A Perk for U.S. Military Veterans

I just found out about a new pass now available from the USGS:

Excerpt from the USGS website page:

The Interagency Military Pass has been part of the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series since 2012. On December 27, 2021, President Biden signed into law S. 1605 “The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022” (NDAA). Section 641 of the NDAA makes Gold Star families and veterans eligible for lifetime passes to federal recreational lands. The Interagency Military-Lifetime Pass can be issued to Gold Star families and U.S. military veterans.

Here's a link to the specific page on the USGS website for this particular pass:  LINK

The pass Covers entrance fees at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites and covers Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to additional 3 adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person.

The above is a pretty good benefit for Veterans, it will cost you $10 (processing and verification fees) at the USGS site but if you use it, should save you quite a few dollars...especially at the National Parks!

I went ahead and applied for the card even though I have the Disability Access version of the America the Beautiful Passes:

I believe, given my read of the USGS webpage, that my existing card is fine for all access granted by the Veteran version but given that we're talking multiple Federal agencies....I figured one or the other would cover things.

The additional benefit of the Disability version pass is 1/2 off the camping fees at BLM, COE, National Parks and USFS campgrounds.  So, if you are a disabled Veteran, get this card...you earned it.

Update: November 16: Received my pass in the mail today.