Clarion County VA will help vets get ID cards

But as any military veteran knows, it’s not as easy as it sounds. But Clarion County Veteran Affairs Director Judy Zerbe hopes to help local vets get their ID cards soon.

The new IDs will not, however, qualify as official government-issued identification for air travel or other uses. The ID card program is voluntary.

Military.com says that to receive the card, veterans must log in to Vets.gov using either the ID.me verification system or a DS log-in.

Users will then be able to apply for the hard-copy card by verifying their personal details through the website and by submitting a copy of a valid government issued-ID as well as a shoulders-up photo to the site.

Once the application is complete, users can expect to receive their new ID card within 60 days, officials said in a release.

Officials said users will also be able to receive a digital copy of the card by mid-December.

The link for the application is found at the bottom of the Vets.gov homepage under the words “Apply for Printed Veteran ID Card.”

Making it easier

The online process, though, is something Zerbe knows won’t work for a large number of older vets.

‘Some of our older vets aren’t going to be able to navigate the website or maybe they don’t have a computer to do it,” said Zerbe.

Because the military.com site is actually a sub-site of the federal VA’s site, it accepts and posts advertising. And because that site accepts advertising, access to the site is blocked on county computers due to concerns about potential computer viruses sometimes hidden in online advertising.

Zerbe said she asked the Clarion County Board of Commissioners for permission to access the site and the commissioners immediately OKd the request.

“The commissioners said they are going to direct the IT department to make the change so I can access the site and get started helping our local vets get their cards,” Zerbe said of the commissioners.

Once Zerbe has access to the site, she said she will be able to help Clarion County veterans obtain the ID card.

“I had an old camera here I received from the sheriff’s department I was planning to use to take and upload the required photo, but the commissioners also approved the purchase of a new, higher pixel camera, so IT will set that up, too,” said Zerbe. “I have a scanner here for the other required documents,” said Zerbe. “I hope to be able to get online and help get the cards by the end of December.”

Because of the paperwork involved and potential rush to obtain the cards, Zerbe asked that veterans seeking the ID card call her office to schedule an appointment. The number is (814) 226-4000, extension 2610.

Driver’s license stamp

Act 176 of 2012 provided a way for military veterans to design their status on their Pennsylvania driver’s license.

This was accomplished by adding a Veterans Designation directly to the bearer’s driver’s license or identification card.

Qualified applicants for a Veterans Designation on their driver’s license or identification card include those who have received a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty/DD214 or equivalent for service in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the National Guard.

Once the veterans designation has been added to your license or ID, it will automatically appear each time your license or ID is renewed.

The veterans designation does not entitle a veteran to any special consideration or discount but rather identifies the bearer as a veteran, who honorably served their nation and the commonwealth.

Any other recognition such as a discount, free meal or other token of appreciation is completely and solely determined by the organization, business or entity providing a service.

There is no fee for the veterans designation; however qualified applicants must pay any initial issuance; renewal or duplicate driver’s license or ID fees.