A few weeks after Navy officials assured the public they could use their state-issued driver’s license to get onto Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, they have taken an abrupt about-face.

Saturday officials issued a release stating that visitors to military installations in the Pacific Northwest will need to supply a form of identification complaint with the federal Real ID Act effective Monday, Feb. 1.

Driver’s licenses issued in Washington state as well as Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri and New Mexico will need other forms of ID, such as Washington state’s enhanced driver’s license or a passport.

Service members, family members, Department of Defense employees, and federal employees with the DoD common access card, DoD uniformed services identification and privileges cards, federal personal identification verification cards or transportation workers’ identification credentials are not affected, as these cards are authorized in DoD policy to facilitate physical access to installations.

In 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.

For additional information on what types of ID are acceptable, please go to the Homeland Security website link: http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-frequently-asked-questions.

Visitors should contact the local Installation Pass and ID office to determine what identification will be accepted