Thank You for Your Service to Our Country!
We salute and appreciate the sacrifice of all of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Services. The following are some helpful hints for screening your person, carry-on bags and checked baggage to help you achieve a trouble-free travel experience at the airport.
We provide information for family members who would like to obtain gate passes to accompany or meet loved ones at the gate and in addition provide comprehensive airport security information for severely injured military personnel.
Assistance for America's Veterans: Disabled, Injured and Wounded Warriors
TSA wants to facilitate the screening of injured and wounded service members and veterans including individuals associated with a Wounded Warrior program. To address these specific situations, the TSA Cares helpline will help support and facilitate the movement of injured service members and veterans through the security screening process at our nation’s airports.
Here is how the process works:
- Once flight arrangements are made with the airline, the injured service member or veteran, family member, or other representative can contact the TSA Cares helpline with details of the itinerary. Contact points:
- Toll-free telephone number 1-855-787-2227 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. (EST/EDT) and weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST/EDT)
- E-mail TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
When a veteran with a disability or medical condition contacts TSA, a representative will provide assistance with information about screening that is relevant to his or her specific disability or medical conditions and ensure appropriate information is conveyed to the respective airport(s).
Learn about the security screening procedures for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions.
TSA Pre✓™ for Active Duty Military
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces are entrusted to protect the security and values of citizens with their lives and as such TSA recognizes that these members pose very little risk to aviation security. As part of our intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security TSA now offers TSA Pre✓™ expedited screening benefits to active duty service members at select airports. Eligible service members include U.S. Armed Forces service members including reservist and National Guard members, who possess a valid Common Access Card (CAC).
Screening of Military Personnel
When you arrive at the checkpoint, the following tips will assist you in getting through the screening process easily and efficiently:
- Keep boarding pass and ID available
- Remove class A uniform jacket, metal items in pockets, and metal belt buckle and submit them for X-ray screening
- Military personnel in uniform, with a valid military ID are not required to remove their footwear unless it alarms the walk through metal detector
- Ensure your carry-on luggage does not contain any prohibited items
Packing Tips for Military Personnel
Pack your heavier, denser equipment/personal items at the top of your checked baggage (i.e. helmets, boots and books). Place your clothing and smaller items in the bottom of the bag. This will help TSA screeners re-pack your bag neatly if a physical search is required.
Take all valuables and electronics with you as carry-on items unless they are prohibited items.
If you wish to lock your checked baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.
Transport of Weapons by the Unit
- The unit must declare weapons and ammunition to the aircraft operator.
- Weapons must be unloaded.
- Weapons mus be collectively secured in a crate and banded or individually locked in a hard-sided case.
- Ammunition must also be securely packed in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
- You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder or holster).
- You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
- A unit representative must submit the unit's official travel orders and an inventory of weapons and ammunition being transported.
- The unit representative must certify to TSA in writing that the weapons are unloaded.
Transport of Weapons by an Individual Soldier
Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts may only be transported in checked baggage. Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts are prohibited in carry-on baggage. If you have just returned from overseas duty or any assignment where you carried a gun or ammunition, please be sure to double check your belongings, particularly your carry-on bag, to make sure firearms, parts or ammunition are not present.
- Rules and Regulations about individually transporting firearms or ammunition.
Sharp Objects and Tools - You may not bring knives and certain tools in your carry-on luggage. Tools greater than seven inches are not permitted as a carry-on and all hammers, drills, saws and crowbars are prohibited regardless of length. Pointed scissors with a blade greater than four inches is also prohibited as a carry-on. Pack these items in your checked luggage. Please sheath or securely wrap any sharp objects in your checked luggage so that it does not injure baggage handlers and security officers.
Hazardous Materials: For a list of hazardous materials that are prohibited from the airplane, please visit the Federal Aviation Administration Web site.
Accommodations for U.S. Military Personnel
Military Family Member Gate Passes
Family members who want to accompany a military service member being deployed to the boarding gate or greet them returning from deployment at the arrival gate may receive passes to enter the secure area of the airport.
Interested military family members should contact their air carrier representative at the departure/arrival airport for proper local procedures.