My friend just got issued a new CAC and it has a circled W on it. We've never seen it before. Does anyone know what it means?

SSG Carlos Madden — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 20:41:25 -0500

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 8:45 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 20:45:30 -0500

They are for colorblind security guards. W for white, G for Green and B for foreign. On non gov/non military CACs there is a colored band under the name to denote contractor or foreign military.

http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/604894/cac-change-aids-visually-color-impaired-security-officers

CAC Change Aids Visually Color Impaired Security Officers

The Defense Department’s common access card is undergoing modification to make it easier for visually color-impaired security officials to identify bearers who are military, government or contractor

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 11:20 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:20:55 -0500

I am pretty sure it is either the Mark of the Beast or the Illuminati.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 6:54 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 06:54:29 -0500

Just when I thought that it was for Warriors

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 3:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 15:53:03 -0500

SSG, it is to represent active duty personnel.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2016 6:40 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 18:40:11 -0400

It is the symbol for color, I thought my G ment government, nope green.

Response by SGT Charles Tittl made Oct 27 at 2016 7:44 PM

SGT Charles Tittl — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 19:44:30 -0400

If you are an MP it stands for Wimp, you can't spell Wimp without an M and a P

Response by TSgt Seth Borrell made Oct 27 at 2016 8:14 PM

TSgt Seth Borrell — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 20:14:53 -0400

That can't be right I am a civil service aircraft mechanic holding a WG-10 position for the Air Force. In order to work and drive on the flight line you can't be color blind period and I passed my color vision test and tower light test with no problem. We were told the W stood for Gov't Worker.

Response by TSgt Seth Borrell made Oct 27 at 2016 8:25 PM

TSgt Seth Borrell — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 20:25:26 -0400

I totaly misunderstood this. After reading the link that was posted I retract my previously uninformed statement.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2016 1:59 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:59:19 -0400

Its to make it easier to transgender back and forth in the military. if you feel like a woman you hold it up so it is a W, if you feel like a male you hold it up so it is a M.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2016 10:30 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 10:30:53 -0500

It's for the colorblind ladies and fellars.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2017 5:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 17:06:33 -0500

I dont have anything on my cac

Response by SFC Charles Kauffman made Feb 14 at 2017 10:11 PM

SFC Charles Kauffman — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 22:11:39 -0500

Like you, I have endured several injuries, GSW right femur, 2 rotator cuff tears, massive tissue loss, injuries to all 3 spines, etc. However, the greatest trauma that I've suffered is the loss of the "lifestyle ". It's hard, dude. We survive just fine in "our world ", but it's not easy to do in a world without a sense of urgency, without a "code ", where people fuck each over daily. I've found that mentoring younger vets helpful, but most of all, living a life that our fallen comrades would find honorable. That's your calling.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2017 11:27 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 23:27:43 -0500

Here is was thinking it was white privilege

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2017 10:40 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 10:40:01 -0500

It means white. If you're black then you'll have a B.

Response by SPC Ethan Steenbergen Beck made Feb 15 at 2017 10:43 AM

SPC Ethan Steenbergen Beck — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 10:43:32 -0500

It's an identifier for gate guards,MPs, etc. All it does is identify you as active duty

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2017 5:25 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:25:52 -0500

It's not CAC card. (Common Access Card card?)
Also, use Google. Has the answer instantaneously.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2017 6:38 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 18:38:39 -0500

Obviously it's like mermaid mans shrink ray M for mini W for wambo. Even though above me has the logical reason of colorblind gate guards.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2017 9:34 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 21:34:44 -0500

Too funny guys but it means B non-citizens, G contractors and W is all remaining personnel. Thanks for the laughs...

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2017 1:31 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 01:31:32 -0500

It's for colorblind civilian security personnel. White stripe for AD personnel, green stripe for contractors, etc.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2017 3:04 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:04:31 -0500

It's the W for a Win. The Cubs won the World Series man

Response by CPO Carmen Morris made Feb 16 at 2017 8:40 AM

CPO Carmen Morris — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:40:46 -0500

I asked and it's designed for those that are color blind to let themknow the strip is white

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2017 12:50 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:50:16 -0500

I asked the DEERS rep and she said it was for some that are color blind. "W" is for white meaning military member. "G" is for green meaning Contractor or DA CIV...

Response by SGT Roy Wickware made Feb 16 at 2017 9:05 PM

SGT Roy Wickware — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 21:05:14 -0500

It is for the colorblind. CAC cards are color coded based off contractor with a green line and a G with a circle around it. Active Duty and Civil Seriver are white, thus the W with a circle around it.

