How can a bartender verify a Military ID?

March 21, 2008 10:53 PM

Where can I find a good 1-sheet FAQ for verifying various types of US Military ID, for use in a bar or restaurant?

My significant other is a bartender, and they have a 'no-military-ID policy' where she works, in the U.S., simply because they don't know what to look for to verify a US Military ID (active duty, dependent, or otherwise).

Can anyone help with a good 1-pager for this? I'm active duty myself, and I've seen a good poster they have at the gates at base here in Korea, but I can't find it online at all. Thanks for your help!

posted by SeanMac to law & government (8 comments total)

Hmm, I'd think maybe the Alcoholic Beverage Control (or whatever the booze police are called in your area) would have something like this. Them, or the liquor license people (if different).
posted by rhizome at 11:00 PM on March 21

Texas (the state she is in) has nothing on the TABC website.. Just general rules for determining if an ID is fake, nothing about specifics. I'm looking for a poster or some such that outlines the points of interest on a military card. Thanks for your response, though! There's been a bunch of google-fu'ing and it's gotten us nowhere thus far.
posted by SeanMac at 11:08 PM on March 21

All U.S. military IDs have a birthdate on them, whether they're active duty, reserve, retired or dependent. I don't know if the birthdate is in the same place on the IDs for the various service branches. But, anyone who has a military ID will also have a regular ID (driver's license, state ID, college ID, etc.) with a birthdate. Even if their regular ID is expired, due to the fact that they're away from home serving in the military, it will still show an accurate birthdate, so asking for a regular ID in addition to a military ID is probably a normal bar policy.
posted by amyms at 11:09 PM on March 21

I think all the services have been issuing Common Access Cards to active-duty members.

I'm active-duty military, and while I might find it irritating that your SO's place wouldn't accept military ID, it would be really unusual for that to be someone's only ID. I still have to have a state driver license, for instance. Maybe the policy is ok the way it is. Do they think they're losing customers because they don't accept mil IDs?

Easiest way is probably to contact the security, pass and ID, or public affairs office of the nearest installation. I bet they'd be more than happy to "partner with the community" (or whatever feel-good buzzword phrase they're using for it around there) by giving you whatever you need.
posted by ctmf at 11:57 PM on March 21

Well, on looking further I see that you aren't exactly in a place where you would know a lot about US state driver licenses, either. Definitely get the US Military security forces to give you some training on IDs if you want to use those. They can also show you the common signs of tampering and whatever.

I can see how more guys wouldn't have something you would accept on them all the time, like a passport, in Korea.
posted by ctmf at 12:16 AM on March 22

Found a visual reference guide here-- http://www.cac.mil/CardInfoGeneva1.html . This is what I was looking for. Thanks for everyones help!
posted by SeanMac at 12:58 AM on March 22

The CAC is (was) only issued to Active Duty personnel (at least when I got out at the end of 2006). the old-style colored paper laminated IDs were still being issued to dependents, non-activated reservists, and retirees.

I do remember the Exchange at the base I was on having a reference sheet for all the different kinds of IDs that were out there.

Maybe you could talk to one of the base security folks, or someone at the exchange to tell you how to get one?
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:27 AM on March 22

CACs are definitely now issued to more than just active-duty personnel - I'm a civilian contractor who's never served, and it was definitely a requirement for getting on-base. That said, there are still other kinds of IDs to be aware of; one of my coworkers never got a CAC, and just used his "I'm retired" ID as proof of who he was.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:20 AM on March 22