If your disability is approved by the VA then you will start receiving compensation. With that in place its time to get a new VA Id card. Below my picture on my VA ID card it says “VA HEALTHCARE ENROLLEE SERVICE CONNECTED". The Service Connected element is the important part. This opens the door to getting on military bases and commissary and exchange privileges along with possible MWR access – which I haven’t tested yet. Getting on base at Lewis McChord was a two part process. At the visitor center be prepared to show the VA ID, drivers license, vehicle registration and insurance and a marriage license for the spouse. A temporary pass will get you to the next step on base for formal registration at Waller Hall for example at McChord. Once your VA ID is registered it is supposed to be registered through a skynet link to all bases. This failed when I tried going to Bremerton. Probably too political at Bremerton and wasn’t worth the extra effort. McChord AFB is closer and has a better exchange.
