While DoD officials encourage those holding legacy (paper-based) identification cards with indefinite expiration dates to update to the new model, they have yet to “determine a termination date” for the older IDs.

This is in contrast to a June retiree newsletter published by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), which stated all retirees had until Dec. 31, 2025, to update their cards to the Next-Generation Uniformed Services ID (USID) card before they became invalid for base access.

A revised DFAS article “correcting the inaccuracies” of the original was published online July 10, a DoD official told MOAA via email July 22. It does not include the Dec. 31 deadline. The original PDF version of the newsletter remained on the DFAS site as of July 22, but had been updated as of July 29. 

“It's important for USID cardholders to know these older paper-based forms of ID will eventually be terminated, and will need to be replaced by the new plastic-based USID card,” the updated version states. “This is true even if your old ID card has an INDEF expiration date on it.”

[FROM CAC.MIL: Renewing Your Uniformed Services ID Card]

The DoD official told MOAA that the old cards “may continue to be used as the Department of Defense has not determined a termination date USID cards with indefinite (“INDEF”) expiration dates. Military retirees and beneficiaries with legacy ID cards with INDEF expiration dates are encouraged to update their USID cards to the new Next Generation USID card at their convenience.”

Previous guidance, provided to MOAA by the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) in March, had stated that the “INDEF” cards would face termination at some point in 2026. Military OneSource, an official DoD web resource, states in its frequently asked questions about ID cards that legacy USID cards of all types “will no longer be accepted for access to benefits, privileges, or DoD bases” in 2026.

Other DoD resources and social media pages have also put out information citing a Dec. 31 changeover deadline, which has led to some cardholder confusion. 

Renewing Your Card

Full details on the DoD ID card system are available at MOAA’s ID card resource page, to include:

• Eligibility guidelines.
• A guide to renewing your card, including mail and online options.
• What to bring when you renew your card.
• How to update a dependent’s card.
• How to update your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

[KEY LINKS: Find Your Nearest ID Card Office | ID Card Office Online]

Cardholders with questions regarding their ID, or facing trouble with the online renewal or appointment process, can contact DMDC at (800) 538-9552. If applicable, be ready to provide an online application number and any error messages received.