Having graduated from a maritime academy, I also received a commission in the Naval Reserve. After about 11 years, having completed my requirements I was sent my honorable discharge certificate. I don't however have any kind of retirement ID, nor do I know if I'm entitled to one.

I ask as I know that retired military do receive perks and one that I'm interested in is the benefit of National Park entry. It would also be great to have the benefit of entering various bases.

Do any of you guys know if this is something I'm entitled to and if so, how do I go about it? If it makes any difference, I do hold a current and active merchant marine chief engineer's license.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

How many years did you serve?

It's 20 years of active duty for a standard retirement from military branches, or variations based on reserve time. Otherwise you're just separated, not technically "retired".

You have a DD214 which confirms that you've served but you didn't serve long enough to have earned a retirement and be issued a retired ID card. You're a veteran not a retiree. No ID card.

If you had chosen to continue in the reserves until you met retirement eligibility (20 years of qualifying service) that would be a different story. You'd get an ID and have access to military base commissaries and exchanges, etc. You'd also be eligible for retired pay at age 60.

My situation is similar to yours. My understanding is you wouldn't be considered "retired Navy" as has been stated, you would need 20 years of active duty. I haven't looked into it in some time, but for a year of active duty to be considered a "good year," you'd need at least 50 points (?) for that year.

In that case, I wouldn't think you'd be entitled to a retirement Navy ID. You would still technically be considered a Navy veteran however.

As a veteran, however, you may be eligible for a lifetime access pass to national parks. Look here...
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/...22-lifetime-pass.htm

An honorable discharge isn't "retirement", and you wouldn't be eligible for a DOD ID card if you're an honorably discharged veteran that hasn't met the requirements for retirement.

You may be eligible for a VA veteran ID through the Veterans Administration.

With 11 years and an honorable discharge, you are a Navy Veteran but not "Retired Navy". You will not be able to enter military bases as you will not have a Retired Navy ID card.

Check with your state, mine does a Veteran designation on your DL that can be good for various things.

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I'll pursue the VA veteran ID idea as well as talk to the DMV about the drivers license.

Redleg, thanks for that link.

Are you interest in shopping at the Exchange? There's a new program for veterans like you who are not retirees:

https://www.shopmyexchange.com/veterans

Like bald1 I have a retired ID, so I don't need to register. I know zero about this program, nor do I know how you'll get on base without a mil ID.

My situation is 8.5 years active, about 5.5 total reserve years, before & after. I’m not ‘retired’ military.

I also don’t look for any lines to get a free coffee.

That said, I do carry a veteran ID card from the VA. It comes in handy at times, yes I may take the 10% discount at Lowes occasionally.

https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/vic/

I’d ask of you have a DD-214? Either way you can check the website.

I know a lady who should of never been allowed in, Army. She gained entry as they scraped the bottom at the height of the Gulf War. She was a druggie, made it through a few weeks of basic training. She never completed basic, got a pretty good medical discharge on the way out, $2000 or so a month.

She has a DAV plate & is 1st in line at any free offerings for Vets. She also has received ‘wounded Warrior’ assistance.

Thinking of her, I won’t be bothered with an occasional 10% off or a free coffee. That National Park card is real too.

Sigmund and sourdough, thanks for those links too!

You will be able to get the life time pass for the national parks with the veterans ID through the web page posted above. I did. Once you get VA ID just show it at any national park where you would normal pay and ask for the the lifetime pass. I did a 4 year hitch with the Navy and got my VA ID

Having a veteran’s ID can be useful for more than a free coffee now and then. For example, Nightforce Optics offers a substantial discount to a variety of people, including military veterans.
https://www.nightforceoptics.c...ormation/mil-gov-le/
I took advantage of that not too long ago for an ATACR 7-35×56mm scope.

Although EuroOptic has a slightly spotty record in some ways, they also offer discounts as does Leupold, and as I recall veterans are eligible at both companies. In checking EuroOptic for a $500 scope, my discounted price would have been a savings of about $75.

I am sometimes surprised by the discounts offered to military veterans, but then I remind myself what a small percentage of the population we constitute.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
Are you interest in shopping at the Exchange? There's a new program for veterans like you who are not retirees:

https://www.shopmyexchange.com/veterans

Like bald1 I have a retired ID, so I don't need to register. I know zero about this program, nor do I know how you'll get on base without a mil ID.

From the same link, Exchange shopping is online only:

Where can I use this benefit?

Online with any of the military exchanges. This benefit does not grant installation access.

quote:

Originally posted by Redleg06:
As a veteran, however, you may be eligible for a lifetime access pass to national parks.

No idea this existed. Now I'm looking into it. Definitely gives us more options for family vacations.

quote:

Originally posted by Redleg06:

As a veteran, however, you may be eligible for a lifetime access pass to national parks. Look here...
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/...22-lifetime-pass.htm

I stopped at a Park Service office in downtown Titusville FL to inquire about this. The woman at the desk was very annoyed that I had interrupted her game of computer solitaire to ask such a silly question. She brusquely referred me to the actual park location on the shore.

I drove to the park, where I parked (redundant, but isn't that what you do at a park?) and spoke with the much more helpful uniformed dude (ranger?) at the gate, telling him that I had heard it was ten bucks for a lifetime pass. He looked at the wheelchair license plate on my car and asked to see my MediCare ID card, whereupon he issued me a lifetime pass at no charge.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:


I’d ask of you have a DD-214? Either way you can check the website.

Likely has a DD-256. Not a DD-214.

^^^ I have a DD256

I got my free national park pass starting from this site. And I was in the Navy.

Go to the section that starts with:
"Military Annual Pass
Cost: Free

Available for:

Current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. Please check photo ID requirements before arriving."

It gives you two ways to get your pass: 1) You can go to a physical location where they issue you your pass for free or 2) you can go to the USGS Store online and pay $10 for processing but it saves you a car trip.

I clicked I am a Veteran then went through the online process of verifying that I qualified. They have a database of all who's ever served, I suppose.

Good info! Thanks, Rey.