In the trenchesU.S. military personnel increasingly using biometric technology

U.S. military officials recently addressed the growing use of biometric identification technology for the military’s efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Military Technologies News.

Since the Department of Defense implemented biometric identification technology, military personnel have seen benefits such as quickly identifying known terrorists, collecting intelligence on insurgent activities, and identifying former detainees the military had released (“The promise, and risks, of battlefield biometrics,” 11 August 2010 HSNW).

ID Super Store reports that Myra S. Gray, director of the U.S. Army’s Biometrics Identity Management Agency, told American Forces Press Service the biometric technology has suddenly expanded because of its advantages for military operations. “You can identify an individual and associate him with certain actions,” Gray said. “You can figure out who someone associated with and what they have been involved in. You can link events such as an [improvised explosive device] at one place and a protest at another. You build a picture of what has gone on.”

Gray also explained the recent evolution of biometric technology in the military. “Five years ago, it was something very new, and the capability wasn’t fully understood,” she said. “It was kind of an add-on to the mission. Now it’s an integral part of the mission because people have seen the value that it brings.”

Biometric advancements have been sought for the Afghanistan government itself, as General David Petraeus’ report on counter-insurgency calls for secure biometric ID cards to prevent the influx of insurgents from Afghanistan’s surrounding countries.