Note: Can’t Access the RAPIDS Website? Contact the DMDC Support Center (DSC) User Help Desk at 1-800-477-8227. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Table of Contents
Getting a new military ID card can be a simple process if you’re on active duty. You can usually just go to your base personnel office or Pass & ID center during office hours, sign up on the waiting list, and get a new card issued within the hour. But you may need to schedule an appointment with the local military ID card issuing office if you aren’t at your base, or if you are no longer serving on active duty. In that case, it’s best to use the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler to find the closest ID card office and to schedule an appointment.
Unfortunately, the RAPIDS website and RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler aren’t the most user-friendly websites for first-time visitors to navigate. That’s why we created this guide, complete with instructions and screenshots.
Use the RAPIDS Website to Schedule an Appointment for a New Military ID Card
Military members, retirees and their dependents can use the RAPIDS website to schedule, confirm, cancel or change an appointment to get a new military ID card. The RAPIDS site is helpful for locating a military ID card issuing office, verifying the office hours and local procedures and scheduling an appointment to get a new ID card. It’s important to note that local procedures may vary, so pay close attention to the details so you don’t have to come back.
The RAPIDS website features a search function that makes it easy to find a location based on your state, zip code, building or site name or country (there are RAPIDS locations in about two dozen overseas locations).
The search results provide the closest location to you and the address, contact information, office hours and which documents you will need to obtain your new military ID Card. You may also need to obtain a visitor’s pass to get on base if you don’t currently have a military ID. Be sure to get that information ironed out prior to arriving at the base. You don’t want to miss your appointment because you were trying to get on base!
How To Use The RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler
The biggest issue most first-time visitors have is getting to the website. Many government websites have issues with their security certificates which cause browsers to give an error informing the visitor the site is not secure. Here is an example:
As you can see from the above image, the browser sends a message to the user that the site is insecure. You will need to click the “Advanced” link to see an additional message:
I’m not sure why many military websites have these errors, but they can be common. Clicking the link should take you to the RAPIDS website and the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler. The message states that clicking the link is unsafe, but I haven’t experienced that to be the case. Of course, make sure you are using safe computing practices.
Note: You may find it easier to access the site by using a different browser, such as FireFox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer. You may also need to make adjustments to your software.
Some anti-virus, firewall programs or other software programs may prevent you from visiting this site. Use your own judgment regarding whether or not you wish to temporarily disable the software.
Additional help can be found in the ID Card Office Locator & Appointments User Guide.
Once you click the link to proceed, you should be able to reach the ID Card Office Online home page. Select one of the options to update your CAC, manage sponsor or family member ID card information, or find a RAPIDS ID Card Office. You can also update your user profile including contact information, GAL information, and opt-in for TSA PreCheck for DoD Civilians.
To find information for the military ID card issuing office closest to you, click “continue” under the ID Card Office Locator & Appointments section. This will take you to a page where you can search for the site by address, conduct alternative searches, or search for an existing appointment. The webpage should look similar to the following:
From here, you simply need to type in your city, state, or zip code location and click “Search.”
I tried choosing my location based on the zip code, but I received a message stating there was no military identification card issuance office within 30 miles of my zip code. So I had to try again by expanding the search radius setting. This returned multiple ID card issuance offices. Choose the location that best meets your needs.
Schedule Your Appointment
Once you click on a location, you will be taken to the RAPIDS Site ID page, which has information for that ID Card Issuance Office (see next section for more info on this topic), and a calendar you can use to select the date for your appointment.
Choose your appointment date, then you will be taken to a page where you can choose an available time. Select your time, then enter your name, phone number, email, and military status, and click submit. You should receive a confirmation email. You can later use the website to confirm, cancel, or change your appointment.
Each ID Card Issuing Office Has Different Procedures
Pay attention to the procedures listed on the appointment scheduling page. Each office may have different procedures. For example, most offices only process military ID cards on certain days, or during certain hours. Many offices do not accept walk-in appointments. If they do accept walk-ins, be prepared to wait up to several hours, depending on availability.
It’s usually required to schedule multiple appointments if you are obtaining multiple ID cards since it takes time to process each card. This is common if you have dependents who all need to renew their ID cards.
Here is an example notice from a Military Identification Card Issuance Office near me (notice the limited days/hours and no walk-in availability):
- Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 0900-1130, 1230-1445 Please note 15 minutes per ID card/transaction, please make additional appointments for additional ID cards. We DO NOT accept walk-in appointments.
Additional instructions often include building location, how to access the building, whether or not you need a visitor’s pass, which documents to bring, and related information. I took the time to compare the information from multiple offices, and some offer much more information than others, especially when it comes to required documents to get a new military ID card, as well as local procedures.
