Military's use of Social Security Numbers a vulnerability for veterans

The massive data breach at the federal Office of Personnel Management that was revealed last month has exposed the Social Security numbers and personnel records nearly every federal worker.

The implications for federal employees, military service members and the intelligence community could be huge. But at a very basic level, US service members have been at high risk for identity theft for decades.

Former Navy linguist Linsdsay Church holds military ID tags for her grandfather, mother and her. The two later tags contain social security numbers. The numbers have been obscured in this photo to protect their identities.

In the military your nine-digit service ID number is used for everything, whether you're checking out gym equipment or picking up your laundry. Since the late 1960s that number has been a service member’s Social Security number.

And while the military is trying to change that, it’s a long process.  For many service members their Social Security number is still printed everywhere. Continue reading at Jefferson Public Radio....


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