Military identification cards provide proof of a person’s identity, military affiliation, and eligibility for certain Department of Defense benefits and privileges.

However, scheduling a military ID card appointment can be confusing because several different systems and types of identification are involved.

You may encounter terms such as:

Common Access Card, or CAC
Uniformed Services ID Card, or USID
RAPIDS
DEERS
ID Card Office Online
DD Form 1172-2

The correct process depends primarily on which type of military ID you have and whether you are renewing, replacing, or applying for a card for the first time.

A Common Access Card generally must be renewed in person at a RAPIDS location. Eligible Uniformed Services ID cards, including many dependent and retiree cards, may be renewed online and mailed directly to the recipient.

This guide explains how to schedule a RAPIDS appointment, what documents to bring, how online USID renewal works, and what to do if a military ID is lost, stolen, damaged, or expired.

Related Article – How To Get A Veteran ID Card: 4 Ways To Apply

Table of Contents

Military ID Card Help: Start Here

Select the option that best describes what you need:

Schedule a Military ID Card Appointment
Renew a Dependent or Retiree USID Card Online
Review or Update Your DEERS Information

Quick Answer: How Do You Renew a Military ID Card?

renew military id card — Image: Army.mil

The correct method depends on the type of card and the reason for the request.

What You Need	Correct Route
Schedule a military ID card appointment	Use the RAPIDS locator through ID Card Office Online
Renew a CAC	Visit a RAPIDS office in person
Renew an eligible active USID card	Submit an online request through ID Card Office Online
Replace a lost or stolen CAC	Report the card and visit a RAPIDS office
Replace a lost or stolen USID card	Visit a RAPIDS office
Update family or eligibility information	Update the cardholder’s DEERS record
Obtain a dependent ID card	Complete sponsorship and DEERS requirements, then apply online or visit RAPIDS

DEERS is not a separate ID card renewal service. It is the database that maintains information about a person’s military affiliation, family relationships, and eligibility for benefits.

RAPIDS is the system used by ID card facilities to verify a person’s information and issue a card.

ID Card Office Online is the public-facing website used to locate RAPIDS offices, schedule appointments, submit certain dependent requests, and renew qualifying USID cards online.

CAC vs. USID: Which Military ID Do You Have?

The Department of Defense issues two primary categories of identification cards.

Common Access Card

The Common Access Card is a smart identification card generally issued to:

Active-duty service members
Selected Reserve members
Department of Defense civilian employees
Certain Coast Guard and NOAA personnel
Eligible contractors
Certain other government affiliates

A CAC is used for identity verification and may provide access to military installations, government computers, secured networks, and online applications.

CACs contain electronic certificates and must generally be issued and renewed in person.

Uniformed Services ID Card

A Uniformed Services ID card is generally issued to eligible:

Military retirees
Reserve and National Guard members in qualifying statuses
Military spouses
Dependent children
Surviving dependents
Medal of Honor recipients
Veterans with a qualifying disability status
Other eligible beneficiaries

The benefits and privileges associated with a USID depend on the cardholder’s eligibility category.

Feature	CAC	USID
Typical cardholders	Active duty, Selected Reserve, DoD civilians and eligible contractors	Dependents, retirees, certain Reserve members and other eligible beneficiaries
Electronic certificates	Yes, when applicable	No
Online renewal	No	Available for certain eligible active cards
In-person renewal	Required	Required when online renewal is unavailable
Primary purpose	Identity, affiliation, facility access and computer access	Benefits, privileges and installation access
Sponsor involvement	Government organization or authorized sponsor	Military sponsor or eligible self-sponsor

It is important to identify your card type before beginning. The online renewal process available for certain USID cards does not provide online CAC renewal.

How to Schedule a Military ID Card Appointment

Military ID card appointments are scheduled through the official ID Card Office Online website.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the ID Card Office Online RAPIDS locator.
2. Select the option to locate an ID card office.
3. Enter a ZIP code, city, state, installation, or address.
4. Adjust the search radius if necessary.
5. Select an office from the results.
6. Review the location’s hours, services, contact information, and access instructions.
7. Select the appointment option when one is available.
8. Choose an available date and time.
9. Save or print the confirmation information.
10. Review the office’s document requirements before leaving.

