Military ID Cards to Get New Look

[pinboy3niner]

July 05, 2011
El Paso Times|by David Burge


The Department of Defense is fighting back against potential identity theft.


Since June 1, the department has gradually started to issue new military ID cards that don't have a visible Social Security number on them, said Eric Birdsong, manager of the Personnel Operations Branch at Fort Bliss.


This will affect nearly everyone on post and many people in the El Paso community, Birdsong said. Soldiers, family members, retired military members and civilian employees of the Department of Defense all will be affected.


The idea is to protect soldiers and their families from identity theft and to better protect their personal information, Birdsong said.

...


Most of the new cards, which will be free, will contain two Department of Defense-issued ID numbers -- one a general ID number and the other to be used for claiming and verifying benefits.

...


http://www.military.com/news/article/military-id-cards-to-get-new-look.html?ESRC=eb.nl

[MineralMan]

1. Interesting. When I enlisted in the USAF in 1965,

we had ID numbers that were completely unrelated to our SS numbers. I left in 1969. It wasn't long after that that they replaced those old numbers with the SS#.

I can still remember my old service number, which was AF19859### (I'm hiding the last three digits.) I remember the drill sgt. in boot camp telling is that we would never forget that number, as long as we lived. He was right. Looks like they're going back to the old days.

[pinboy3niner]

2. We never forget that number, do we?

I was '67-'71, and I can't remember relatives' birthdays as well as I remember my original 'US' (draftee) Army service number.

We had to shout it back to the drill sergeant so many times, and it was printed on all of our gear--even our underwear! :)

I think it was in '69 that I was converted to the SSN. Now it looks like I'll have to get a new retiree I.D. with two more numbers to memorize--and it doesn't get easier at our age. :)


:hi:

[MineralMan]

3. Yup, they "drilled it" into our heads, for sure.

Funny how much of basic training you remember. An indelible experience.

[franmarz]

4. This is a great accomplishment-but---

no matter where you go to make some purchase and apply for credit-the request is always the same-what is your SS#? It is everywhere.