For spouses of newly reactivated IRR soldiers, the ID is one of the most important things that you can have.  Unfortunately, I also found it to be one of the most difficult to get.

You will need your ID for Tricare (military health care), commissary and PX privleges, and other miscellaneous verifications along the way.  (It is also good for military discounts on goods and services.)   To get your ID, you need to visit a site that issues them, which includes most military installations, as well as some Reserve and National Guard units.  You can search for your nearest site here.  Theoretically, you need only a completed, signed, and verified DD Form 1172 and a photo ID.  I also recommend that you bring along a copy of your spouse's orders and a Power of Attorney, just in case.  And it is always good to call and check this information, as well as verify listed hours, with any site that you plan to visit.

All of the paperwork that your spouse receives from Army prior to deployment states MULTIPLE times that all spouses and eligible dependants should have their ID cards in hand before the soldier reports.  Here is where it gets tricky.  Apparently you cannot get an ID before your spouse enrolls you in the DEERS system after he reports.  Plus, you need someone official to verify your information (for which you will need to provide copies of marriage licenses, birth certificates, and adoption certificates.)  If you still know someone at a unit locally, you might get some help there.  Otherwise, it is virtually IMPOSSIBLE, in my experience to take care of this prior to your soldier reporting for duty.

A little more on my experience, which by far has been the worst since this whole ordeal started.  After my spouse got his orders and paperwork, I tried to take care of getting my ID.  No luck.  All of the local units refused to help since he had no commanding officer to verify our information.  So, I chose to make the two day drive with him when he reported, having been told that if I came, it would be NO problem to get my ID.  I was told this several times once we arrived on post as well, so I did not anticipate any problems when, early Monday morning I dropped him off to report for duty and I found my way, through the fog and across post, to the ID center.

Armed with my paperwork for verification, a signed and completed form DD1172, and carrying my two year old, I found the ID office and started to explain my situation to the lady at the desk.  In a moment another lady came over whom I believe was a supervisor, and I began to explain again.  At this point, the second lady told me there was no way that they could do anything without my husband being present.  I handed her a copy of his orders, and pointed out that he had to report for duty that morning, but I had a signed form from him.  Her response was that he could just leave whatever he was doing RIGHT NOW and come across post (with no transportation) and stand in line, otherwise, I would have to come back.  Reiterating that he had to report that morning (see his orders?) and that I had to start a two day drive home that day, I again pointed out that I had a signed form from him.  Disgustedly, she conceded to look at the form.

I was certainly not prepared for what happened next.  Immediately, she began screaming at me.  “THIS FORM IS NOT REGULATION!  WHERE DID YOU GET THIS FORM?!”  At this point, I burst into tears; I had suspected this would not be a simple process, but I had not expected to be screamed at.  Picture if you will, me standing there crying (and I DON'T cry in public), holding my two year old, who at this point is patting me on the back saying, “Mommy's crying.  Its ok, Mommy” over and over, while the woman continues to go on and on about this being the WRONG form.  This in front of the 50 or so service members sitting in the room.

Well, I went back home, no ID.  Steve promised to take care of all paperwork on his end and to send me the form that I needed.  (In fact, he ended up sending two, just to be sure.  I think he got ahold of anyone who would verify our information and made them fill me out a form.)  And I did get the forms in the mail a week later.  Two forms IDENTICAL to the one I had presented to the woman at the ID center on post.

Of course, there were more complications before I could actually get my ID.  I called the nearest ID facility, who informed me that the system was now down in the entire area (so don't bother to call any other local facilities), but they could make me an appointment for a month from now on the off chance that it was back up by then. 

The story does have a happy ending.  I ended up driving over an hour away to a Naval Reserve Center.  The personnel were EXTREMELY pleasant and helpful and I was out the door with my new ID in no time.  This story also has a moral:  Get names of the people you talk to and be prepared to take care of yourself.  Because, while there are a lot of friendly helpful people out there, you have to be prepared to deal with the other ones. But, I truly hope that other IRR spouses will only meet the good ones; they have enough to deal with when they are treated with the respect that they deserve.