Army Biometric Applications: Identifying and Addressing Sociocultural Concerns

The use of biometrics is increasing throughout the United States and the rest of the world. This appendix presents brief case studies of various public and private-sector entities employing biometrics to control access to facilities and computers, to prevent fraud, and to increase customer services, among other purposes.¹ The case studies pay special attention to privacy concerns and technology glitches (if any) that the Army should consider before a biometrics program can be widely implemented. This appendix concludes with case studies of other identifiers to include the DoD DNA specimen repository and the use of the SSN.

Problem: The Army sends recruits to basic training at one of five bases in the United States: Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Benning, Georgia. Shortly after arrival at the base, the new recruits must buy toiletries, haircuts, and other personal items. To enable them to make these purchases, the Army issues recruits an advance on their pay. Giving these recruits several hundred dollars in cash causes concern because the money is easily lost or stolen. Thus, Fort Sill used a voucher system, while at Fort Knox, the Army

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