DoD USID Card for 100% P&T Service-Connected Veterans
Who qualifies under PHDVEAA
- Veterans with a VA service-connected of 100% (schedular or ).
- Purple Heart recipients (any rating).
- Former Prisoners of War (POWs).
- Medal of Honor recipients.
- Caregivers of eligible veterans enrolled in the VA ().
What the USID card gets you
- Unescorted access to all stateside commissaries (DeCA).
- Unescorted access to all military exchanges — Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), Navy Exchange (NEX), Marine Corps Exchange (MCX), Coast Guard Exchange (CGX).
- Online shopping access to ShopMyExchange.com, MyNavyExchange.com, ShopCGX.com, MyMCX.com.
- Access to Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities — golf courses, gyms, lodging, ITT/ITR ticket offices, recreation centers, on-base restaurants — subject to local installation rules.
- Does NOT include health coverage or (those are separate eligibility tracks).
- Does NOT include space-available military air (Space-A) travel — that requires DD Form 2765 with a different eligibility framework.
How to apply
- Download your VA letter confirming 100% (or 100% schedular) from → 'VA Letters' → 'Benefits Summary Letter.' Print it.
- Locate the nearest RAPIDS ID office — use the RAPIDS Site Locator at idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/locator. Walk-in vs. appointment policy varies by location; many require an appointment.
- Bring two forms of ID (one government-issued photo ID like a driver's license; the second can be a passport, Social Security card, or birth certificate), DD-214 Member 4 copy, and the VA letter.
- RAPIDS staff verify eligibility in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System), take a photo, and print the USID card on the spot — no waiting period.
- No cost.
Caregiver eligibility detail
Caregivers approved under the (, also called the 'caregiver program') receive their own USID card with the same commissary/exchange/MWR privileges. The card stays valid as long as the caregiver designation remains active.
Where these claims break down
- ×Showing up at the RAPIDS office without the VA benefits summary letter — staff need the letter to verify the 100% P&T status in DEERS.
- ×Confusing the DoD USID with the VA VHIC — they are different cards from different agencies for different purposes.
- ×Assuming the USID grants TRICARE — it does not. TRICARE for 100% P&T veterans is a separate eligibility track (CHAMPVA covers the spouse/dependents; the veteran uses VA care).
- ×Forgetting to update the USID after a recharacterization — if VA later changes the rating, the USID may need to be reissued or updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
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