How does free TSA PreCheck sound?!
OK. It’s not the sexiest introductory blog post, but I chose the topic for a reason. I have a lot of friends in the military community, and several of them are traveling soon with their colleagues. This seemed like a great way to reach a wide audience quickly— and generate some immediate goodwill for my new blog. ; )
Most US travelers know the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides security screening for all passengers traveling from domestic airports. Travelers enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program can skip the standard waiting line. Instead, they pass through a separate lane for easier, expedited screening.
Automatic Enrollment for DoD Personnel
Enrollment in TSA PreCheck normally costs $78 for 5 years. It usually requires a visit to an enrollment center, where application data, fingerprints, and a photograph are taken.
However, members of the US Armed Forces and Federal civilian employees of DoD are automatically enrolled. Their enrollment is free, and DoD personnel may use TSA PreCheck for both official and personal travel.
Claim Your Free TSA PreCheck
If you’re a Service Member or DoD Federal civilian employee, the process is easy. Simply find the DoD ID number on the back of your Common Access Card (CAC). Then enter it as the “Known Traveler Number” (KTN) in the passenger details section of your existing flight reservation. You can also ask a reservations or travel agent to enter it for you when booking a flight (or afterwards). Save the KTN in your frequent flyer account profiles for automatic transfer to all reservations linked to your accounts.
Plan Ahead
Just be sure the KTN is entered at least 24 hours before obtaining your boarding pass. Verify that “TSA PreCheck” appears on your boarding pass when you check-in for your flight online. If not, go to the check-in counter at the airport and give your KTN to an agent. He/she can provide an updated boarding pass to use at the screening area.
Non-Transferability
TSA PreCheck eligibility is exclusive to the Service Member or DoD civilian. Sadly, spouses, dependents, and other companions must apply for TSA PreCheck on their own. Whether you pay or get it for free, though, TSA PreCheck is a time-saver that makes airport screening much more convenient.
A surprising number of eligible military and DoD personnel are still unaware of this perk. I decided to highlight it with my first post as a way to thank them for their service. And if they share this blog post with their friends and colleagues, I won’t object!
For detailed information about the TSA PreCheck program click here. And for an interesting bit of WW2 history, read this blog post. Or learn how to visit a nuclear missile silo in the United States.
