The UK Armed Forces Veterans' ID Card

20 February 2019

Front of Veterans' ID Card

Reverse of Veterans' ID Card

Grenadiers,

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) have launched (as of 18th February 2019) a new Veterans' ID card which will enable public and charitable sector services to instantly recognise the service of a Veteran. This card will provide proof that a Veteran has served in HM Armed Forces in line with the Government definition of a Veteran - which is one days' service.

Currently, there is no way for existing Veterans to easily prove the fact that they have served and the administrative burden on providers when verifying that a person is a Veteran can be considerable, both in time and cost. This card will allow you to confidentially verify that someone has served in the Armed Forces.

However, this card will not be held by all Veterans as it is being rolled out in tranches

> Phase 1: To all Service Leavers only, as part of the discharge process with effect from 18th February 2019, and retrospectively to those who left on or after 17 December 2018

> Phase 2: Applications from the wider Veteran Community will be encouraged once the process has been agreed. Information on how to apply will be made available closer to the time - before the end of 2019

Some genuine Veterans in need may not have the capacity to apply for one.

Therefore, please do not take the absence of a Veterans' ID card as proof that a person is not a Veteran. Instead continue to use your existing processes to verify their Veteran status (click here for the related article regarding applying for service records)

Veterans should contact the Veterans' UK Helpline number for further relevant information. Their details are below.

Telephone: 0808 1914 218

Website – www.veterans-uk.info

Regards,

Sgt Rob Broomes, DipFA, CeMAP, CertRP, MLIBF, MCMI

Senior Non-Commissioned Officer

Grenadier Guards Association