Keeping track of military ID vital to information security

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Burton
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Safeguarding vital information is an important step in preventing identity theft. For Incirlik members, this includes protecting their Common Access Card and gate pass.

It is important to protect the CAC because it is government issued property and also serves as each member's military identification card, said Tech. Sgt. Angella Ramirez, 39th Mission Support Squadron Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of customer service.

"You're always supposed to safeguard any form of military ID especially in an overseas location," she said. "Not to mention the fact that the CAC contains your full name, social security number and birth date, which could be used in identity theft."

For most people, the most common place to leave their CAC unsecured is in their computer.

"Because the technology is still relatively new, some people still aren't used to grabbing their CAC when they leave their computer," said Staff Sgt, Emmanuel Borbon, 39th Communications Squadron Base computer security manager.

If someone left their CAC in a computer unattended, that is a small window of time that someone else could have access to and do anything with your computer, Sergeant Borbon said. Depending on what is done on your computer, you could have your system locked out or you could even lose your account.

"It is a lose, lose situation because you can't prove you weren't the one on the computer, and even if you could, you still left your computer unsecured," said Sergeant Borbon.

For a member that fails to keep track of their CAC and loses it, there are a few steps to take in order to acquire a new one.

The first step for the member is to do everything they can to try and locate their missing card. After all efforts have failed, they must go to the law enforcement desk and file a report. After receiving a copy of their statement from law enforcement, the member must visit their first sergeant.

"Any member that loses a CAC has to get a letter signed by their first sergeant saying they have been counseled on the importance of maintaining security of their CAC," Sergeant Ramirez said.

Once the member has been counseled, and received their signed letter, they must make an appointment with the military personnel flight and take that letter with them to receive a new CAC.

Because the 39th MPF only issues cards during appointments, and because of the process for filing the statement with law enforcement and seeing their first sergeant, a member could be unable to access their computer for several days, said Sergeant Ramirez.

"If you are out of pocket for a few days it could really affect the mission," she said. "By not having the ability to sign onto your computer or workstation and actually do your job, it could hurt your shop."

Maintaining your gate pass is also important to protecting personal information.

Keeping track of your gate pass is important for a few reasons, said Senior Airman Jacob Watson, 39th Security Forces Squadron assistant NCOIC of pass and registration. It is important to keep gate passes secure due to identity theft, which is a problem in Turkey.

He added that if someone was to lose a gate pass off base, a person wishing to gain access to Incirlik could easily try to manipulate a gate pass.

"It would not be hard for someone to change your photo on the gate pass," Airman Watson said. "It is just laminated and could easily be changed."

Even though it is not a security violation directly, members still have to file a report with law enforcement and it takes a while to get a replacement pass.

"It could take up to two weeks to get a new pass," Airman Watson said. "You might need it to do something or go somewhere off base. It's not fun to be stuck on base, unless you like being a hermit."