Find a RAPIDS Office and Schedule an Appointment →

Some ID card offices are located on active military installations. Others may be located at Reserve centers, National Guard facilities, or other government locations.

Installation-access requirements may apply. A person without a current military ID may need additional instructions to enter an office located behind a controlled-access gate.

Do not assume every RAPIDS location offers the same services. One location may issue CACs and dependent cards, while another may limit appointments to certain groups.

Some offices accept walk-ins during specific hours. Others operate almost entirely by appointment. Review the individual office listing or call ahead before traveling.

What to Bring to a RAPIDS Appointment

The required documents depend on the type of card, the reason for the appointment, and the applicant’s eligibility.

Adult applicants generally need two original forms of acceptable identification. At least one must be a valid state or federal government-issued photo ID.

Photocopies are generally not accepted in place of original or certified documents.

Basic Military ID Appointment Checklist

Bring the following when applicable:

Appointment confirmation
Two original forms of acceptable identification
At least one government-issued photo ID
Current or expiring military ID
Required eligibility or relationship documents
Completed DD Form 1172-2
Sponsor authorization
Documents supporting a legal name or status change

Examples of identity documents may include:

U.S. passport
State-issued driver’s license
State identification card
Original or certified birth certificate
Social Security card
Permanent resident card
Employment authorization document

The exact combination of acceptable documents may vary. Review the current Department of Defense list of acceptable identity documents before the appointment.

Additional Items for a CAC Appointment

A CAC applicant should also be prepared to provide:

A six- to eight-digit PIN
A government email address, when applicable
Sponsorship and personnel information already recorded in DEERS
Any additional documents requested by the applicant’s organization

CAC applicants must be sponsored and registered in DEERS before final card processing at a RAPIDS location.

Do not choose a PIN based on easily discovered information such as your birthday, address, telephone number, or Social Security number.

Documents for a Military Spouse or Dependent ID Card

A spouse or dependent may need documents establishing both identity and the relationship to the military sponsor.

Depending on the situation, the documents may include:

Marriage certificate
Birth certificate
Adoption decree
Divorce decree
Court order
Social Security card
Proof of full-time student status
Medical dependency determination
Other eligibility documentation

A dependent must also be enrolled in DEERS.

The military sponsor ordinarily verifies the dependent’s eligibility through DD Form 1172-2.

The sponsor may satisfy the signature requirement in several ways:

Digitally sign and submit DD Form 1172-2 through ID Card Office Online.
Attend the RAPIDS appointment and sign the form in front of the verifying official.
Sign the form in advance and have the signature notarized.
Authorize the dependent through an acceptable power of attorney.

A printed copy of an electronically submitted DD Form 1172-2 is generally not required, although bringing one may be helpful.

Relationship documents are especially important when:

A spouse is being enrolled for the first time
A child is being added to DEERS
The applicant’s legal name has changed
The sponsor recently married or divorced
A child’s eligibility is continuing after age 21
The dependent’s custody or legal status has changed

Contact the RAPIDS office before the appointment if the applicant’s situation is unusual or the required documents are unclear.

How to Renew a Uniformed Services ID Card Online

Certain Uniformed Services ID cards may be renewed online without visiting a RAPIDS office.

The sponsor submits the request through ID Card Office Online. If the request is approved, the card is printed and mailed directly to the recipient.

Online USID Renewal Requirements

General online-renewal requirements include:

The sponsor must have a CAC or DoD Self-Service Logon.
The request must be for renewal of an active USID card.
The sponsor and recipient must have email addresses recorded in DEERS.
Both individuals must authorize the Department of Defense to use those email addresses for official contact.
The sponsor’s personnel status must extend at least 30 days beyond the request date.
The recipient must have a photograph in DEERS that was taken within the previous 12 years.
The recipient must have an eligible mailing address recorded in DEERS.

