DEERS / ID Cards

To make an ID card, the Department of Defense RAPIDS system requires the verifying official to scan two forms of government-issued ID into the record repository. The documents cannot be expired or cancelled. If the two documents bear different names, evidence of a formal name change must be provided.

DEPENDENTS – Federal guidelines require sponsors to accompany all military dependents to the DEERS / ID Center with the correct supporting documents to authenticate the action. For details, call (315) 772-5149.

INITIAL – If it is an initial ID, you will need two forms of ID (unexpired driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, etc.) and all supporting documents shown below. Before making an appointment, we recommend you call (315) 772-5149 and have us check DEERS to verify your enrollment.

INITIAL ENROLLMENT, SPOUSE –

For the initial enrollment of a new spouse:

- ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS – Sponsors will need to bring the original or certified copy (not notarized) of the marriage certificate that was filed with the county and shows the file number. Your spouse also will need to bring his or her original birth certificate, Social Security card and a valid photo ID.

- PRIOR DIVORCES – If either you or your spouse were previously married, you also will need all original divorce decrees, even if the divorce was prior to your military service.

- PRIOR MILITARY DEPENDENTS – If your spouse was previously a military dependent under someone else (Dad, Mom), we will need the Social Security number of his or her previous sponsor to ensure he or she was removed from that record.

- FOREIGN SPOUSES – If your spouse is not an American citizen and does not have a Social Security card, a temporary identification number will be issued, but you still need all of the other documents listed above. If any of these documents are not in English, you must have them translated. If he or she is from a country that is member of The Hague Convention, the document will need an Apostille of The Hague, which verifies its authenticity. If he or she is from a country that is not part of The Hague, he or she will need authentication verification from the U.S. consular officer in that country.

- DUAL MILITARY - When two service members are married, they are required to be cross-registered in DEERS under their own and their spouse’s record.

INITIAL ENROLLMENT, CHILD -

- DADS – If you are a male sponsor and are married to the mother, you will need the original or certified copy of the birth certificate and the Social Security card, in its original form. If you are not married to the mother, you also will need an Acknowledgement of Paternity or a court order showing paternity.

- MOMS – If you are a female sponsor, you will need the original or certified copy of the birth certificate and the Social Security card, in its original form.

- If father and mother are both in the military and married, the child needs to be enrolled under both parents.

INITIAL ENROLLMENT, STEPCHILD – To enroll a stepchild, sponsors will need the original or certified copy of the marriage certificate, the child’s original birth certificate and Social Security card.

INITIAL ENROLLMENT, PARENT – To enroll a parent or parent in-law, sponsors must:

- Fill out a Secondary Dependency Packet, DD Form 137-3, which you can get at the DEERS / ID Card Center, or online at https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/SecondaryDepe....

- Once complete, send it to DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) either by mail, fax or electronically. If approved, DFAS will send you back a Determination Letter and an 1172-2.

- Bring those two forms, the parent’s birth certificate, photo ID and Social Security card (if a U.S. citizen). We have to show the connection between parent and child, so we also need the birth certificate of the child (now the sponsor) of the parents we are enrolling. (Don’t forget to bring your parents.)

PROMOTION or DEMOTION – You will need two forms of ID (unexpired driver’s license, Social Security card, passport etc.) and promotion orders or Enlisted Records Brief (ERB) or Officer Records Brief (ORB).

EXPIRED – If the card is expired or will expire within 90 days, all military personnel, civilians and dependents 18 years and older will need the old ID card and a second form of state or federal ID (unexpired driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, etc.) Even if your home state allows military members and Families to use an expired driver’s license to drive, guidance from the Defense Human Resource Activity states that this is only for driving, not for identification.

LOST – If the card is lost, you will need two forms of ID (unexpired driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, etc.) and a lost card statement MPD Form 506-E. For Soldiers, the 506-E must be signed by an E6 or above, and for Civilians and contractors, it must be signed by your supervisor. For contractors whose card was over 60 days old, you will need another verification memo:

MPD Form 506-E for Lost, Stolen, or Damaged ID Cards

CONTRACTORS – If you are a contractor, you will need two forms of ID (unexpired driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, etc.) and a verification memo, which you get at the Security and Intelligence Division office, Bldg. 433A, MWR Drive, South Post.

No. Notaries are not accepted, because a notary only verifies signatures, not certify authenticity of the document. For additional details, call (315) 772-5149.

How old does a child have to be to receive an ID card?

Children 10 or older may be issued ID cards, with the following exceptions:

- The child’s temporary guardian lives away from the parent’s duty station and must use a medical facility other than the one keeping the child’s records; or the child resides temporarily away from the sponsor and there is no eligible spouse.

- The child is of a joint service couple or a single parent.

- The child does not reside in the household of an eligible adult Family Member.

- The child’s physical appearance warrants issue (for example, appears older than 10). Note: The Personnel chief or designated representative approves or disapproves request.

How long can my child stay on my DEERS?

- 18 to 21 – Dependent children are automatically eligible for benefits until they reach the age of 21.

- 21 to 23 – Dependent children enrolled full time in college qualify for extended benefits until the age of 23.

- 21 to 26 – Dependent children who are NOT enrolled full time in college can be eligible for medical benefits if they are enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult (for a fee). Contact TRICARE for additional details.

- After age 26, they are no longer eligible for benefits, with the exception of children documented as permanently incapacitated who will remain eligible until they are deceased.

Can Family Members be removed from DEERS?

No. Title 10 of U.S. Law prohibits the removal of any eligible Family Members.

Are college students eligible for an ID card?

Yes. They can remain eligible from age 21 to 23 if they are enrolled full time in college and their eligibility has been extended in DEERS by bringing in a letter from the college registrar stating they are registered / enrolled as full-time students, with an estimated graduation date. It must be a letter of enrollment; letters of acceptance are not acceptable.

Can a student attending two colleges combine them to make a full-time student status?

No. Per AFI 36-3026-IP, two colleges cannot be combined to make a full-time student status. The student does not qualify for benefits in DEERS without a statement from one college stating full-time student enrollment.

Are college and graduate students eligible for an ID card during breaks?

Yes, Chapter 4 in the AFI (page 64 & 65, Table 4.4) "Summer Break and Graduate Students" states: Summer Break: "Students who were enrolled as a full-time student for the semester or session immediately before the break may be eligible for an ID card during break if they are accepted or enrolled immediately after the break." For details, call (315) 772-5149.

I’m about to retire. How soon can I get my Retiree ID card?

Even though you’re starting terminal leave, you can’t get your Retiree ID card until you are actually retired. Go to https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil during the last week of terminal leave, and make appointment for yourself and your dependents to obtain Retiree ID cards at the DEERS / ID Card Facility anywhere in the country that is closest to you.

Why does my Retiree ID card have an expiration date?

When you turn 65, you have to update your ID card by adding your Medicare A&B, which then makes you eligible for TRICARE for Life. To update your card, you will need two forms of ID (unexpired driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, etc.) and your Medicare A&B card. This update can be done up to 90 days in advance. If you do not sign up for Medicare part B, you will not be eligible for TRICARE for Life.

What are the requirements to receive a DAV ID card?

To be eligible to receive a DAV ID card, the veteran will require a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizing him or her as a Disabled American Veteran with a rating of 100% (or 100% unemployable), signed by the VA and stating he or she is eligible for Commissary, PX and MWR. You will be required to produce the last DD 214 to determine eligibility for the type of discharge received – only those discharged under honorable or general-under-honorable conditions qualify.