FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act?
A new law that allows all Veterans, active-duty service members, and Gold Star Families to visit all National Parks and public lands free of charge in honor of Army Veteran Alex Lofgren who tragically lost his life in a hiking accident in April 2021.
Who is Alexander Lofgren? Why is this named after him?
Alex was a US Army Veteran and served as a Combat Engineer (12B). He deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 and was medically discharged after four years of honorable service.
He had a huge heart and an undeniable passion for spending time in nature and helping Veterans in need. He was raised by a military family, so he spent his childhood very familiar with that lifestyle, living in over ten states growing up. After his own time in the Army, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Political Science. He used his personal life and military experience to serve Veterans from that moment on: starting as an advisor to a Congresswoman on Veteran and military issues; a caseworker on a Veterans Crisis Line, assisting them with immediate needs; then served in the Wounded Warrior Fellow program as a Veterans Liaison for the office of Congressman Raul Grijalva in Tucson, Arizona.
Alex died tragically in a hiking accident in Death Valley National Park on April 4, 2021 while with his partner, Emily. They frequented National Parks together and found solace and healing through nature. To his friends and family, there is no greater honor to have Alex forever memorialized in a way that would have meant so much to him.
Who qualifies for the Military Lifetime Pass?
Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces, as explained in Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36
Veterans are individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves
The following individuals/groups DO NOT Qualify for the annual Interagency Military Annual Pass:
Foreign military members (Including those stationed in the US and have a CAC card) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees
Public Health Service (PHS) members
Inactive US Reservists
Civilian military contractors
Civilian military employees
When did the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act go into effect?
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. It will be several months before the new lifetime passes are printed and delivered. Until then, Gold Star families and veterans may continue to use The Interagency Annual Military Pass with proof of eligibility as described above.
Didn’t this already exist?
Yes and no.
Previously, it was only available for Veterans with a disability rating of 100% per the VA. In 2020, the America the Beautiful annual pass became free for Veterans and Gold Star Families. This change for Veterans has never been put into law and could be undone in future years. With this new change, it cannot be undone.
I am a Veteran/Gold Star Family Member/active duty service member. How do I get my pass?
Visit https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass to determine your eligibility. If deemed eligible, add the pass to your online cart and proceed.
You may also obtain your pass with no fee at a site that issues passes. Check here for Site Locations that Issue Passes.
More in-depth instruction regarding how to obtain your pass can be found at https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Military-Pass
What else do I need to know?
$10 processing fee on USGS Store, Free in person at sites that issue passes
Available to Current US Military, Veterans, Dependents and Gold Star families. Documentation is required.
Obtained in person at Federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees. Federal Recreation Sites
Covers entrance to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites that charge Entrance Fees, 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 owners 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 at sites that charge per person.
Effective January 1, 2021 only one person may sign the Interagency Military Pass. The USGS Store will print your name on your pass. Current Military dependents may obtain their own pass after showing proper documentation (DD 1173).