When in doubt, call and ask! The last thing you want to do is schedule an appointment, then find out you don’t have all the required documents on hand when you arrive.
Required Documents for a New Military ID Card
You will be required to bring two current forms of identification that have been issued by your local, state, or federal government. These can include your driver’s license, social security card, passport, certified copy of your birth certificate or a similar form of ID. Call to verify if you have any doubts regarding the form of ID you have.
If you have a spouse who needs to obtain a military ID card, then you will either need to be in attendance with him/her, or your spouse will need a special power of attorney to allow them to conduct business on their sponsor’s behalf. You may also provide a signed and verified DD Form 1172, Application for Uniformed Services Identification Card DEERS Enrollment, which should allow them to obtain a military dependent ID card.
Your dependents will need to be enrolled in DEERS before they can be issued a military dependent ID card.
Who Can Use the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler?
You can use the RAPIDS website to schedule an appointment for a new military services ID card if you are in any of the following branches of the Uniformed Services (this includes active duty, retirees, and dependents):
- Air Force (including Guard and Reserves)
- Army (including Guard and Reserves)
- Marine Corps & Marine Corps Reserves
- Navy & Navy Reserves
- Coast Guard (and Reserves)
- US Public Health Service
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Department of State members
- Certain Contractors
Note about Military ID Card Eligibility: Military ID cards are only for current military members, retirees, and their qualified dependents. These cards are not issued to veterans who served, but did not retire. You will want to read more about the new veterans ID card issued by the VA, or the VA health care identification ID card.
Questions about qualifications or required documents? Unfortunately, we aren’t able to answer specific questions regarding military ID card or dependent qualifications, which documents are required (beyond those listed above), or questions about specific locations or procedures. Contact your local military ID card issuance office through the contact information on the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler with specific questions or comments.
About Post Author
Comments:
About the comments on this site:
These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Annette L Faraone says
I retired in 2019 and will be turning 65 this year. I need to get my permanent retired ID card. Since the last time I used the Rapids Website was in 2019 it does not allow me to update my password. How do I reregister so I can set up an appointment to get a new ID?
Ryan Guina says
Annette, I recommend contacting the closest military ID card issuing office to see if you can set up an appointment. Best wishes!
ALVIN ADAMS says
I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY WIFE AND I TO GET NEW ID CARDS, I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION ON WHAT ITEMS I MAY NEED TO BRING, THE PHONES ARE NEVER ANSWERED WE HAVE OLD ID CARDS THAT WAS ISSUED AT THE BASE WE ARE GOING TO FOR NEW ONES. DO WE NEED TO BRING ANY THING BESIDE OUR OLD IDS?
Dave M Franklyn says
The reason why military websites have this problem is their DNS servers are behind the firewall, and reverse DNS lookups are blocked coming in from outside the .mil top level domain.
Most browsers nowadays use reverse DNS lookup to confirm the address is from the network owned by the domain. So if the address of http://www.airforce.af.mil is 207.157.6.3, for example, a query is sent to DNS server to match that address: Essentially, your computers “asks” using TCP/IP Port 53 on the DNS server for Airforce.af.mil for the NAME of the server using 207.157.6.3
Unfortunately, these queries are usually blocked, because they can be used by hackers maliciously.
Markus Carter says
This is the hardest website I have ever seen to navigate. I need a new ID card for my dependent and have spent over two hours trying to set up a appointment
Fred Terry says
need help conforming my rapids appointment my conformation number is #0003894959.
Brittany Crocker says
Hey Fred, I’m sorry, we can’t help with that.
CW4 Ron Leonard says
Just trying to get my retirement ID card for myself and my wife. Not one number works, not one website works. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get after 33 years and two combat deployments. My GOD!
T. O'Connor says
What does R A P I D S stand for?
Brittany Crocker says
Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System!
Patsy Wells says
I am a 75 year old dependant, widow, and I need a new ID at Bangor Washington. I am not computer friendly and need some help..360-796-0474
Michelle Hall says
Hi Ryan
I need to change my last name on my military ID
How do I go about that ?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Michelle,
You will need to visit your closest ID Card issuing office and request a new ID card. You will want to ensure you have the correct paperwork supporting your name change. I recommend calling ahead to ensure you have the list of acceptable documentation.
William Treadway says
I need to make an appointment to renew my wife’s dependent ID Card in Wiesbaden Germany. I understand this office has no appoints available for this month. I will take one in Oct. but now I cannot connect to rapids online. Can you assist?
W. Treadway
Ryan Guina says
Hello William,
The Military Wallet is not an official government website. We are not able to help individuals make appointments. You will need to work directly through the RAPIDS website or by contacting the base directly.
Best wishes!
Yenetta Gaston says
I trying to find out when is my ID appointment?
