rapidfire
Disney Discounts
Big Change to Army Dog Tags M
ilitary ID tags — commonly known as dog tags — have been part of military service
since World War I. Unfortunately, quite a bit of personal information is contained on the metal tags, which raises the poten- tial risk of identity theft. In 2007, DoD announced an initiative designed to better protect servicemem- bers by replacing Social Security num- bers with randomly generated 10-digit military ID numbers on dog tags and other military-issued documents, reports Michael Klemowski, Soldiers Programs branch chief, U.S. Army Human Resourc- es Command, Fort Knox, Ky. The first military ID tags contained only a servicemember’s name; additional information, such as religious affiliation, was included later, notes Klemowski. The last time a major change was made to dog tags was 1972, when service numbers were replaced by Social Security numbers. Military personnel knew the impor- tance of identification as far back as the Civil War. Soldiers of that era often placed scraps of paper containing their names and names of family members and
24 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2016
their hometowns in their pockets or on their clothing with pins so their remains could be returned home should they per- ish on the battlefield. However, current military ID tags place servicemembers at high risk, notes Klemowski, because they contain every- thing necessary for identity theft except a servicemember’s date of birth. Transi- tioning to military ID numbers adds an important layer of protection. Though the initiative was announced in
2007, the Army had to wait for technology to catch up before it could start issuing the new tags. “The problem was getting the systems and machines to understand a 10- digit ID number versus a nine-digit Social Security number,” Klemowski explains. Army recruits and soldiers set to de-
ploy will be the first to receive the new dog tags. The latter will receive new tags through their soldier readiness process- ing center. “This change is not something where soldiers need to run out and get new tags made,” says Klemowski. “It’s on an as-needed basis.” Other branches soon will follow.
— Don Vaughan PHOTOS: ABOVE, COURTESY WALT DISNEY WORLD; LEFT, AIRMAN 1ST CLASS MAESON ELLEMAN, USAF
can be used through Dec. 19. For rates and additional informa- tion, visit http://bit .ly/1MQ3U9m. MOAA members also have access to travel tips, resources, offers, and discounts at www
.moaa.org/traveloff ers, just in time to start planning your family’s summer vacation.
Active duty and retired military personnel (includ- ing active duty and retired members of the Coast Guard and reserve components) and their spouses can purchase Walt Disney World Re- sort park tickets at discounted prices. Discounted tickets
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