Military and Uniformed Service Members

Military Members and DoD Civilians receive TSA PreCheck®, an expedited screening program offered at more than 200 airports, as a benefit of their employment and service. * Benefits are applicable to all official and personal travel whether TDY or R&R.

BLUF - How it Works

Follow these simple steps to ensure that the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on your boarding pass, so you can travel with ease.

TSA Strategy

Military Members

  • Update your Defense Travel System profile with your DoD ID number in the Known Traveler Number (KTN) field
  • Update your airline frequent flyer profiles with your DoD ID number in the KTN field
  • When booking travel, confirm your DoD ID is in the KTN field

DoD Civilians

  • First, opt-in via milConnect
  • Update your Defense Travel System profile with your DoD ID number
  • Update your airline frequent flyer profiles with your DoD ID number in the Known Traveler Number (KTN) field
  • When booking travel, confirm your DoD ID is in the KTN field

Who is Included

Military and Uniformed Service Members, includes:

  • Active duty branches of service
  • Reserve components of the U.S. military
  • National Guard (both Army and Air)
  • U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
  • Students of the U.S. military service academies (USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, USMMA)
  • United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps
  • NOAA Commissioned Office Corps

DoD Civilians, including:

  • Federal civil service employees
  • Non-appropriated fund (NAF) civilians

What You Get

TSA PreCheck helps you enjoy a smoother security screening process at more than 200 airports and 90+ airlines across the country. About 99% of TSA PreCheck® passengers wait less than 10 minutes.

with PreCheck you do not need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or jackets

Other Details

Types of Travel 

TSA PreCheck benefits apply to both TDY (official) and R&R (personal) travel when travel reservations include your Known Traveler Number (KTN) otherwise known as your DoD ID number.

Uniforms

Military Members do not need to be in uniform to take advantage of the TSA PreCheck program.

Transition Planning

For those transitioning out of the military or a DoD Civilian role, be sure to enroll into TSA PreCheck prior to leaving to maintain your travel benefits for another 5 years. Many credit cards and loyalty programs reimburse TSA PreCheck enrollment fees. Check to see if yours does: Credit Cards and Loyalty Programs featuring TSA PreCheck: I Transportation Security Administration.

Traveling with Others

  • Children 12 and under may accompany a parent or guardian when traveling with TSA PreCheck in expedited lanes without restriction.
  • Children 13-17 may accompany a parent or guardian with TSA PreCheck when traveling on the same reservation and if the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the child's boarding pass.
  • As TSA PreCheck is only free to active Military Members and DoD Civilians, to remain together through expedited screening, please be sure to remind travel companions 18 and over (including spouses and partners) they may enroll in TSA PreCheck. Enroll here.

AskTSA

Have Questions? AskTSA

The @AskTSA team is available to answer your questions on the communication platform of your choice.

Take a minute to check out What Can I Bring? on tsa.gov to help ensure you pack appropriately.

AskTSA a Question on: 

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Text Message Text “Travel” (275-872) to AskTSA 

Contact us for live assistance from 8 a.m. to 6 pm. ET
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Need Extra Help? TSA Cares

Injured Military Members, veterans, and wounded warriors may request assistance at security screenings through TSA Cares.

Please contact TSA at least 72 hours prior to travel with questions about screening policies, procedures, and what to expect at security checkpoints.

Contact TSA Cares to:

Request Assistance via online form
Call TSA Cares at (855) 787-2227

FAQs

No, TSA PreCheck® benefits do not extend to non-DoD affiliated military adult dependents age 18 and over.  Be sure to enroll here for TSA PreCheck® benefits. Note: Also check Credit Cards and Loyalty Programs featuring TSA PreCheck® here for eligible credit cards and loyalty rewards programs featuring fee reimbursement.

Firearms, ammunition, and firearm parts are prohibited in carry-on baggage and may be transported in checked baggage only. If you have just returned from overseas duty or any assignment where you carried a firearm or ammunition, check your carry-on bag and other belongings to ensure firearms, parts, and ammunition are not present. Contact AskTSA or TSA Contact Center with questions you have regarding TSA firearm regulations and for clarification on what you may or may not transport in your carry-on or checked baggage. 

Injured, wounded service members, veterans and wounded warriors may contact TSA Cares to request assistance with the security screening process. TSA Cares is a helpline to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. Call TSA Cares 72 hours prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint at (855) 787-2227

 Wounded Warriors 

TSA verifies the status of individuals identifying themselves as a wounded warrior through the appropriate military branch. Following verification, the travel information is provided to the departing/arriving U.S. airports where wounded warriors may experience expedited screening procedures. 

 Veterans 

Injured service members/veterans requesting assistance will have their travel information and type of assistance required provided to the departing/arriving U.S. airports to ensure they receive proper assistance at the security checkpoint. Veterans who are not enrolled in TSA PreCheck™ will be screened in standard screening lanes. 

Learn about the security screening procedures for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions.

Yes. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and DoD Federal civilians can use TSA PreCheck® benefits for both official and personal travel. Be sure to update all travel reservations with your DoD ID number listed as the Known Traveler Number (KTN)  to enjoy benefits. The KTN also can be added when booking reservations online via a participating airline website, by phone with an airline reservation agent or with the travel management company making reservations. Save your KTN to any frequent flyer profiles, employer booking systems or online travel websites that you use.

 Yes. Cadets and midshipmen of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Coast Guard Academy receive free TSA PreCheck® benefits. Add your DoD ID number in the "Known Traveler Number" (KTN) field when booking flight reservations.

No. All members of the U.S. Armed Forces must include their DoD ID number in the Known Traveler Number field when making flight reservations and a TSA PreCheck® indicator must be visible on your boarding pass. The airlines will print a TSA PreCheck® indicator (such as TSAPRECHK, TSA PRE, or TSA PreCheck®) on boarding passes to help you recognize when you are eligible for TSA PreCheck® on your flight.

You cannot access the TSA PreCheck® lane by presenting your CAC or other documentation.

Yes, U.S. citizens and/or lawful permanent resident cadets and students of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and six State Maritime Academies are eligible to receive free TSA PreCheck benefits through the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.  Students enrolled at these academies are eligible to enroll for TWIC, and most U.S. Merchant Mariners are required to maintain a valid TWIC to obtain their Merchant Mariner Credential. When making an airline reservation, enter the Credential Identification Number (CIN) which is the eight-digit number printed under the bottom left of the barcode on the back of the TWIC® card in the Known Traveler Number (KTN) field. For cardholders with the newest version of the TWIC card, the CIN is also embossed on the front of the card.

No, TSA PreCheck® benefits do not continue after leaving DoD.  Be sure to enroll upon retirement or leaving DoD to continue enjoying TSA PreCheck® benefits.

DoD federal civilian employees must opt-in to TSA PreCheck® by visiting the milConnect website. After selecting the “My Profile” and the “CIV” menu tab when logged into the website, users will be guided through the opt-in process for TSA PreCheck®. Civilian employees need to opt-in only once. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces do not need to opt-in.

Enter the DoD ID number from the back of your common access card (CAC) into the “Known Traveler Number” field of your flight reservations or when updating your Defense Travel System profile for official travel.

DoD federal civilian employees must opt-in via milConnect before using their Known Traveler Number.  

  • The unit must declare weapons and ammunition to the aircraft operator. 
  • Weapons must be unloaded. 
  • Weapons must 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. 
  • Firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition must be completely and securely enclosing any 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 ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, if 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. 
  • Contact AskTSA or TSA Contact Center with questions you have regarding TSA firearm regulations and for clarification on what you may or may not transport in your carry-on or checked baggage.