Perry K Oxley says
I’m retired after serving 20 years in the AF. My current ID Card expires 07/31/21. I have an Appt at Buffalo, NY, Res Air Station. For 08/09/21. Day after my birthday.
That is their first opening. I have attempted to make an appt for five states in the NY to Arlington National Cemetary,
Where I’m to be buried, upon the completion of my terminal illness. No openings?
Amazing…
Thanks…Perry
Ryan Guina says
Hello Perry,
Due to Covid, the DoD has automatically extended the expiration dates for certain military ID cardholders. You can learn more here.
I don’t have any additional information on various National Cemeteries. I recommend contacting your local Department of Veterans Affairs office for more information on which military cemeteries have availability.
I wish you the best of health and thank you for your service.
Byron Ater says
Trying to schedule an appointment to renew my wife’s ID card. MacDill ID Office won’t pick up their phone. Can’t find any other locations in the area of Ocala, Florida to renew her ID card. This has become something of a ridiculous task that should never have occurred.
Carroll Wilde says
I am an emeritus professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. My ID card allowing access to the school expired and I need to make an appointment with the cognizant office at the school for a new ID card. Can you give me the name of the website on which I can make such an appointment?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Carroll, Try contacting the DMDC Support Center (DSC) User Help Desk at 1-800-477-8227. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ruth Ware says
i am trying to make an appointment to renew i d card cant make appointment!
Vanessa Wilson says
I’m have so much problem trying set an appointment for July to re new my deers card my husband died n 2020
larry f lewis says
Worse support in my 55 year association with the AF – I just want to schedule a dependent ID card appointment – hours and hours and still doesn’t work.
Lachlan Macleay, Col USAF Ret says
Recently moved from CO to AZ. Need to change mistake income tax withholding effective 1 Jan 20021. Can you help?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Lachlan,
The best organization to contact is DFAS – the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. They handle all military and military retiree pay issues.
Best wishes and thank you for your service!
Rogenia says
I cannot get any help making an appointment to renew my ID card. It expires in October!
Robert Stoor says
I just had my cac card renewed, it works every where, accept taa. I can’t get on taa.
S says
Time for a new military id card computer system. Rapids has been having problems for a very long time. Rapids performs sub par at best on a good day. Everyone with an expired military id card can now still get onto military bases (super safe) and tricare will continue to take until Sept 30, 2020 according to PSD Oceana. I tried calling 800-477-8227; they are experiencing a high call volume because of downtime.
Why are we paying Rapids? There has to be something better out there. In the past…..when walking in to get an id card……it would take 5-6 hours easy….& Now this backup. Can we still get onto the commissary and exchanges? Rapids is a very inefficient system.
John Steinson says
For what it’s worth, the Rapids site is back up again. LOL
Rossellini says
My military id card expires in November and early this morning (9-22_2020) I tried several times to schedule an appointment using rapids from my iPad and my Samsung smartphone but every time I got an error that said ERROR BOOKING APPOINTMENT: FAILED GOOGLE RECAPTCHA. After 6 or 7 times I got fed up and stopped trying from a mobile device. I’m on a regular CPU and the Rapids website here is saying that this isn’t a secure connection, so I’m hesitant to book an appointment.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Rossellini, certain government websites have different security certificates that cause browsers to display a warning unless the user has downloaded those certificates to their computers. If you are uncomfortable using the online form, then I would visit the base website and try to find the ID Card office number to schedule an appointment. This may be listed under the personnel office, HR, Force Support, or something similar. You may also try contacting the main gate or the base operator if you are unable to find the correct number on the website. Good luck!
John Steinson says
Since the site is down, I used this method to make an appointment.
People can call this number and set an appointment. Worked for me. DMDC Support Center (DSC) User Help Desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Worldwide: 1-800-477-8227
Candace Dunn says
I have never had a problem accessing Rapids. NEVER! Today, no matter what browser I use, I get an error that the site is down and/or no longer available. Your website took the time to link the scheduler, but did anyone check to see if it worked? Someone in the comments suggested calling your own CAC office. Problem – they only take appointments via Rapids. Please provide a link that actually works. This is frustrating because I’ve been using it for 10 years, with no problems at all. Someone decides to revamp the site, and now nothing works, and no appointments can be set.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Candace, I too, am unable to access the Rapids site. I’m not sure what the issue is and it is out of our control. I stand by the previous recommendation of contacting your local ID Card office and explaining the situation. Tell them the Rapids site is not functioning properly and ask if them if there is an alternative method for scheduling an appointment. If that doesn’t work, I would call to find out which hours they normally issue ID cards, then I would just show up and wait for an appointment.
