The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration issued the following news release:
Starting today at airports nationwide, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will offer expedited screening to severely injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to offering curb to gate service for our nation's Wounded Warriors, these individuals will also be eligible to move through security checkpoints without having to remove shoes, light outerwear jackets or hats.
"In recognition of the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, we have revised our screening requirements to allow expedited screening for this trusted group of citizens," said John Halinski, TSA's Deputy Administrator and 25-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
To be eligible for this service, a Wounded Warrior or traveling companion should email the Military Severely Injured Joint Services Operations Center, [email protected], or call 1-888-262-2396 with itinerary information for the traveling party. Traveling companions will receive standard screening.
More than 10,000 veterans - nearly 25 percent of the Transportation Security Officer workforce - serve on TSA's front line securing our Nation's transportation sector. Through our Wounded Warrior Screening program, established in 2005, TSA works to make the overall experience for wounded service members as simple and trouble-free as possible.
TSA has long provided expedited screening for all members of our military. At airport checkpoints nationwide, U.S. service personnel in uniform with proper identification, whether traveling on official orders or not, are not required to remove their shoes or boots unless they alarm our technology.
In addition, TSA offers TSA Precheck expedited screening for U.S. Armed Forces service members including reservist and National Guard members at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI), Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), Denver International (DEN), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), Honolulu International (HNL), Lambert-St. Louis International (STL), Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) and Washington Dulles International (IAD) airports. TSA also supports the Honor Flight Network, which transports U.S. veterans and their escorts to Washington, D.C. area airports, to visit the war memorials built and dedicated to honor their service.
Wounded Warriors may also enroll in TSA Precheck, a pre-screening initiative that allows eligible passengers to volunteer information about themselves to expedite their screening experience. Eligible passengers include U.S. citizens who opt-in through a participating airline or enroll in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler program including Global Entry, SENTRI and NEXUS. Canadian citizens traveling domestically in the United States who are members of NEXUS are also qualified to participate in TSA Precheck.
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