DEERS / ID Cards Mission

NOTE: Your current CAC is not a compliant card and cannot be used as a primary or secondary identity document

CAC:  Active Duty, Reserve, Guard, Civilian, NAF, and AAFES:

Two (2) valid (unexpired) forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents)

Retired Military:  DD Form 214 or retirement orders and two (2) valid (unexpired) forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents)

Individual Ready Reserve (IRR):  DD Form 214 and two valid unexpired forms of ID (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents)

If you are not a Department of Defense issued identification card holder you must obtain a Visitor’s Pass at the Visitor Control Center at 2107 New South Post Road, West Point, NY 10996, Tel: (315) 774-9235 or (315) 774-9324.  The Visitor Control Center is open Monday-Sunday from 6 a.m. to 6 pm, thereafter pass maybe obtain at the Stoney Lonesome gate.  

**West Point is a heavily visited installation so the Visitors Center is often very busy, and you may have to wait in line at the Visitors Center for a while.  Please plan to arrive there early to make your scheduled ID card appointment time.

The SF-50 information must be uploaded into CHRA systems that will populate the necessary information into DEERS, the system used to monitor the provision of the CAC; this process will take 72hrs. For example, if an employee in-processes the CPAC on a Monday, their data usually populates in DEERS by Thursday, depending on when CHRA enters the employee’s data into their system (the SF50 Personnel Action is processed). 

The new employee may contact the West Point DEERS Facility front desk at (845) 938-2607, 72 hours after in-processing to confirm their information is visible within DEERS.  The following information is required to obtain confirmation:

• First and Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Full SSN
• Phone number

If after a week the new employee’s information is not populated DEERS the employee is referred to their supervisor for further follow-up and resolution. 

Once a new employee’s information is verified in DEERS, please schedule an appointment to be issued a CAC. Two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification are required. (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents)

The process for obtaining a CAC is slightly different for contractors because DoD policy requires an automated data feed to DEERS from the Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM).  

Contractors must be verified in ICAM every time a card is issued/renewed.  We cannot extend Contractor CAC cards in DEERS. Two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents)

A police report from local police stating lost Federal ID or a military police report, and two (2) valid (unexpired) forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents), one must be unexpired photo ID. If your ID card has been confiscated because it is expired you will be required to bring in the receipt that was provided to you from the confiscating agency.  If you were not issued one at the time your card was confiscated you will need to return to that agency to obtain one.

**If you are RETIRED from the military through either length of service or medically retired you are not entitled a DAV ID card as your retired ID card already provides you the services authorized.

• Issued to Honorably discharged Veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 100% by the VA to include a rating of Individual Unemployability (IU). 
• Issued to Unremarried surviving spouses of 100% service-connected veterans
• Issued to Recipients of the Medal of Honor, and their dependents

Initial issuance:  Two valid unexpired forms of ID, letter that does not include money amounts, from the VA stating member is 100% Permanently Disabled, or letter indicating Individual Unemployablility or if temporarily disabled we will need the letter that reflects your future exam date and your original DD Form 214.

Dependent ID Cards:  DD Form 1172-2 must be completed by the sponsor for all family members. This form can be generated by a DEERS/ID Card Facility or online by visiting the website https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/.  If the link is not working, you can retrieve the digital form from the DoD Forms Management Program website. This form is valid for 90 days from the date digitally signed. Please be sure to complete dependent information in Section V.

Spouse: Original or Certified copy of the Marriage Certificate, two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification, and Medicare card if 65 or older.

Foreign Spouse:  Same documents as above, however, if any documents are issued by a foreign country, a translated English version of this document needs to be provided. If Social Security card has not arrived, a Temporary Identification Number (TIN) will be assigned.

***Note***If you were previously married before you separated from the military, odds are your former spouse is still reflected in DEERS.  You will need a copy of your entire final Divorce decree, complete with a file date and judge’s signature for us to remove your former spouse along with required documents above to add your new spouse.  Divorce data DOES NOT feed into DEERS from any other source other than you providing a copy to the DEERS Office.  Unless you provide us with a copy of your final divorce decree, we cannot add a new spouse while your former spouse is still in DEERS. 