Kevin lamons says
I can access it from my work computer but not at home. This was as recent as last night. The site is up, so something occurred with windows 10 home users recently. I have tried both Chrome and IE with same TLS/SSL error. I have changed the TLS/SSL settings in IE and still same issue. Also, used my CAC to access the website using both browsers. I guess I will make my ID card renewal appointment when I get to work tonight? I hope they fix this issue soon.
Steve L Butts says
Good Morning; I have attempted to access the Rapids Appointment Site for the past week. Since I am scheduled to have surgery at Duke University in Raleigh, NC we were hoping to obtain my new Spouse’s ID while there.
Please advise.
Thanks
Steve
Ryan Guina says
Hello Steve, I am also unable to access the website. I recommend contacting the base directly to see if you can schedule an appointment via the phone. Start by using the base website – there should be some contact number, usually for a base operator or the base Pass & ID office. Some of these numbers may take a little research to find. Best wishes!
Don Warlick says
I have been trying to access the site for the past week and it is down. Is there anyone I can contact to notify about this?
thanks, Don Warlick
Ryan Guina says
Hello Don, I am also not able to access the website. I would contact your local base to see if you can schedule an appointment that way. You can also let them know the website is down (since the site is not currently up, I’m not sure who else to contact). Best wishes!
Patti says
I cannot access the RAPIDS site either but don’t even get as far as others. The only message I get is that I cannot open the page because it could not establish a secure connection to the server. I have tried internet explorer, google chrome and firefox.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Patti, I am also not able to access the website. I would contact your local base to see if you can schedule an appointment that way. You can also let them know the website is down (since the site is not currently up, I’m not sure who else to contact). Best wishes!
Angie says
I have a question my husband is a AF retired, I went the other day to renew my dependent ID, but I noticed my hair is so messy and I Can’t see my face clearly do I have the right to re take the picture? I wondering why the person did not showed me the picture just told me sign!!!
Ryan Guina says
Hello Angie, I recommend contacting the ID Card issuing station with this question. If your face is not clearly visible, they will likely need to retake the photo, since this is an official government ID card and your photo ID will be required to get on base.
Luke says
where can I find my personal identification number when using the “Find Appointment” option. It asks for Last Name/Confirmation number?
Luke Koziol says
I have my original blue retiree ID card. Do I need to get the newer version?
Dan Hoch says
Ryan, I might also add that what is making it very frustrating is that I was given the base PR person who did answer their phone and was of no help to connect me. He gave me a number to pass and ID which I already had. If you call that number you get forwarded to another number which then puts you into VM and it says that the mailbox is full and click, you’re done. If I were still the base PR LtCmdr at NAS Dallas before it closed, this would not have happened. I’m now looking for the base Commander’s number to call him/her. This is unacceptable, and I mean to get to the bottom of this ambivalence.
Dan Hochstetler says
We recently retired from DOD and were told that we were entitled to a retirement ID that is good for military hotels etc. but not for BX/PX/NEX or commissary.
We live near Naval Station JRB Fort worth, and there’s no way I can get them on the phone.
So I need to find out who to contact (i.e. the Base Commander etc) who can get someone to answer the phones to make sure we can get this ID there, and if all they need is the SF-50 retirement form.
Thanks a lot
Ryan Guina says
Hello Dan, Thank you for your comment. I would contact the base operator or base Pass & ID office. They should be able to put you in touch with the right office and help you find out which information you need to obtain your retired ID card.
If you will have a military retirement card, then you should be able to access the BX/PX/NEX, and Commissary. I’m not certain if that is the case if you have a DoD civilian retirement card. The base Pass & ID office will be able to answer that question.
I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Dan says
Thanks Ryan, I am pursuing this, sloooowly, unfortunately. I wish
I were closer but I’m about 60 miles away in Frisco Texas and the
base is on the west side of Ft Worth…
lambda5555m says
You can only get an ID Card if you are Retired Military, not a Retired DoD employee. You can get one if you are a 100% Disabled Veteran in most cases, but your SF-50 doesn’t mean you get a retirement ID Card for the Commissary, PX, or other base activities. You are not entitled to a military retirement or dependent ID no matter how long you work for the DoD if you are a DoD Civilian. Only retired military and dependents can get them.
Oscar W Mardis says
Dan, click the following link pertaining to DOD ID cards for civilian retirees.
Oscar W Mardis says
FYI – lamda555m
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/32/161.21
Oscar W Mardis says
Send them a fax with your questions Dan. Fort Worth Visitor Control Center (VCC) at NAS JRB Ft. Worth. 1304 Military Parkway, 1st Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76127
Commercial: (817) 782-5244
Fax: (817) 782-3950
Patricia Hoagland says
Need to cancel my military I’d appointment at NOSC Lehigh valley
Adam H. says
Thank you for sharing this tutorial. I was having problems accessing the Rapids site because of the security issue. Your screenshots helped!
Ryan Guina says
My pleasure, Adam! Best wishes.