The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has enhanced the security and design of its identification system by transitioning to the Next Generation Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card. This move from the older paper-based USID card to a more robust plastic card aims to significantly reduce fraud and counterfeiting. Introduced initially on July 31, 2020, at selected DoD facilities, the rollout was completed across all locations by December 2020. These Uniform Services ID cards are crucial for retired and reserve personnel, dependents of service members, and other eligible individuals, providing access to essential benefits, privileges, and DoD installations as per official policy. Importantly, the transition to the Next Generation USID card does not alter the eligibility criteria for recipients.
While legacy USID cards remain valid until their expiration dates, those with an indefinite (INDEF) expiration date can be replaced with the new, more secure Next Generation USID card. For added convenience, uniform services personnel can now renew their USID cards online, detailed on the dedicated online renewal page.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more detailed information, a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is available here.
Types of Next Generation USID Cards and Recipients
The Next Generation USID card comes in various types, each designed for specific categories of uniform services beneficiaries. Below is a breakdown of the card types and their recipients:
| Next Generation USID Card Type | Recipients |
|---|---|
| Armed Forces of the United States Geneva Conventions Identification Card | – Members of the Individual Ready Reserves and Inactive National Guard – Non-CAC-eligible civilian noncombatant personnel deployed in conjunction with military operations overseas |
| U.S. Department of Defense / Uniformed Services Sponsor Identification and Privilege Card | – Retired members entitled to retired pay – Members of the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) – Members of the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) – Retired members of the Reserves and National Guard – Medal of Honor recipients – 100% Disabled Veterans – Former members in receipt of retired pay – Transitional Health Care Member (TAMP) – Full-time paid United Service Organizations (USO) personnel when serving OCONUS – United Seaman’s Service (USS) Personnel OCONUS – Officers and Crews of MSC vessels deployed to foreign countries – Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy |
| U.S. Department of Defense / Uniformed Services Dependent Identification and Privilege Card | Dependents of: – Active duty Service members of the regular components – Reserve component Service members on active duty for more than 30 days – Retirees – Medal of Honor recipients – Former members in receipt of retired pay – Transitional Health Care Members (TAMP) – 100% Disabled Veterans – Ship’s Officers and Crewmembers of NOAA Vessels – Reserve members not on active duty or in receipt of retired pay – Former members not in receipt of retired pay – Reserve Service members who die after receipt of NOE Surviving Dependents of: – Active duty and retired Service members – Medal of Honor recipients – Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy |
Color Coding for Specific Groups
To further distinguish cardholder categories, color codes are used on some Next Generation USID cards:
| Color Coding | |
|---|---|
| White: Current/Former Uniformed Service Members, their Dependents, and All Remaining Personnel |
Understanding Legacy USID Cards
Before the introduction of the Next Generation USID card, several types of legacy cards were in use. These cards, while still valid until their expiration dates, are gradually being phased out in favor of the enhanced security features of the new cards. Here are the types of legacy USID cards and their recipients:
| Legacy USID Card Type | Recipients |
|---|---|
| DD Form 2 (Reserve) Armed Forces of the United States Geneva Conventions Identification Card | – Members of the Individual Ready Reserves and Inactive National Guard |
| DD Form 2 (Retired) United States Uniformed Services Identification Card | – Retired members entitled to retired pay – Members of the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) – Members of the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) |
| DD Form 2 (Reserve Retired) United States Uniformed Services Identification Card | – Retired members of the Reserves and National Guard under the age of 60 |
| DD Form 1173 United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card | – Dependents of: active-duty Service members of the regular components; Reserve component Service members on active duty for more than 30 days; retirees; Medal of Honor recipients; former members in receipt of retired pay; Transitional Health Care Members (TAMP); 100% Disabled American Veterans (DAV); and Ship’s Officers and Crewmembers of NOAA Vessels – Surviving dependents of: active-duty and retired military members; Medal of Honor recipients; and 100% Disabled American Veterans (DAV) – Accompanying family members of authorized civilian personnel overseas – Eligible dependents of foreign military – Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy |
| DD Form 1173-1 United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (Guard and Reserve family member) | – Dependents of: Reserve members not on Active Duty or in receipt of retired pay; former members not in receipt of retired pay; Reserve Service members who die after receipt of Notice of Eligibility – Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy |
| DD Form 2765 Department of Defense/Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card | – Medal of Honor recipients – 100% Disabled American Veterans (DAV) – Former members in receipt of retired pay – Transitional Health Care Member (TAMP) – Full-time paid personnel of the USO when serving outside the United States – United Seaman’s Service (USS) personnel when serving outside the United States – Officers and Crews of MSC Vessels deployed to foreign countries – Select Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) personnel – Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy |
Key Takeaways
The Next Generation USID card represents a significant upgrade in security and durability for uniform services identification. Eligible individuals are encouraged to understand the new card types and, if applicable, take advantage of the online renewal system for a seamless transition. For any further questions, the FAQ document provides comprehensive answers.
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