MD & DO Real or Myth: TSA pre check with VA badge?

[Until2021]

Hi guys,

I've heard that the VA badge for med students can get TSA pre check. Is this real? Is this for domestic flights only or does it include flights leaving the US?

Thanks!

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[raiderette]

I thought it facilitated getting the TSA pre-check, but you still have to register.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

As far as I know, only military and dod civilians with a CAC can automatically get pre check (ie, without registering), if that’s what you mean.

 

[ciestar]

To answer the TSA precheck piece.. you can use it on international flights leaving the US. You need Global Entry to come back.

 

[operaman]

Myth. Used to be early on that some airports would let people with government ID use the pre check line but that’s long since stopped. It may facilitate the processing for getting it but you still have to jump through all the hoops.

You CAN use your med student VA piv card to get government rate discounts at hotels and what not. I definitely used this on interviews and even on vacations. My best use was at the La Posada resort in Santa Fe- usually 4-500 per night but with VA ID was $99. So it does have perks, but pre check ain’t one of ‘em.

 

[Psai]

Myth. Used to be early on that some airports would let people with government ID use the pre check line but that’s long since stopped. It may facilitate the processing for getting it but you still have to jump through all the hoops.

You CAN use your med student VA piv card to get government rate discounts at hotels and what not. I definitely used this on interviews and even on vacations. My best use was at the La Posada resort in Santa Fe- usually 4-500 per night but with VA ID was $99. So it does have perks, but pre check ain’t one of ‘em.

I never thought of this, amazing tip

 

[RangerBob]

I never thought of this, amazing tip

You just have to be careful-as a student and resident you’re not actually a government employee and thus technically/legally not eligible for government discounts. There are pretty severe penalties if understand correctly. I’m not sure how this is enforced though-I knew students who used the ID for discounts as well.

TSA told me the only thing the PIV badge is good for is you can use it in place of your driver’s license. It’s just another ID.

 

[nimbus]

You just have to be careful-as a student and resident you’re not actually a government employee and thus technically/legally not eligible for government discounts. There are pretty severe penalties if understand correctly. I’m not sure how this is enforced though-I knew students who used the ID for discounts as well.

TSA told me the only thing the PIV badge is good for is you can use it in place of your driver’s license. It’s just another ID.

What is the severe penalty and who is dishing out the punishment?

 

[RangerBob]

What is the severe penalty and who is dishing out the punishment?

You’d have to do a google or forum search. I remember seeing a discussion about this exact issue before and a government employee was going over the punishments. I just remember them saying the punishment could be harsh as it would be considered some kind of fraud. You can’t go out there and tell people you work for the government if you don’t. Not sure who the punisher is-Uncle Adam in some form.

I think the bigger question is who is the enforcer. I don’t know who monitors the system from abuse, but it’s likely pretty rampant as it’s pretty hard to enforce. I chose not to risk it because I was not a government employee (the academic institution employee/paid me, not the government), so I did not think it was right.