Biometric Use Cases
Personnel Recovery
A U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) team receives information concerning the
location of a U.S. contractor who has been held by insurgents for nearly 30 days.
Prior to conducting a rescue operation, the SOF team had downloaded digital biometric
files and associated biographical information on the captive from the authoritative
source to confirm the individual's identity. During the rescue operation, the team
detains seven individuals at the site and collects their biometric data. Using a
hand-held biometric device, the team immediately matches one sample to the fingerprint
of the person they were sent to recover. Biometric samples from the other individuals
are transmitted, enrolled, and stored at the authoritative source. The team is able
to extract the individual to a safe area, secure in the knowledge that they have
rescued the right person.
Using biometrics, hostage rescue teams can more quickly and accurately be sure that they have the right person.
Maritime Interdiction Operations
After obtaining flag state consent, the MIO team boards a foreign vessel and collects
biometric samples from each crew member. The data are transmitted to a DoD authoritative
source and are followed up with acknowledgement of receipt. The biometric data will
be compared against all stored files and shared with mission partners. In this way,
crew members that have been seen before by the DoD or other U.S. government agencies
can be positively identified regardless of the paper documents and identity being
used by the individual. New systems in development will let the commander of the
mother ship analyze the biometric data and rapidly make a decision as to whether
the detainee should be released or held for further questions.
Biometrics will help negate false documentation used by known terrorists and insurgents traveling at sea.
Disaster Relief
The U.S. government responds to a request for help from a country that has experienced
a catastrophic disaster. There is an immediate need to locate, rescue, and manage
the local population. The host government authorizes the multinational response
force to collect biometric samples from the civilian population to assist with the
refugee management process. Identities are managed using biometrics to ensure proper
distribution of food, medical attention and supplies, transportation, and the reunification
of families separated during the disaster.
Fraudulent distribution of humanitarian aid is reduced, and families are reunited more quickly.
Controlling Access
An Army civilian is scheduled to visit a U.S. military installation. Notification
for approval for the visit has been sent to the installation's access control office
roster. At the installation's main gate, the base access control system scans the
visitor's official biometric-enabled identification token, collects a biometric
sample, and verifies the visitor's credentials and authorization based on a positive
match with the appropriate access roster. The access control office grants installation
access privileges based on the visitor's identification data, DoD affiliation, and
the current threat level. Upon completion of in-processing, the visitor is granted
access to specific parking lots and buildings on the installation. The identity
validation process is repeated in a layered security procedure using the individual's
specific biometric-enabled identification token processed by network security access
control devices. The visitor' identity and access authorization is confirmed at
each access location. This system can be used for physical and network access control
throughout the installation.
Biometrics can help ensure that only authorized personnel have access to installations, buildings, and networks.
Access to services for non-U.S. personnel
When operating in a foreign country, the U.S. often contracts with local nationals
to provide labor and services. As a condition of employment, the laborer must provide
individual identity information and biometric samples for screening and background
check purposes. Biometric samples are taken and matched against both host nation
and U.S. authoritative sources. Both positive and negative matches result in the
update and enrollment of individual biometric files, respectively. Additionally,
once stored, these biometric files are shared with the host nation and U.S. non-DoD
parties for subsequent analysis and fusion of applicable biometric and associated
information (e.g., criminal records). Based on this exhaustive research,
the U.S. military decides whether to offer employment and issue a biometric-enabled
identity card to the job applicant. Biometric matching of all laborers is conducted
on payday to confirm identity prior to payment.
Biometrics can help prevent unauthorized personnel from gaining access to services resulting in fraudulent payments.