If you’re retired military and/or have dependents with ID cards that have your SSN on it, beware…
Department of Defense ID card replacement
If you’re retired from the Armed Forces, listen up! On July 17th we drove aboard Charleston AFB about 11 A.M. to ‘check-in’ at the USAF ‘Inns of Charleston’. When I approached the gate and presented my retired ID card to the sentry there she swiped it through a reader and informed me that my ID card had been ‘terminated’ and could not be returned to me. I protested that it was an ‘indefinite’ expiration and had been accepted the week prior at Ft Gordon without any problems. Sorry ‘bout that! I was directed to make a U-turn and go back to the visitors building to get a temporary one-day pass. (My problem, not her’s.)
The problem seems to be that any ID card that has a Social Security number on it may/will be confiscated upon presentation leaving the bearer without military ID until they can get another card issued with a DoD control number vice an SSN. Had this been later at night when I came aboard, it would have been a real problem. As it was, I was directed to a building that issued ID cards and (because I had no appointment) sat for over an hour until they got around to me while my wife and grandson waited in the car.
The obvious effect is that all of your medical records, and other admin records, have your SSN, both military and civilian records. You need your military ID for Tricare medical care and for access to all military facilities. Both the retiree and their dependents will require new ID cards. To save some stress, you might consider this step. You can go to any Reserve or National Guard base that has access to DEERS and can produce new (service-specific) ID cards. Certainly, major military bases can do this but many require appointments or a long walk-in wait time. You must have at least two forms of picture ID with you (passport, driver license, VA medical card, carry-concealed ID, etc.).
Your card may be confiscated at the worst possible time (in an ER room for example) so this should be considered as an action item. Just trying to be helpful.
Semper Fidelis
Apparently the USAF has jumped squarely on the enforcement of this with no options for the service member (or dependents probably)…
We’ve all been told it was ‘coming’, but apparently the USAF has decided it’s here. Guess I better go get a new ID card most skosh quickly…
h/t Ackro
