Fill Out DD Form 1172-2 Online
Application for Identification Card/DEERS Enrollment
U.S. Department of Defense
Applies for a uniformed services identification card and enrolls family members and other eligible individuals in DEERS.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
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DD Form 1172-2, the Application for Identification Card/DEERS Enrollment, is the document behind uniformed services ID cards. Sponsors use it to enroll spouses, children, and other eligible individuals in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and to apply for the ID cards that unlock access to installations and services tied to eligibility.
The form asks for precise personal data on both the sponsor and the applicant, so typing it avoids the rejected-for-legibility problem. You can complete the DD 1172-2 in the Universal PDF editor and download a clean PDF to bring to your ID card appointment with your documents.
What is DD Form 1172-2 used for
DEERS is the database the Department of Defense uses to track who is eligible for benefits and privileges as a sponsor or dependent. The DD 1172-2 is the application that gets a person into DEERS, keeps their record current, and supports issuing a uniformed services identification card.
Typical situations that call for the form include:
- Enrolling a new spouse or newborn child in DEERS
- Getting a dependent's first ID card once they reach the qualifying age
- Renewing or replacing an expired, lost, or damaged dependent or retiree family ID card
- Enrolling other eligible categories, such as approved secondary dependents
Who completes DD Form 1172-2
The sponsor, meaning the service member, retiree, or other eligible person whose status creates the eligibility, completes and signs the form for each applicant. The sponsor's signature normally has to be verified, either in person at the ID card office or through an accepted alternative such as a notarized form or power of attorney when the sponsor cannot appear.
The application is then processed at a RAPIDS site, the real time system used by ID card offices on installations worldwide.
How to fill out DD Form 1172-2
Accuracy matters because the entries must match the eligibility documents you bring. Prepare the following:
- Sponsor information, including name, DoD ID number or Social Security number, service or retired status, and contact details
- Applicant information for each family member, including full legal name, date of birth, and relationship to the sponsor
- Eligibility documents to present at the appointment, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or dependency determination
- Two forms of identification for the applicant where required, at least one with a photo, following current DoD identity rules
- The sponsor's signature, verified per the ID card office's requirements
Where the form goes
Take the completed form and original documents to a RAPIDS ID card office, where an official verifies everything, updates DEERS, and issues the card. Most offices work by appointment, and DoD provides an online site locator and appointment scheduler.
Sponsors can also start applications electronically through the ID Card Office Online portal, which can generate a pre-filled form. Either way, verify current document requirements with the ID card office before your visit, since bringing the wrong originals is the most common reason for a second trip.
Frequently asked questions
The sponsor's signature must be verified, which is simplest when the sponsor attends. If the sponsor cannot appear, ID card offices accept alternatives such as a form signed and verified in advance or an applicable power of attorney. Ask your ID card office which options it accepts.
Bring original or certified eligibility documents, such as a marriage or birth certificate, plus identification for the applicant that meets current DoD requirements. The ID card office verifies documents against the form, so the names and dates must match exactly.
Dependent children are enrolled in DEERS from the start, but they typically receive their own ID card around age 10, or earlier in special circumstances. Your ID card office can confirm the current rule for your situation.
Yes. The ID Card Office Online portal lets sponsors begin applications and locate RAPIDS sites, and you can book appointments through the DoD appointment scheduler. You still finish the process in person so documents can be verified.
Yes. Open the PDF in the Universal PDF editor, type the sponsor and applicant information, and download the completed file to bring to your RAPIDS appointment with your eligibility documents.
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