Eligible mailing addresses may include addresses in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and qualifying APO, FPO, or DPO locations.

Steps to Renew a USID Card Online

The sponsor signs into ID Card Office Online.
The sponsor opens the family ID card section.
The sponsor selects the option to renew the family member’s ID card.
The sponsor confirms the recipient’s personal information.
The sponsor verifies the mailing and email addresses recorded in DEERS.
The sponsor reviews the photograph on file.
The sponsor completes and submits the renewal request.
The sponsor and recipient monitor their email for status updates.
The recipient waits for the new card to arrive by mail.
The sponsor returns to ID Card Office Online and acknowledges receipt.

Renew an Eligible USID Card Online →

The replacement card is not activated merely because it has been mailed.

After the sponsor acknowledges receipt, the new card is activated and the previous card is terminated.

If the request cannot be approved, the sponsor or recipient should receive instructions explaining whether the information can be corrected online or whether an in-person RAPIDS appointment is required.

Online renewal is not guaranteed for every USID cardholder. The system determines whether the card and DEERS record meet the requirements.

How to Renew a Common Access Card

A Common Access Card cannot ordinarily be renewed entirely online.

If the cardholder remains eligible for a CAC, the individual must visit a RAPIDS location for identity verification, photograph capture, electronic certificate processing, and issuance of the new card.

A CAC may be brought in for renewal up to 90 days before its expiration date.

Do not wait until the last day to schedule an appointment. An expired CAC may prevent access to government networks, applications, buildings, or installations.

Bring:

Current CAC
Two original forms of acceptable identification
At least one government-issued photo ID
A six- to eight-digit PIN
Government email information, when applicable
Any documents requested by the sponsoring organization

If information in DEERS is inaccurate, the RAPIDS office may be unable to issue the new card until the record is corrected.

What Is DEERS?

DEERS stands for the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.

It is the database used to record information about service members, retirees, eligible dependents, and other people entitled to Department of Defense benefits or identification.

DEERS may contain information involving:

Military status
Retirement status
Family relationships
Mailing address
Contact information
Eligibility dates
TRICARE eligibility
Dependent status
ID card history

Updating information in DEERS does not automatically produce a new physical military ID card.

However, incorrect or incomplete DEERS information may prevent a card from being issued, renewed, or mailed.

How to Update DEERS Before an Appointment

Update your DEERS information when there is a change involving:

Home address
Mailing address
Telephone number
Email address
Marriage
Divorce
Birth of a child
Adoption
Death of a family member
Military status
Retirement status
Dependent eligibility

Basic contact information may be updated through milConnect.

Review or Update Your DEERS Information →

Changes involving legal relationships or eligibility may require original or certified documents and assistance from a RAPIDS office, personnel office, or uniformed service representative.

Supporting documents may include:

Certified marriage certificate
Certified birth certificate
Divorce decree
Adoption paperwork
Court order
Proof of school enrollment
Medical dependency documentation

For questions involving DEERS information or benefits eligibility, contact the DMDC/DEERS Support Office at: 800-538-9552

Do not send identity or eligibility documents through ordinary email unless an authorized office provides an approved secure method.

Military Dependent ID Card Renewal

Military spouses and other eligible dependents generally receive a Uniformed Services ID card rather than a CAC.

A dependent may renew an eligible active USID card online when the sponsor and recipient meet the online-renewal requirements.

Otherwise, the dependent must visit a RAPIDS location.

Before applying, confirm that:

The dependent remains eligible.
The dependent is enrolled in DEERS.
The sponsor has completed DD Form 1172-2.
Required relationship documents are available.
Names and dates match across the documents.
The applicant has the required original identity documents.

The military sponsor does not always need to attend the appointment personally.

A properly completed electronic, notarized, or power-of-attorney version of DD Form 1172-2 may allow the dependent to complete the appointment without the sponsor being physically present.

Military ID Cards for Children

Children generally receive their first DoD dependent ID card at age 14.

