thedrifter
03-20-09, 08:38 AM
Safeguard: DoD to Remove Sensitive Information from Identication Cards
3/20/2009 By Lance Cpl. R. X. James , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. —The Department of Defense has begun the process of removing Social Security numbers from issued identification cards in an effort to prevent identity theft.
The exception to this applies to Geneva Convention cardholders who’s last four numbers of their Social Security number will remain on their cards.
According to the DOD message 647-08, the process will occur in three phases.
The first phase involves the removal of Social Security numbers from dependent IDs.
This phase was scheduled to begin at the end of calendar year 2008.
Phase two will begin the process of removing printed social security numbers from all cards including military and retired cardholders and is scheduled to begin by the end of calendar year 2009.
The third and final phase will be implemented at the end of calendar year 2012 and involves the removal of imbedded Social Security numbers contained within the cards’ barcodes.
This action stems from the heightened awareness concerning identity security for all DOD personnel and their families.
“The Social Security numbers of many military members have been compromised,” said Luann Corner, the supervisory human resources assistant here. “This is being done to safeguard their identities.”
The DOD has said all ID card holders should wait until their cards are in need of renewal before replacing their cards with ones devoid of a Social Security number.
“This is to be done as needed,” Corner said, “This is not a mass-reissuance.”
The DOD has instructed retirees with indefinite expiration dates on their cards that they may begin having their cards replaced starting in January 2010.
Corner stressed that retirees don’t need to rush to get their Social Security numbers taken off their cards and that due to budget issues; active duty personnel and their dependents take priority.
Cardholders are reminded by the DOD that after their Social Security numbers are taken off their cards they may still be required to verbally state their Social Security numbers.
Cardholders whose card has expired may contact the nearest Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System site, or if the cardholder does not know where their local RAPIDS site is located they should contact the web site http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home to find a location nearby.
Ellie
3/20/2009 By Lance Cpl. R. X. James , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. —The Department of Defense has begun the process of removing Social Security numbers from issued identification cards in an effort to prevent identity theft.
The exception to this applies to Geneva Convention cardholders who’s last four numbers of their Social Security number will remain on their cards.
According to the DOD message 647-08, the process will occur in three phases.
The first phase involves the removal of Social Security numbers from dependent IDs.
This phase was scheduled to begin at the end of calendar year 2008.
Phase two will begin the process of removing printed social security numbers from all cards including military and retired cardholders and is scheduled to begin by the end of calendar year 2009.
The third and final phase will be implemented at the end of calendar year 2012 and involves the removal of imbedded Social Security numbers contained within the cards’ barcodes.
This action stems from the heightened awareness concerning identity security for all DOD personnel and their families.
“The Social Security numbers of many military members have been compromised,” said Luann Corner, the supervisory human resources assistant here. “This is being done to safeguard their identities.”
The DOD has said all ID card holders should wait until their cards are in need of renewal before replacing their cards with ones devoid of a Social Security number.
“This is to be done as needed,” Corner said, “This is not a mass-reissuance.”
The DOD has instructed retirees with indefinite expiration dates on their cards that they may begin having their cards replaced starting in January 2010.
Corner stressed that retirees don’t need to rush to get their Social Security numbers taken off their cards and that due to budget issues; active duty personnel and their dependents take priority.
Cardholders are reminded by the DOD that after their Social Security numbers are taken off their cards they may still be required to verbally state their Social Security numbers.
Cardholders whose card has expired may contact the nearest Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System site, or if the cardholder does not know where their local RAPIDS site is located they should contact the web site http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home to find a location nearby.
Ellie