inspections will still be applied as part of the agency’s layered approach to security. 

For more information, visit http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/rbs_dod.shtm.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Are all members of the military eligible to participate?

A. At this time, active duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, as well as active drilling members of the National Guard and Reserve, who are issued CAC cards, are eligible to participate in TSA Pre✓™.

Q. Does the service member need to be in uniform or on official travel to participate?

A. No. Service members do not need to be in uniform to take advantage of expedited screening benefits. They just need to present their valid CAC card to a TSA Travel Document Checker at the designated checkpoint.

Q. How will TSA determine who is in good standing? Is that something that is imbedded in the information on the CAC card?

A. Through an agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD), a TSA Travel Document Checker will scan the service member’s CAC card, providing real-time verification that the service member is in good standing with DoD.

Q. Is the traveler’s information retained or stored when their CAC card is scanned?

A. There is no storage capability on the equipment used to verify the service member’s status. Once the CAC card is scanned and TSA determines whether the traveler is eligible for expedited screening, their information is automatically erased.

Q. Are civilian Department of Defense employees who have CAC cards eligible to participate in TSA Pre✓™?

A. At this time, only U.S. Armed Forces service members who possess a valid CAC card are eligible to participate in TSA Pre✓™.

Q. Will service members be able to access all airlines’ gates by using that checkpoint?

A. The TSA Pre✓™ checkpoint in terminal B at DCA services gates 10-22. There is limited indirect access to other terminals via shuttle bus for passengers with flight changes and last minute transfers.

Q. Is TSA considering expanding these benefits to military dependents, retirees and contractors?

A. TSA will continue to explore the expansion of TSA Pre✓™ to groups that can benefit from expedited screening at security checkpoints while ensuring that overall transportation security is not compromised.

Q. When will TSA Pre✓™ be available to other U.S. service member/Does TSA anticipate a nationwide rollout of this program?

A. TSA hopes to expand TSA Pre✓™ acceptance of service members to additional airports once operationally ready.

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