Dependent ID Cards:  DD Form 1172-2 must be completed by the sponsor for all family members. This form can be generated by a DEERS/ID Card Facility or online by visiting the website https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/.  If the link is not working, you can retrieve the digital form from the DoD Forms Management Program website. This form is valid for 90 days from the date digitally signed. Please be sure to complete dependent information in Section V.

Spouse: Original or Certified copy of the Marriage Certificate, two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification, and Medicare card if 65 or older.

Foreign Spouse:  Same documents as above, however, if any documents are issued by a foreign country, a translated English version of this document needs to be provided. If Social Security card has not arrived, a Temporary Identification Number (TIN) will be assigned.

***Note***If you were previously married before you separated from the military, odds are your former spouse is still reflected in DEERS.  You will need a copy of your entire final Divorce decree, complete with a file date and judge’s signature for us to remove your former spouse along with required documents above to add your new spouse.  Divorce data DOES NOT feed into DEERS from any other source other than you providing a copy to the DEERS Office.  Unless you provide us with a copy of your final divorce decree, we cannot add a new spouse while your former spouse is still in DEERS. 

Un-remarried Widow (DoD Beneficiary): two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents) (Medicare Card if turning age 65) and sponsors original death certificate if this is the first issuance of an ID card since the sponsors passing.

20/20/20 and 20/20/15 Former Spouse (DoD Beneficiary): Beginning 15 November 2015, all documentation will be forwarded to the Former Spouse's Service Project Office (SPO) to determine eligibility. Former spouses of members from other Service branches must report to that Branch of Service SPO.  (For example, if the sponsor is Navy, then the Navy Project Office must process the request) The ID card can be issued once eligibility is approved by the required SPO.  Documentation required: Original Marriage Certificate, Original Divorce Decree, Sponsor’s DD 214 or Statement of Service, Document stating the former spouse is not receiving employer sponsored health care and two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents) (Contact the DEERS facility if you need further guidance)

Children:  Original birth certificate and Social Security card. If stepchild is being added, original or certified copy of your marriage certificate is also needed. Illegitimate children for male sponsors must have court document or voluntary acknowledgement of paternity, along with the original birth certificate and SSN card. For dual military, BOTH PARENTS NEED TO BE PRESENT FOR DUAL DEERS ENROLLMENT. Children ages 0-17 does not require an identity document i.e., photo ID. You have 90 days from your child's birth, or the date of adoption, to enroll your child in DEERS and select a health plan with TRICARE (1-800-TRICARE).

***All children ages 18 and over will be required to have two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification.

Adopted Child:  Final Adoption Decree, Birth Certificate, and Social Security Card.

Children over Age 21 (Full-time Students): Letter from school registrar office stating full-time enrollment (Verification from Student Clearing House is also acceptable), and the expected graduation date at accredited college.  This verification can only be accomplished 30 days prior to the 21st birthday. Two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents),

Incapacitated Child Over Age 21:  Current Dependency Determination, Medical Sufficiency Letter. Dependency Determination must be completed every four years or status change through DFAS. (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/SecondaryDependency/SDC/) . Two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents),

Legal Custody Ward: The approved Dependency Determination from DFAS (DD 1172 and DD 27-88); an original or certified copy of Court Order granting Legal Guardianship/Custody to the sponsor that stipulates the child will be in the care and custody of the Sponsor for no less than twelve (12) consecutive months, Birth Certificate (Original copy with file number) ~OR~ Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DS Form FS-240),  Original Social Security Card if available or can be presented to DEERS as soon as acquired. The sponsor MUST provide over 50% support to the child and the child MUST reside in the military sponsor's household. Dependency Determination must be completed every four years or status change) through DFAS. https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/SecondaryDependency/SDC/

TRICARE Young Adult ID: Coverage must be purchased prior to ID card issuance  Sponsor is still required to accompany dependent for issuance of these cards and card recipient is required to have two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents).  NOTE: This card is for healthcare coverage only and does not authorize the card holder use of base privileges, i.e., Commissary and Exchange. 

