Thank You for Your Service to Our Country!
We salute and appreciate the sacrifice of all of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Services. The following are some helpful hints for screening your person, carry-on bags and checked baggage to help you achieve a trouble-free travel experience at the airport.
We provide information for family members who would like to obtain gate passes to accompany or meet loved ones at the gate and in addition provide comprehensive airport security information for severely injured military personnel.
Screening of Military Personnel
When you arrive at the checkpoint, the following tips will assist you in getting through the screening process easily and efficiently:
- Keep boarding pass and ID available
- Remove class A uniform jacket, metal items in pockets, and metal belt buckle and submit them for X-ray screening
- Military personnel in uniform, with a valid military ID are not required to remove their footwear unless it alarms the walk through metal detector
- Ensure your carry-on luggage does not contain any prohibited items
Packing Tips for Military Personnel
Pack your heavier, denser equipment/personal items at the top of your checked baggage (i.e. helmets, boots and books). Place your clothing and smaller items in the bottom of the bag. This will help TSA screeners re-pack your bag neatly if a physical search is required.
Take all valuables and electronics with you as carry-on items unless they are prohibited items.
If you wish to lock your checked baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.
Transporting Firearms and Ammunition
Transport of Weapons by the Unit:
- The unit must declare weapons and ammunition to the aircraft operator.
- Weapons must be unloaded and collectively secured in a crate and banded or individually locked in a hard-sided case.
- Ammunition must also be securely packed in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
- You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
- You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
- A unit representative must submit the unit's official travel orders and an inventory of weapons and ammunition being transported.
- The unit representative must certify to TSA in writing that the weapons are unloaded.
Transport of Weapons by an Individual Soldier
Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts may only be transported in checked baggage. Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts are prohibited in carry-on baggage. If you have just returned from overseas duty or any assignment where you carried a gun or ammunition, please be sure to double check your belongings, particularly your carry-on bag, to make sure firearms, parts or ammunition are not present.
- Rules and Regulations about individually transporting firearms or ammunition.
Sharp Objects and Tools - You may not bring knives and certain tools in your carry-on luggage. Tools greater than seven inches are not permitted as a carry-on and all hammers, drills, saws and crowbars are prohibited regardless of length. Pointed scissors with a blade greater than four inches is also prohibited as a carry-on. Pack these items in your checked luggage. Please sheath or securely wrap any sharp objects in your checked luggage so that it does not injure baggage handlers and security officers.
Hazardous Materials: For a list of hazardous materials that are prohibited from the airplane, please visit the Federal Aviation Administration Web site.
Accommodations for U.S. Military Personnel
Military Family Member Gate Passes
Family members who want to accompany a military service member being deployed to the boarding gate or greet them returning from deployment at the arrival gate may receive passes to enter the secure area of the airport.
Interested military family members should contact their air carrier representative at the departure/arrival airport for proper local procedures.
Severely Injured Military Personnel
Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center (MSIJSOC) Program
TSA wants to facilitate the screening of injured and wounded service members. To address these specific situations, TSA has established the Wounded Warrior/Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center Program to support and facilitate the movement of severely injured service members and veterans through the security screening process at our nation’s airports. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Here is how the process works:
- Once flight arrangements are made with the airline, the severely injured service member, or family member, or other representative can contact the Operations Centers (24/7) with details of the itinerary. Contact points:
- E-mail MSIJSOC@dhs.gov (preferred, to protect accuracy of flight information and other details)
- Toll-free telephone number (888) 262-2396
- The Operations Center will acknowledge the request by reply e-mail, or over the telephone
- The Operations Center will then notify the Federal Security Directors or their designated representatives at the involved airports. Federal Security Directors are responsible for ensuring that necessary security screening is conducted with empathy and respect, in order to make the overall experience for the Wounded Warrior as simple and trouble-free as possible.
Persons with Disabilities Security Screening
Learn about the security screening procedures for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions.