Protecting your identity: Identity protection program removes social security numbers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Allison M. Boehm
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The military identification card section at Barksdale, home of Air Force Global Strike Command, will soon be implementing an important process from the identity protection program, removing Social Security numbers from military ID cards.

The new change will be effective June 1, 2011, and will include common access cards, retiree and dependent ID cards. This change is consistent with the overall Department of Defense policy to reduce the use of the Social Security number.

"This effort is part of a larger plan to protect servicemembers and other DoD identification card holders from identity theft," said Air Force Maj. Monica M. Matoush, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

Currently servicemembers Social Security numbers are printed on the back of common access cards, and on the front of cards issued to dependents and retirees.

"By decreasing the use of Social Security numbers, we are reinforcing the growing DoD Culture of Protection for Personally Identifiable Information," said Nate Waters, 2nd Force Support Squadron site manager. "The planned changes are designed to reduce the risk of identity theft to the DoD ID card populations while maintaining continuity of DoD business processes.

"Social Security numbers will be systematically removed from DoD ID cards when current cards expire," said Mr. Waters. "They will be replaced with new cards having a DoD ID Number printed in the Social Security number field."

The DoD identification number will be a unique 10-digit number that will be assigned to every person with a direct relationship with the department. According to officials, the new number will also be the servicemember's Geneva Convention identification number.
An 11-digit DoD benefits number will appear on the cards of those people eligible for DoD benefits. The first nine digits are common to a sponsor and the last two digits will identify a specific person within the sponsor's family.

Current cards will remain active, even after June 1, and will not need to be replaced until they expire.

Because cards will be replaced upon expiration, it will be approximately four years until all cards are replaced with the DoD ID Number, and where applicable, the DoD Benefits Number.