United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card

A U.S. Army National Guardsman's Geneva Conventions Identification Card from 2001, with social security number redacted.
US Navy Identification Card from the 1960s, as displayed in Pyongyang,North Korea.


A United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card (also known as U.S. military ID, Geneva Conventions Identification Card, or less commonly abbreviated USPIC) is an identity document issued by the United States Department of Defense to identify a person as a member of the Armed Forces or a member's dependent, such as a child or spouse.

The card is used to control access to US military installations, Base exchange (such as AAFES, Navy Exchange, Marine Corps Exchange, Coast Guard Exchange), commissaries and Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities. It also serves as proof of eligibility for medical care delivered either directly within the military health system or non-military providers via the TRICARE medical system.[1]

The modern military identification card is a smart card commonly known as a Common Access Card (CAC) used by servicemembers and DoD civilians. It works with specialized card readers for use with automatic building access control systems, communications encryption, and computer access.[2]

  1. ^ "Headed To the Doctor? Bring Proof of Your TRICARE Coverage". myarmybenefits.us.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  2. ^ "COMMON ACCESS CARD (CAC)". US Department of Defense. Retrieved 23 June 2021.