CAC Card Issuance question

kypha2708

kypha2708

New Member
Joined
May 6, 2024
Messages
2
Good afternoon All. My DD is heading to NSI Iteration1, on an NPP scholarship and will start school in August. What that being said, we are traveling to the Norfolk area in July and she would like to visit some Navy installations while we are in the area. My question is, how likely is it for her to receive a CAC card prior to arrival at her NROTC unit? I have heard tale that some cards may be issued at NSI, but that does not seem likely, so any input is appreciated. Thanks!
 
kypha2708 said:
Good afternoon All. My DD is heading to NSI Iteration1, on an NPP scholarship and will start school in August. What that being said, we are traveling to the Norfolk area in July and she would like to visit some Navy installations while we are in the area. My question is, how likely is it for her to receive a CAC card prior to arrival at her NROTC unit? I have heard tale that some cards may be issued at NSI, but that does not seem likely, so any input is appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Not likely. There is an application and background check as part of the process that take time. Background check takes months if not longer. CAC cards are not issued at NSI. (Others can correct me as needed but timing needed doesn’t add up to do so.

“Getting Your Common Access Card (CAC)
Much of the process of getting a CAC happens without your even knowing it, but you will still need to understand the process to obtain the card. Whether you're getting a CAC for the first time or renewing your current CAC, you must follow all four steps listed below:

​

​


Step 1: Sponsorship & Eligibility
Applicants for a CAC must be sponsored by a DoD government official or employee. For the majority of CAC holders (Military and DoD Civilian), your sponsor will be an authoritative data feed from your Human Resources department. Otherwise, the sponsor is the person affiliated with the DoD or other federal agency who takes responsibility for verifying and authorizing the applicant's need for an ID card.

Step 2: Registration & Enrollment
You must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) by your sponsor prior to card issuance. Also, if you change roles - For example, changing from active-duty to contractor status - you will need to reregister in DEERS.
Contractors will need to be registered into the Trusted Associate Sponsorship System (TASS) by a Trusted Agent (TA). More information for contractors.

Step 3: Background Investigation
Sponsors will initiate a background check for potential cardholders. This process involves the following steps:
  • A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check
  • A National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI) check
Since the NACI process can take up to 18 months, you may be issued a CAC before the process is completed and after a favorable fingerprint return. If the NACI process is completed and you are not approved, however, your CAC will be revoked. Please refer to DoD Instruction 5200.46 for additional information regarding DoD investigative and adjudicative guidance for CAC issuance.

Step 4: Obtaining Your Card
Once your DEERS registration is complete, you must visit a Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) site for final verification and processing. When you go to a RAPIDS site, you must bring the following items:
  • Two forms of ID in original form. Both IDs must be among those listed on the List of Acceptable Documents (259k, PDF). One of the IDs must bear a photo (for example, a passport or a driver's license).
  • A six (6) to eight (8) digit number to use as a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Your PIN should not be a number derived from something easily known about you, such as part of your Social Security Number (SSN), birthday, anniversary date, telephone number, or address.
  • Your government unclassified email address if you use a government computer. Be sure to print your full, unclassified Internet email address (not your display name, and not your personal email address). Your computer system administrators can help you with entering the correct address. If a work email address is not available, the card will be issued without an email certificate. You may add or update the email associated with your CAC via ID Card Office Online.
If you encounter a problem obtaining your new card at the RAPIDS site, and the problem is related to vetting, please follow up with your sponsor to update your DEERS profile. If the problem is related to your record in DEERS, please follow up with your direct supervisor or your personnel hiring office.”
 
The CAC is a major government security document and is pivotal point of entering military service. Base access, especially to installations with combatant assets, is tightly controlled. (I often write for readers with no military background, OP may well know this.)

Someone here will know when CACs are issued.

In Norfolk, you can:
- Visit a U.S. Navy museum run by the Navy’s history and heritage command.

Hampton Roads Naval Museum

www.history.navy.mil www.history.navy.mil
- Visit the Nauticus maritime discovery center, including the decommissioned battleship WISCONSIN.
nauticus.org

Nauticus & The Battleship Wisconsin

Nauticus is a maritime discovery center located along the waterfront in downtown, Norfolk, VA, offering a unique form of experiential learning for all ages.
nauticus.org nauticus.org
- Play tourist and take one of the harbor tour boats that give you the waterside view of the Navy ships and submarines. There is one that departs from Nauticus.
- Virginia Military Aviation Museum. Vintage aircraft.
www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

Military Aviation Museum | Aircraft Collections | Virginia Beach, VA

The Military Aviation Museum, located in Virginia Beach, is home to the world's largest collection of airworthy vintage military aircraft.
www.militaryaviationmuseum.org www.militaryaviationmuseum.org


In addition to the large Navy base in Norfolk which has ships, subs and an air station, there are other Navy installations in. Little Creek (an amphibious base and SEAL home), NAS Oceana (multiple aviation squadrons) and other locations in the Hampton Roads area. Occasionally there are “Visit Ship” days on major holidays, and organized tour groups can request carrier and squadron tours. Some google searching of appropriate Navy Public Affairs offices can provide information. But rolling up to try and get on base to just take a look around, especially where combatant asses are located - things are very different than, say, walking into USNA grounds in Annapolis with proper ID and touring public areas.

NROTC midshipmen get plenty of opportunity during summer training for exposure to bases and combatant asses, which helps them with their service assignment requests.

Bonus item: If your daughter liked the movie “Hidden Figures,” bringing to the light the untold story of the wonderful work done by Black women who performed essential complex calculations by hand for early NASA missions, she’ll enjoy this exhibit in the area.


When the Computer Wore a Skirt: NASA's Human Computers | Hampton, VA - Official Website

The NASA exhibit explores the history and personalities brought to light in the hit film and best-selling book “Hidden Figures.” The display features three of these pioneers: Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson.
hampton.gov hampton.gov

I am a big fan of exploring history as a foundation for joining the military.
 
Last edited:
I have not heard of CAC's being issued at NSI. Completion of NSI is require(alteast right now) for the scholarship to be activated; therefore, it would make sense that the CAC would not be issued until after that since some do not show up or finish.

CAC cards are handled by the unit during the freshman year as they are necessary for CORTRAMID the rising 3/C summer. As Capt MJ stated, there will be opportunities for a Mid to see Navy installations during the school year and especially CORTRAMID. My DS goes to school near Norfolk. He had several opportunities to go on both Norfolk and Oceana.

I'm non military, but I have been on many Army and Navy bases. You will not get much value in just walking around and seeing the buildings. Even if you could get on the base. Its cool, but its like walking around any other large business complex. You won't really get to talk with personal because they are busy. That is the reason for the visits and CORTRAMID. That is when your DD will get a chance to dig deep into what it is like. She will also get ALOT of that experience at NSI.

Nautilus, Wisconsin, and the harbor cruise are all great visit ideas to see cool things though.
 

RAS syndrome​

RAS syndrome (where "RAS" stands for "redundant acronym syndrome", making the phrase "RAS syndrome" humorously self-referential) refers to the use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym or other initialism in conjunction with the abbreviated form, thus in effect repeating one or more words.
 
DTT!FSA! said:

RAS syndrome​

RAS syndrome (where "RAS" stands for "redundant acronym syndrome", making the phrase "RAS syndrome" humorously self-referential) refers to the use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym or other initialism in conjunction with the abbreviated form, thus in effect repeating one or more words.
Click to expand...
There had to be. Of course. Thank you.
 
Wow! So much valuable information presented here. Thank you all for your replies.
I have learned a great deal, and now have the data to pass along!!
Thanks again
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top