As part of the Joining Forces initiative to support our nation’s service members and their families, several U.S. government agencies announced yesterday an annual pass to active duty service members and their dependents, granting free access to more than 2,000 national parks (including Yosemite pictured above), wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands around the nation in the coming years.

Beginning on Armed Forces Day on May 19, active duty service men and women – Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and activated National Guard and Reserves – can obtain the new military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Annual Pass. The pass will be accepted at National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees.

For more information on the pass, please click here.

Photo: Ben Ho, National Park Service