Secondary Dependent – (Parent, Parent-in-Law):  Current Dependency Determination and proof of relationship to the sponsor or the spouse (Birth Certificate). Dependency Determination must be completed every four years or status change through DFAS. https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/SecondaryDependency/SDC/ Two (2) valid unexpired forms of identification (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents),

Name changes must be changed in the authoritative source and cannot be changed in DEERS.  If name is incorrect in DEERS, it must be updated with your personnel office. Once updated in the personnel system, the correct information will be fed to and stored in DEERS.

For military personnel your name must be changed in your services military human resources personnel system prior to coming to DEERS for a new CAC.  Processing can take 72 hours or more before it can be seen in DEERS. Each branch of service may have different requirements for active duty, reserve and retirees; please contact your Unit S-1 or human resources center for more information pertaining to your specific situation.

For civilian personnel your name must be changed with your civilian human resources system prior to coming into DEERS for a new CAC. Processing can take 72 hours or more before it can be seen in DEERS.

For contractor personnel your name must be changed in ICAM.

NOTE: You will need to present two (2) forms of valid unexpired forms of identification, one form MUST be a photo ID in the new name. (click here to see complete listing of authorized identity documents)

Sponsor:  You will need to provide the original death certificate before the record can be updated. 

If the sponsor is retired, USA, USAF, USN or USMC a copy of the death certificate must also be sent to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), be sure to include the sponsor's Social Security Number on all documentation. Click on Service Personnel Office Addresses for the addresses to send your information.

Family member:  You will need to provide a copy of the death certificate before the record can be updated.

During identity proofing, the applicant shall be required to provide two forms of identity source documents in original form. The identity source documents shall be bound to that applicant and shall be neither expired nor cancelled. If the two identity source documents bear different names, evidence of a formal name change shall be provided.

Please note the two forms of identification requirement is directed by the Department of Defense and CANNOT be waived.

NOTE: Your current CAC is not a compliant card and cannot be used as a primary or secondary identity document

The primary identity source document shall be one of the following forms of identification:

• U.S. Passport or a U.S. Passport Card
• Permanent Resident Card or an Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
• Foreign passport
• Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph (Form I-766)
• Driver's license or an ID card issued by a state or possession of the United States provided it contains a photograph***
• U.S. Military ID card except CAC
• U.S. Military dependent's ID card
• PIV Card

*** Active-duty Service members and their eligible dependents may present a state driver's license with no expiration date (blank) or displays "military."  If the expiration date displayed is expired, regardless of the State's decision to permit the driver's license for driving privileges, the driver's license would be considered an expired ID for the purposes of using this identity document for DoD ID card issuance and CANNOT BE USED as a valid/unexpired form of identity.

The secondary identity source document may be from the list above but cannot be of the same type as the primary identity source document. The secondary identity source document may also be one of the following:

• U.S. Social Security Card issued by the Social Security Administration
• Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, possession, or outlying possession of the United States bearing an official seal
• ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency or entity, provided it contains a photograph
• Voter's registration card
• U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
• Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
• U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)

Departments and agencies may choose to accept only a subset of the identity source documents listed in this section. For example, in cases where identity proofing for PIV Card issuance is performed prior to verification of employment authorization, departments and agencies may choose to require the applicant to provide identity source documents that satisfy the requirements of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, in addition to the requirements specified in this section. It is recommended that departments and agencies perform electronic verification of identity source documents, where possible. For example, if the primary source document is a foreign passport (e.g., Italy), the secondary source document should not be another foreign passport (e.g., France).

• Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I-179)
• Certification of Birth Abroad or Certification of Report of Birth issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545 or Form DS-1350)
• Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)
• Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A)
• Reentry Permit (Form I-327)
• Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571)
• Employment authorization document issued by Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Employment Authorization Document issued by DHS with photograph (Form I-688B)
• Driver's license issued by a Canadian government entity
• Native American tribal document