Congress has gotten slightly more serious about attempting to safeguard social security numbers for military members. The issue surfaced earlier this year during the data theft debacle at Veterans Affairs. Buried in the just passed 2007 defense authorization bill is a demand for DOD to provide an “assessment” of the “feasibility” of using military ID cards without an individual’s social security number. The Pentagon must submit said assessment within 180 days of the defense bill becoming law.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.