U.S. Public Health Service Capt. John Holland assists as first responders from the Mexican states of Jalisco and Michoacan practice various knots with rope and webbing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, March 21, 2017. (USPHS/Lauren Hill)

Two categories of veterans who were previously excluded from a new Department of Veterans Affairs ID card program can now apply after a change was made to the online application.

Those who served in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) or as commissioned members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are considered veterans by law.

A change to the application was made after an April 9 Military.com story highlighted the problem, said retired Army Col. Jim Currie, who heads the Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS.

VA officials did not respond to requests for comment for that story.

There are about 13,000 currently serving and former members of the USPHS and about 320 commissioned members of NOAA. Estimates on how many NOAA veterans are eligible for the card were not immediately available.

By Amy Bushatz