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Department of Defense ID Cards To Lose Social Security Numbers

Changes are on the way for all Department of Defense (DoD) identification cards. On June 1, every Social Security number (SSN) will begin to be removed from every military identification card, according to a Pentagon spokeswoman.

The process is a single step in a much larger strategy focused on protecting military personnel and other DoD employees holding ID cards from such crimes as identity theft.

DoD employees will find their SSN on the back of their cards, whereas dependents and retirees have theirs printed on the front. Currently held cards will begin to expire in June. The DoD will issue new cards, which will have unique, 10-digit DoD identification numbers associated with them in place of the holder's SSN.

The DoD identification number will also serve as the military personnel's Geneva Convention identification number but those numbers will be given to "every person with a direct relationship with the department."

The new cards will also display an 11-digit DoD benefits number for those who are eligible to receive DoD benefits. The first 9 numbers identify the military family member serving as the sponsor whereas the last 2 numbers are tied to the service member's dependents.

Cards will be replaced as they expire, so there will be an ongoing rollout of new cards. It will take about 4 years until all cards bearing SSNs are completely replaced. In 2012 the DoD will begin phasing out those DoD ID cards with SSNs embedded in their bar codes.