As part of an expansion of a Defense Department pilot program that kicked off in February 2023, most Uniformed Services Identification, or USID, card holders can now renew their cards online and receive them in the mail, instead of having to schedule an appointment at an ID card office.? 

Before this expansion, only sponsors with a common access card could request online renewals, but now most retirees and non-CAC holders are eligible.  

The ongoing pilot program allows family members, retirees and others to avoid making appointments at a pass and ID card office. Instead, they can renew USID cards online via the ID Card Office online, or IDCO, website. It's important to note that the pilot program is for renewal of the USID card only - not for the initial issue.?Also, the pilot is limited to cardholders within the United States, though expansion to non-US addresses is in the works. 

Mike Zarlenga, with the Defense Manpower Data Center, said that DOD currently issues about 4.5 million ID cards each year. About 2.5 million of those are USID cards, and of those, roughly one million are renewals eligible for online renewal. The pilot program, Zarlenga said, is meant to make life easier for family members and retirees.? 

"We think modern capabilities like renewing a driver's license online make it easier for people to get what they need when they need it without burdening them with having to take a trip somewhere," Zarlenga said. "We're excited about this, and it sounds like people see online renewal as making their lives easier, based on the feedback we're getting." 

The pilot program also enhances the DOD mission by freeing up appointment slots at pass and ID offices for active duty military personnel and civilian government employees who need to apply for or renew a CAC.? 

"We want to enable the ID card sites today to better service the CAC holders who are our mission enablers," Zarlenga said. "We want to make sure that people visiting that office can get an appointment when they need one, and they can get their CAC and resume their mission or duties with minimal impact to them or to the department."? 

More information about the online USID card renewal pilot program, including restrictions and requirements, is available on the cac.mil website: https://www.cac.mil/.