The RAPIDS ID Card Office is responsible for issuing new military ID cards. It also manages DEERS and CAC transactions for active-duty military, Selected Reserves, DOD civilian employees, and contractors.
It’s easy to use the RAPIDS website and appointment scheduler to locate an ID card issuing office, verify hours of operation and local procedures and schedule an ID card or DEERS transaction. But first, you need to know what documents and information to bring.
RAPIDS is the ID Card Office for active duty, reserve, retiree, and dependent members of the military. Those military ID cards allow for access to the army’s benefits and entitlements.
Several RAPIDS sites across the country are located on bases. You can use a search function on the RAPIDS website to locate an ID Card issuing office, verify their hours of operation and local procedures, schedule an appointment for a new ID card, or renew your current one.
The RAPIDS site also has a useful section that lists which documents are needed for obtaining or renewing an ID card. This is helpful when you’re planning to visit an ID Card issuing location for the first time.
For example, the site listed that new born children must have a birth certificate and social security card. This is necessary because DEERS/RAPIDS only allows for a limited period of eligibility before the social security number is provided to an issuing site and the dependent’s data is updated.
If you have a dependent in the military, be sure to bring them along with you when you go to the ID Card issuing office. They will need to be enrolled in DEERS before they can get a military-dependent ID card.
If you have a dependent who is permanently disabled, you may want to get their ID card before they turn 21 or 23 if they’re a student. This requires a Dependency Approval statement from DFAS and a medical statement indicating the disability occurred before their 21st birthday.
The army has several integrated personnel and benefits systems that help to streamline the process. Its most lauded system is the DEERS (Defense Enrollment and Retirement System) database. This large system contains several databases and is a must for all uniformed service members, retirees, and their families to use. The best part is the system is automated and easy to use. It also has one of the highest employee retention rates in the armed forces, which speaks volumes about its high level of productivity. The army also has a well-rounded family support program that goes above and beyond.
What is the difference between rapids and DEERS?
The Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) is a DoD program that aims to provide military personnel, retirees, and their families with the best possible ID card in a hurry. It captures and processes information from multiple sources – notably, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) – then makes it available to users via an interface of the client’s choice.
The DEERS system is a big deal – it’s the primary repository for all military personnel and family member information. The RAPIDS system combines the best of these data sources into a single centralized system, resulting in more accurate and reliable information for a greater number of people at a lower cost.
Having the right information at the right time is critical in ensuring access to quality health care and, in many cases, preventing costly hospital stays, surgeries, or unnecessary prescriptions. The RAPIDS system uses automated data feeds to collect the most relevant information and make it readily accessible to authorized users.
The RAPIDS ID Card Office has an online site map and appointment tool that lets you select your ZIP code, click on the arrows and get a list of locations around you with contact details.
What is DEERS Army?
The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, is the official DoD data source for identity information. It is used to verify a person’s identity; affiliation with the DoD; and eligibility for benefits, privileges, and entitlements. It also enables DoD e-business, including identity management; reduces fraud and abuse of government benefits; and supports force health protection and medical readiness.
The DEERS database includes information on uniformed services members (sponsors), U.S.-sponsored foreign military, DoD and uniformed services civilians, and their family members. It also includes the patient population serviced by the Military Health Services System.
This information is used to determine eligibility for TRICARE, military benefits, and other DoD entitlements. It is updated in real-time by a network of microcomputers linking Uniformed Services Personnel Offices to the DEERS database.
DEERS Army is a computerized database that keeps track of military personnel, their families, and other eligible individuals for all DoD benefits. If the information is not correct, a person might be denied benefits and access to installations.
When a military member changes jobs, retires, re-enlists, or moves, they need to update their records in DEERS immediately. This can save them a lot of hassle later on.
For more information on registering in DEERS, visit milConnect’s website. They can also help you update your DEERS records. They are available online or by phone. You can call first to verify business hours or set up an appointment.