A younger child may receive a card in certain circumstances, such as when separate identification is needed for benefits, travel, custody, or another qualifying reason.

A child should still be enrolled correctly in DEERS even when the child is too young to require a physical card.

Dependent eligibility may need to be reverified when a child:

Turns 18
Turns 21
Enrolls as a full-time college student
Reaches the applicable student eligibility limit
Applies for TRICARE Young Adult
Qualifies as an incapacitated dependent

Bring documents supporting the dependent’s current eligibility status.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Military ID Cards

A lost or stolen military ID should be reported immediately.

The exact procedure depends on whether the card is a CAC or USID.

Lost or Stolen CAC

A CAC holder should:

Notify the local security office, command, employer, or CAC sponsor.
Obtain documentation confirming that the card was reported lost or stolen.
Schedule a RAPIDS appointment.
Bring the required reporting documentation and identification.
Complete the replacement-card process.

The documentation confirming the report must be stored in the cardholder’s DEERS record.

The electronic certificates associated with a lost or stolen CAC may also need to be revoked to prevent unauthorized access.

Lost or Stolen USID Card

A USID cardholder should visit a RAPIDS office for a replacement.

A dependent may need a sponsor-signed DD Form 1172-2 confirming that the card was lost or stolen, along with the required identity and eligibility documents.

Damaged or Malfunctioning Cards

Do not glue, punch, laminate, cut, or otherwise alter a damaged card.

Schedule a RAPIDS appointment if:

The card is cracked
The photograph or information is unreadable
The electronic chip no longer works
The card cannot be scanned
The CAC certificates cannot be accessed
The card is repeatedly rejected by systems or facilities

A locked CAC PIN does not necessarily require card replacement.

The cardholder must visit an issuance location and verify his or her identity before selecting a new PIN. CAC PINs cannot currently be reset remotely.

What to Do With an Old or Expired Military ID

Department of Defense ID cards remain property of the United States government.

A card should be returned when the holder is no longer eligible because of:

Separation from military service
Resignation or termination of employment
End of a contract
Divorce or loss of dependent status
Change in military affiliation
Another event that ends eligibility

When an online USID renewal is completed, the old card remains active until the sponsor acknowledges receipt of the replacement card.

After the new card is activated and the old card is terminated, a normally functioning old USID card may be cut or shredded into small, unrecognizable pieces.

Certain malfunctioning cards may need to be returned for analysis rather than destroyed.

Do not lend, sell, transfer, or give an expired military ID card to another person.

Can Veterans Get a Military ID Card?

Veteran status alone does not automatically qualify every former service member for a Department of Defense Uniformed Services ID card.

Military retirees and certain other eligible veterans may receive a USID card.

Qualifying categories may include:

Military retirees
Retired Reserve members
Medal of Honor recipients
Veterans rated 100% disabled under qualifying rules
Veterans classified as individually unemployable under qualifying rules
Certain former members receiving retired or retainer pay
Eligible surviving family members
Other beneficiaries established by Department of Defense policy

Veterans who do not qualify for a USID may still be eligible for other identification, including:

VA Veteran ID Card
Veteran Health Identification Card
Veteran designation on a state driver’s license
State-issued veteran identification card

These forms of identification do not necessarily provide the same installation access, medical benefits, or privileges as a DoD-issued USID.

Related Article – How To Spot A Fake Military ID Card

Benefits of a Valid Military ID Card

The benefits attached to a military ID depend on the cardholder’s eligibility status.

A valid card may confirm eligibility for:

Military installation access
TRICARE services
Commissary privileges
Military exchange privileges
Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs
Space-available travel in qualifying circumstances
Other Department of Defense programs and benefits

Civilian businesses may also accept a CAC or USID as proof of eligibility for military discounts. However, each company establishes its own discount policy.

The card itself does not create eligibility. It provides evidence of the status and benefits recorded in DEERS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my military ID card online?

Certain active Uniformed Services ID cards may be renewed online through ID Card Office Online.

