which of the following is not an appropriate use of your common access card

Common Access Card (CAC) Usage Overview The Common Access Card (CAC) serves as the standard ID for U.S. military personnel, DoD civilians, and contractors, enabling secure access to bases, systems, and benefits. Strict federal rules govern its use to prevent fraud, counterfeiting, or unauthorized access, with violations punishable by fines or imprisonment.

Prohibited Actions

Several activities clearly misuse the CAC:

• Lending or sharing the card with others, as it must remain personal to verify the holder's identity.

• Altering, damaging, or adding stickers to the card, which compromises its integrity.

• Photocopying or scanning for non-official purposes, like discounts or commercial apps—federal law (18 U.S.C. § 701) bans this except for specific cases like medical care, voting, or tax compliance.

Appropriate Uses

CACs support everyday needs securely:

• Carrying in a wallet for routine access.
• Using for authorized benefits like base entry or PKI logins.
• Limited official photocopying under DoD Instruction 1000.13, such as for Servicemembers Civil Relief Act matters.

Likely "Not Appropriate" Answer

In typical training questions (e.g., Security+ or DoD quizzes), photocopying the CAC for a discount stands out as not appropriate, as it risks PII exposure and cloning by criminals—unlike official or personal uses. Forums like Reddit echo this, stressing no scans for non-government entities.

Why Rules Matter Now

As of January 2026, with rising cyber threats, DoD emphasizes vigilance; recent forum trends highlight scams targeting CAC data for identity theft. Always report lost/stolen cards immediately via DEERS.

TL;DR: Photocopying or scanning your CAC for unofficial purposes (e.g., discounts) is not appropriate—it's illegal and risky.

Information from public DoD sites and forums.