Keeping My Army ID Card Safe and

¶ … Keeping My Army ID Card Safe and Secure Whenever something occurs, especially one that may have dire consequences or effects, the first instance of which can be deemed as an "accident" or something that just so happens by mistake. When the similar event ensue a second time around, then there is already a trend and fault should be accorded to the person who committed the same flaw twice.

The reason for not letting the fault pass a second time around is that the mere fact there was a reoccurrence of the event, the person has not learned the lesson at the first instance. Consequently, provision of punishment or penalty that is commensurate to the infraction is apropos in order for the person who committed the act to finally learn the wrongness of is way.

Absent any sanction, then the person may again repeat the same mistake over and over until it becomes not only a trend but a very bad habit that would cause not only detrimental effects but injuries to the person, those who the person works with and for, as well as the organization where the person belongs to. For my part, the mistake or fault that I committed twice was leaving my military identification card still in one of the Common Access Card (CAC) readers in the clinic I am assigned.

The CAC is the standard identification card in used in the military and provided to personnel who has business with the United States Department of Defense. The CAC is a smart card that contains vital information (i.e. name, service number, etc.) on the personnel it is assigned to. Aside from being a form of identification, the CAC provides access to the military's information systems and the access is dependent on the kind of work assigned to the individual.

As an Army Medic, I used the military's information systems to deal with patient information, make and manage appointments, do online training and a host of other tasks relevant and necessary to the performance of my duties in my specific military occupation specialty. Thus, the importance of securing and ensuring the safety of the identification card cannot be emphasized enough.

I have gone to an intensive training and have been briefed extensively on the criticality of ensuring that the card is not compromise in various ways such as theft, misused, loss, others. I have been made to understand the policies, guidelines, regulations and statutes related to the identification card and I have signed various forms and documents attesting to my understanding and acknowledgment of these rules.

Accordingly, my leaving my identification card still in one of the card readers was in direct contravention to the legal documents that I attested to. Although I may be mitigating the circumstances with having completed a 24-hour shift and I was exhausted, this is still no excuse because I have still been remiss in the execution of my duties responsibilities, and obligations not only to the military service but to the patients I serve as an Army Medic.

Numerous things could have happened or have gone wrong whilst my identification was in the card reader during my absence. Primarily, the card could have been stolen my mischievous individuals who could have authorized or unauthorized access in my work area. In this particular scenario, several negative Domino Effects could occur such as having my card and the contents thereof copied and used for illegal acts such as gaining unauthorized access to the information systems of the Department of Defense.

My card could also have been used by identity thieves and in this scenario, several damages may be done to the military establishment. Indeed, one simple and stupid act that I committed could have escalated into severe damage to myself and the organization I work for. It is in this regard that having committed the act twice should and must already be a wake-up call for me to get my act together and do my work more conscientiously.

In admitting my guilt on the matter, there are some rationalizations that I have done to convince myself that I may not have done really wrong because my identification card was still where I left it. This is my being human and feeling infallible to lessen the guilt that I have.

I thought previously when I realized that I left my card the second time around that nothing could have happened because the card requires two-factor authentication -- something I have (the card itself) and something I know (the access code to use the card). But I knew afterwards that I was only fooling myself and trying to rationalize my flawed behavior. After more pondering, I realized that I indeed made the same mistake twice and I will have to ensure that it will not or will never happen ever again.

Being in the military and having been accepted in an establishment that prides itself in duty, honor and service means that I have to be able to abide by and live with the ethos of the tradition of the armed services. This should never be a small.