Traveling Space-A with kids? There’s a new enforcement wave happening and it’s catching a lot of families off guard. 😬

At bases like Travis AFB, they’ve started strictly enforcing the rule that says “All passengers must have… a valid form of identification issued by a DoD Component, Federal, State, or local government authority. (DoDI 4515.13 – 3.7a – Page 22)” That includes young kids, even those under the age 10.

Let’s break it all down so you’re not turned away at the terminal.

🚨 So what changed?

This isn’t a new rule. It’s just being enforced more consistently now at all AMC bases. Before, many passenger terminals would accept a MILCONNECT print off showing the dependant to sponsor relationship for kids under 10. But now? All locations want an actual ID.

🪪 What ID works for under 10 kids?

The DoD regs do not require a REAL ID. (That’s an TSA thing, not a Space-A thing.) It only defines “state” so you can save on costs by getting a standard state ID if the REAL ID doesn’t apply to your future travel plans. However depending on those plans and if you’re Active Duty, Retired or a Veteran you may want to decide what makes the most sense for your travel goals over the next 5 years with military and civilian travel.

Here are the three best options:

💳 Standard State ID
✔️ Works for getting onto a Space-A CONUS & Territories Flight
❌ Not valid for international travel

🛂 Passport Book
✔️ Required if flying OCONUS to Foreign Countries
✔️ Valid for 5 years (for minors)
❌ Costs a bit more

🛳️ Passport Card
✔️ Cheaper than a Passport Book
✔️ Great for land/sea travel & cruise deals (We used this for the Margaritaville Heroes Sail Free offer!)
❌ Not valid for international air travel

You’ll also still want to make sure you have a birth certificate for your child regardless of what option you’re selecting, especially if your kid doesn’t have a military USID. We carry ours with us for our kids to avoid any issues that can pop up with traveling with minors CONUS & OCONUS.

🎖️ Can my child get a military ID

Sometimes. Here’s when:

• They’re 10 or older
• You’re a dual-military family
• You’re a single parent
• There’s a special medical or family circumstance (think deployment for both dual military members at the same time type thing where the child has different guardianship)

Your local DEERS/ID office can help, but don’t expect a USID to be issued just because you’re Space-A flying. It is not in their regulation to issue an ID for your child flying Space-A recreationally.

💡 Real Talk: What we did

Audrey just turned 10 and we went to get her ID right away to avoid issues. If your kid is younger, you need to choose which ID makes the most sense for your budget and travel goals.

Planning a cruise soon? Passport card might be worth it.
Frequent flyer? Get that passport book.
Just hopping CONUS? State ID may do the trick.

Our advice if you’re military retired flying with kids under 10

If you’re planning to use the full Space-A network, including overseas travel, you’ll want to get your kid a passport book.

It’s the best long-term move since most OCONUS flights require it, and it makes the cost worth it if you’re serious about flying internationally.

Our advice if you’re a 100% Total Veteran flying with kids under 10

Since you’re only eligible to fly CONUS and U.S. territories, this decision can be trickier.
If international travel is even remotely on your radar, like using Space-A to get to Hawaii and snagging cheaper tickets to Japan or Korea from there, then a passport book is still your best bet.

But if you’re staying stateside, then it really comes down to cost. Look at what your state charges for a standard ID vs. a passport card.

If the price difference is small and you don’t have multiple kids, the passport card might give you more flexibility (especially for cruise deals or land/sea border travel).

Your call. Just depends on your goals and how many fees you’re balancing.

Wrapping things up

While this is how things are now it can always change. We will share on our Instagram broadcast channel and socials when we know of any updates. Planning to fly Military Space-A to Europe? There’s also major changes happening with flight routes that go into effect October 1st 2025. Here’s what you need to know!