Personal information removed from CACs Published July 28, 2011 By 2nd Lt. Stephani Hunter 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The Department of Defense recently entered phase two of a three-phase process to remove social security numbers from service member, family member and civilian employee DoD ID cards. The changes are designed to reduce the risk of identity theft to card holders and to reinforce the growing DoD culture of protection for personally identifiable information, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center website. "As of June 2011, we no longer print SSNs on ID cards, "said Master Sgt. Rick Ortega, 52nd Force Support Squadron customer support section superintendant. "The SSN will be replaced with a DoD ID number for service members and civilian employees, or a DoD beneficiary ID number for family members." Currently, ID cards are being replaced through attrition, so personnel sections can only replace cards within 30 days of expiration, cards of service members with an indefinite date of separation or those with other circumstances that require a new ID, such as name changes or damaged cards, Ortega said. The first phase of the process began in 2008 when SSNs were removed from family members' ID cards. Phase two began June 1, 2011, and removes visible SSNs from all DoD ID cards. Embedded SSNs will be removed from all DoD ID cards during phase three, which is expected to begin in 2012. The entire process is expected to last until approximately 2015. For more information the new DoD ID cards, call the 52nd Force Support Squadron help line at DSN 452-6554 or visit http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/smartcard.