Retired Air Force Colonel pens Pentagon over military retiree IDs reportedly flagged by TSA computers

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) — A retired Air Force Colonel is calling out the federal government over what he believes is a disservice to retired military members, and requesting a change to security protocol at American airports.

After driver’s licenses and other state-issued forms of ID were required to meet REAL ID standards to fly in May, reports emerged of American military retirees facing additional screening at airports.

William Coleman, a retired colonel for the United States Air Force and service member for more than three decades, sent letters to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem over emerging reports of military retirees facing additional questioning at TSA checkpoints.

After using official retired military IDs, which lack expiration dates and are labeled ‘indefinite,” retiree ID cards are reportedly interpreted as expired by TSA computers, because they are not recognized as a REAL ID.

“I’m asking you for your help in righting an egregious wrong,” Coleman wrote last Friday.

Coleman’s long-list of career achievements include responsibility “for the security of Air Force One” at Joint Base Andrews and abroad.

“You stay up late at night when you have a resource like that in your backyard that you’re responsible for,” he told DC News Now Friday.

Coleman hopes what he wrote in black and white can turn the page on what he believes is an avoidable hindrance.

His concerns sent to the Pentagon from his Alexandria home, mere miles away, are documented by military retirees nationwide.

Jeffery Spencer, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, told DC News Now’s sister station KFOR in Oklahoma City in March, that he faced questions at the airport with his Department of Defense-issued ID.

“It does not have an expiration date, and when the TSA went to check it on their computer and their software, it shows that it’s expired, and all the IDs that you use have to be valid,” he said.

Spencer added, “I don’t recall them [federal officials] sharing any information about it. So, it’s like we have this big unknown that a lot of us over 65 retirees maybe don’t know about.”

While the Department of Homeland Security’s website insists retired military IDs will continue to be accepted at TSA checkpoints, it’s unknown if every TSA agent recognizes them as official–meaning an opportunity for additional questioning.

“Since REAL ID, I haven’t even gone to an airport, and don’t intend to,” Coleman said.

While retirees could alternatively present a REAL ID driver’s license, Coieman believes they should not have to in order to avoid the possibility of additional screening –“It’s a dignity thing,” he said.

A 2024 forecast published by Statista suggested there are 2.3 million military retirees in the US. There is no telling how many may have been asked to provide alternate ID or undergone additional questioning at airports since REAL ID rolled out.

DC News Now asked the Department of Homeland Security if they have plans to update ID scanning systems so retired military IDs are recognized by computers, and don’t need to be additionally verified.

We are still awaiting a response at the time of publication.

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