The sponsor and recipient must meet the online program’s requirements. If the request does not qualify, the recipient must visit a RAPIDS office.

Can I renew a CAC online?

No. A CAC generally must be renewed in person at a RAPIDS location.

Online tools may be used to locate an office or schedule an appointment, but physical CAC issuance requires in-person identity verification.

How early can I renew my CAC?

An eligible CAC may be brought in for renewal up to 90 days before its expiration date.

Can I renew an expired USID card online?

The online program generally requires renewal of an active USID card.

An expired card may require an in-person RAPIDS appointment. Sign in to ID Card Office Online to determine whether the cardholder is offered an online option.

Does my military sponsor need to attend the appointment?

Not always.

The sponsor may digitally sign and submit DD Form 1172-2 through ID Card Office Online, sign the form in front of the RAPIDS official, provide a notarized signature, or authorize the applicant through an acceptable power of attorney.

Do I need two forms of identification?

Adult applicants generally need two original forms of acceptable identification for in-person card issuance.

At least one must be a valid state or federal government-issued photo ID.

Additional documents may be required to establish eligibility or the applicant’s relationship to a sponsor.

Can I use my current military ID as one of my documents?

A current, unexpired DoD ID may be accepted under the official identity-document rules.

However, applicants should review the current list of acceptable documents rather than assuming the existing card will satisfy every requirement.

Bring another valid photo ID whenever possible.

Can I visit any RAPIDS office?

Many cardholders can receive service at RAPIDS locations outside their home installation.

However, individual locations may restrict certain services, populations, or appointment types. Review the location’s listing or call before traveling.

Are walk-ins accepted?

Walk-in policies vary by RAPIDS office.

Some offices accept walk-ins during designated hours, while others operate mainly or entirely by appointment.

How long does military ID renewal take?

There is no single processing time that applies to every request.

An in-person card may be processed during the RAPIDS visit. However, incomplete documents, inaccurate DEERS information, system problems, or eligibility questions can delay issuance.

Online USID requests require approval, printing, mailing, receipt, and activation.

What happens to my old USID after online renewal?

The previous card remains active until the sponsor acknowledges receipt of the replacement card through ID Card Office Online.

Once receipt is acknowledged, the new card is activated and the previous card is terminated.

What if my online renewal request is denied?

The sponsor or cardholder should receive an email explaining the next step.

Depending on the reason, the sponsor may be asked to correct the information and submit another request or schedule an in-person RAPIDS appointment.

At what age does a military child need an ID card?

The general minimum age for initial dependent ID card issuance is 14, although exceptions may apply.

Children should still be properly enrolled in DEERS even when they do not yet require a physical card.

Can any veteran get a military ID card?

No.

A DoD USID is issued only to veterans and former service members who qualify under specific eligibility categories, such as military retirees or certain qualifying disabled veterans.

Other veterans may qualify for a VA or state-issued form of veteran identification.

Related Article – Best States For Military Retirees

Final Thoughts

Military ID card renewal is much easier once you understand the purpose of each system.

Use ID Card Office Online to locate a RAPIDS office and schedule an appointment.

Visit a RAPIDS location when renewing a CAC, replacing a lost card, completing an in-person dependent application, or handling a request that is not eligible for online processing.

Certain active USID cards may be renewed online by the sponsor and mailed directly to the recipient.

Before submitting a request or attending an appointment:

Confirm which type of card you have.
Review the cardholder’s information in DEERS.
Gather the required original identity documents.
Prepare DD Form 1172-2 when required.
Bring any marriage, birth, adoption, divorce, or eligibility documents.
Verify the RAPIDS office’s hours and appointment policies.

Completing these steps in advance may prevent a wasted trip and reduce delays in receiving the replacement card.

About the Author
Latest Posts

Gage S.( Active Duty National Guard )

Gage is a Tennessee National Guard MP that enjoys being a Freelance Writer in his down time. He writes about a variety of subjects such as fitness, dieting, military topics, and video game journalism.

Connect with him via his LinkedIn profile.