scope:

PURPOSE. This instruction:

a. Reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1341.2 (Reference (a)) to establish policy and assign responsibility for the procedures associated with the DEERS in accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5124.02 (Reference (b)).

b. Establishes procedures to use identification (ID) cards in the DoD and to ensure access to DoD benefits (e.g., healthcare, commissary, exchange), in accordance with DoDI 1000.13 and Volumes 1 and 2 of DoD Manual 1000.13 (References (c) through (e)).

c. Establishes DEERS as the authoritative data source for:

(1) Identity and verification of affiliation with the DoD in accordance with DoDI 1000.25 (Reference (f)).

(2) TRICARE medical and dental enrollments and medical, dental, and pharmacy eligibility in accordance with References (c) and (e) and Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.) (Reference (g)).

(3) Patient registration, demographic information, and separation data for the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) and DoD interoperable Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHR-M) in accordance with the Joint Strategic Plan (Reference (h)) and the President's Announcement of a Joint VLER (Reference (i)).

d. Establishes the Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) as the registration tool and the definitive data source for DEERS for eligible dependents.

e. Establishes policy for DoD person ID and how the DoD uniquely identifies persons who are authorized benefits in accordance with References (d) and (e). Ensures the minimal use of the social security number (SSN) in accordance with DoDI 1000.30 (Reference (j)).

APPLICABILITY. This instruction applies to:

a. OSD, the Military Departments (including the Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this instruction as the "DoD Components").

b. The Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, under agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under agreement with the Department of Commerce.