DEERS and Military ID Cards, Explained
Updated July 2026
DEERS and your ID card are the keys to nearly every military benefit — TRICARE, base access, the commissary and exchange, and more. Here is what DEERS is, the different ID cards, and how to keep everything current.
What DEERS is
The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is the master database that determines who is eligible for military benefits. You and your family must be enrolled and kept up to date in DEERS to use TRICARE and other benefits. Update DEERS after any major life change — marriage, divorce, a birth or adoption, a PCS, or separation — or benefits can be denied.
The ID card types
- Common Access Card (CAC): for active-duty members, drilling Guard and Reserve members, and DoD civilians — it is both your ID and a smart card for secure systems.
- Dependent ID (DD Form 1173): for eligible spouses and children, giving TRICARE, base, and commissary/exchange access.
- Retiree ID: for military retirees and their eligible dependents.
- VA Veteran ID Card (VIC): a free card that proves veteran status for discounts, without carrying your DD-214. See our benefits pages.
How to get or update your ID
ID cards are issued at a RAPIDS ID-card office (usually by appointment). Many DEERS updates — adding a dependent, changing contact info — can be started online through milConnect, then finished at an ID office if a new card is needed. Bring the required documents (marriage or birth certificates, etc.) and two forms of ID.
Why it matters
An expired ID or out-of-date DEERS record is one of the most common reasons a benefit gets denied at the point of use — a pharmacy, a gate, or a TRICARE claim. Check your family's expiration dates ahead of a PCS or a deployment so nothing lapses.
Frequently asked questions
What is DEERS and why does it matter?
DEERS is the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System — the database that determines eligibility for TRICARE and other military benefits. If your DEERS record is missing or out of date, benefits can be denied, so it must be updated after major life events.
Do Guard and Reserve members get a CAC?
Yes. Drilling members of the National Guard and Reserve are issued a Common Access Card, the same as active-duty members, which serves as their ID and secure-access smart card.
How do I update DEERS after getting married or having a child?
Add your new dependent through milConnect and/or at a RAPIDS ID-card office, bringing supporting documents like a marriage or birth certificate. Doing this promptly enrolls them for TRICARE and gets their ID card.
What is the difference between a military ID and the VA Veteran ID Card?
A military ID (CAC, dependent, or retiree ID) grants access to benefits and installations for those currently connected to the service. The free VA Veteran ID Card (VIC) simply proves prior service to claim veteran discounts and is not a benefits-access card.