As compared to commercial item markings, the DoD’s vision of UID policy offers better item tracking and provides precise data for accountability management, financial, and asset management purposes. The DoD has clearly set prerequisite criteria where UID policy is mandated to be followed. The conditions are described as follows.

UID requirement criteria

If the cost of the acquisition is $5,000 or more.

If UID is a component of a delivered item, or if the program manager has determined that UID is required.

If the item is either a controlled inventory piece of equipment, is mission essential, serially managed, a repairable item, or a consumable item where permanent identification is required.

If a DoD-recognized UID equivalent is available.

Basically a UID marking consists of a unique 2-D data matrix symbol which consists of Part Number, Serial Number, and CAGE Code for every the product. This 2-Dimensional Data Matrix Symbol is the lowest level of identifier and especially applicable for the Aviation Industry. The basic idea behind this 2D-Matrix is to maintain uniformity in the inventory in all government deliverables. This 2-Dimensional Data Matrix Symbol can done either by dot peen, durable polyester, laser mark, chemical etch or ink jet. Only after the military products are marked through the unique identification process, they are UID complaint. After marking, the items need to be checked to be confirmed to the standard setting. A further scanning and tacking of the items are done to check the accuracy of the items before they ready to be received. Finally, the UID data is submitted to the WAWF i.e. Wide Area Work Flow and UID Registry to be UID compliant.

Benefits of UID

All tangible military items either owned by or in the contract with the DoD is mandated to be identified with a serialized unique identification number. This unique identification number is indispensable for meeting the MIL-STD-130 standards. Because of this UID policy, The DoD can extract the relevant information about any items that are stored in the DoD UID registry very easily.

Starting from efficient, faster tracking and acquisition, repair, and deployment of registered items, the UID policy also helps accomplish a higher states of operational readiness. Also the status of items checking is a whole lot easier through this unique identification system.

This post was submitted by UID2GO.

We’ve been hearing a lot about Asian countries doing big things here and there. From the Chinese powerful market due to their cheap labour force, to the yen being the currency of the future, to Japan’s incredible ability to practically take over the technological sector of the globe. We also hear a lot about India, however in my opinion, India hasn’t really shown any true signs of power until October 22, 2008, when they sent a shuttle into space to make multiple circles around the moon and observe it in great depth.

Why the Moon Again?

The shuttle is to take pictures and through some scientific method try to locate any liquid they can trace. They basically want to see if there is any possibility of life out there and to completely understand the entirety of its composition. It’s going to be a 2 year mission and by its end they want the shuttle to plant an Indian flag on the moon to conclude the lunar mission. This is India’s first lunar mission and they hope to make a name for themselves as a rising nation with a bright future ahead of itself.

The Money Issue

The cost of the mission was a record low, where the government only invested $18 million to organize, create, and go through with the blast off of the shuttle. It’s astonishing that at such a low cost they were able to systematize this type of mission. The people are nevertheless unhappy with the government’s investment, demanding to know why it spent the $18 million on a space operation when they could have helped out with the poverty dilemma that is affecting so many Indian citizens. With a second largest population in the world, India’s standard of living is not too luxurious and they need really justifiable reasons to distribute money in anything besides the welfare of the society.

Overall, India seems to be improving on a global scale and their population will do them much help when a third world war will occur… or just when the year 2009 will come around and the entire world will be in such a devastating position that it will take a nation like India or China to stand up and take over America’s spot as a superpower nation. To be frank, I never want that to happen, but that shit just might take place.

This post was submitted by Drew Witcher.