Defense Biometric Identification System

  • Published
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  It's not Visa and it's not American Express but it is recognized at military installations worldwide - it's your Department of Defense identification card.

The Common Access Cards (CAC) issued to military personnel, DOD civilians, and some DOD contractors and the Teslin card issued to dependants and retirees is your passport to gain entry to DOD installations.

To verify the identity of individuals presenting theses cards at entry control points, the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) created the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS).

DBIDS is a DOD identity authentication and force protection tool that is operational at many military locations around the world. DBIDS is a physical access control system which uses bar codes and biometrics to identify cardholders.

DBIDS interfaces with the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) which contains over 23 million records pertaining to active duty and reserve Service members and their family members, retired military, DOD civil service personnel, and DOD contractors.

After presenting your DOD ID card to the guard at the entry control point, they will scan the embedded barcode on the card. The scanning device will transmit the data to the local database comparing the data there with the information on the card.

The system will provide a visual response back to the handheld scanner with the photo on file and a system message. The guard will then compare the photo with the individual presenting the card and follow the instructions provided by the database.

If the visual crosscheck and system information are good, the guard will allow access. If the visual crosscheck and system information do not check out, further steps will be followed to verify the identity or deny access based on the information received.

DBIDS also produces a bar-coded paper pass for short term visitors and DBIDS ID cards for long term visitors or those requiring frequent access.

Eligibility for DBIDS cards requires vetting by base security personnel and is governed by DOD and Air Force regulation.

What can members expect the system is implemented:
The current system will automatically enter your information into the DBIDS system via DEERS when scanned by the guard at the gate. Some individuals, mainly retiree card holders, will be required to obtain a new ID card that is compatible with the system.

Contractor personnel, visitors and others who gain entry using credential issued by security forces personnel from the visitor control center will be required to obtain new credentials that are compatible with DBIDS.

The onset of this system upgrade will cause slight delays while entering the base as the scanners complete initial uploads of data from DEERS.

Visiting other bases:
Once you have been entered into the DBIDS system here you are officially entered into the system worldwide as well as across the different services. That said, it is dependent upon the use of the same system and the level of software that base is using. Not all bases have been upgraded yet, and you may be required to manually register at that installation.