In an effort to protect individual privacy and prevent identity theft, the Defense Department announced that Social Security numbers would no longer be present on military identification cards as of June 1. In its place, cards will bear an 11-digit DoD benefits number. The first nine digits of the new number will be common to the sponsor; the latter two will identify the card’s bearer. Social Security numbers will still be embedded in the cards’ bar codes for now, and will be phased out over a four-year period beginning next year.