Response by SGT Aaron Wallace made Feb 17 at 2017 12:06 AM

SGT Aaron Wallace — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 00:06:09 -0500

WTF. Why would anyone hire a color blind guard on a military base.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 1:23 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 01:23:46 -0500

It's represents the color white. Some civilian contractors have a blue or green stripe that restricts certain security accesses e.g. The ability to escort on base is restricted. They will have a B or G to represent their color stripe , and colorblind guards can know what it is.

Response by PO1 Keith Goodsell made Feb 17 at 2017 1:43 AM

PO1 Keith Goodsell — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 01:43:45 -0500

Your common access card card huh! It is a PIV card.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 8:37 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:37:25 -0500

I always told reservist and guardsmen it meant "weekend warrior".

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 10:36 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 10:36:58 -0500

The W is for color blind people. They can not see the green in the ID cards for contractors. So the W is for white

Response by PO1 Barbara Matthews made Feb 17 at 2017 1:16 PM

PO1 Barbara Matthews — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 13:16:37 -0500

As a former PO1(E6) I would not have corrected an officer. I made that mistake once in my career.

When I was still active duty working at Naval Hospital Guam. I was in one of the administration offices and an active duty member in civilian clothing was there signing paperwork. He was wearing a hat inside a Navy Hospital. I politely asked him to remove his hat as respect to the sick and dying being treated there. And reminded him of the naval custom of not wearing hats in hospitals... He got uptight and declared that he was an Air Force Major and naval customs didn't apply to him. So I stood down. Whenever he left everyone in the office thought he was a rude jerk.

Response by 1LT Erin Berg made Feb 17 at 2017 3:49 PM

1LT Erin Berg — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:49:43 -0500

I myself, have been in a situation kind of like this. I had my hands free headphone in because I was taught not to walk and talk in uniform. A Master Sergeant approached me and told me to remove them. I did so on the spot and apologized, but instead of leaving it alone, he proceeded to have the attitude I see about LTs in most of these posts. He lectured me on being a spoiled brat who clearly didn't pay attention in OBC. That was unprofessional of him. I was simply confused regarding AR 670-1 in regards to hands free devices. So those of you looking down on all LTs, try to remember that not all of us are stupid, entitled brats. P.S. I went home and re-read the regs. I did what I could to better myself and my example for those under me.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 4:23 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:23:51 -0500

No idea. I don't have that on my CAC.

Response by TSgt Robert Reynierse made Feb 17 at 2017 7:01 PM

TSgt Robert Reynierse — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 19:01:06 -0500

I guess I.m getting really old. What happened to common terms like " ID card"?

Response by SGM Jeffrey Hall made Feb 17 at 2017 8:05 PM

SGM Jeffrey Hall — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:05:25 -0500

There is a difference between medically retired and medically separated. Medical retirement means retirement check and blue ID card. Medical separation means neither.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 8:21 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:21:48 -0500

It means that durring an emergency you are able to travel for "work"

Response by Lt Col David Nadeau made Feb 17 at 2017 11:40 PM

Lt Col David Nadeau — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 23:40:47 -0500

As much as the humor is entertaining the explanation is quite simple. It's there to help color blind gate guards...you can't make this stuff up. New DoD common access cards will aid security officials who are visually color impaired by adding encircled letters “W” for military and civilian employees, “G” for contractors and “B” for foreign nationals. And there you have it, as the great Paul Harvey would say "that's the rest of the story".

Response by SSgt Daniel Reed made Feb 18 at 2017 12:29 AM

SSgt Daniel Reed — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 00:29:17 -0500

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2015 — The Defense Department's common access card is undergoing modification to make it easier for visually color-impaired security officials to identify bearers who are military, government or contractor civilians, or foreign nationals. All Common Access Cards (CACs) will be issued with an affiliation color code in a white circle under the expiration date, including "W" for white, "G" for green, and "B" for blue.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2017 3:46 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 03:46:49 -0500

It means a white card... for color blind SF members oooooooooohhhhhhhhh

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2017 5:48 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 17:48:49 -0500

It means you get secured during MOPP level 1

Response by LCpl James Robertson made Feb 18 at 2017 8:10 PM

LCpl James Robertson — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 20:10:21 -0500

I still don't know what the new military is talking about, transgender back and forth in the military. Its still only male and female, God made us one way or the other. If you are a girl don't try to be a boy. There's a boy's bathroom and a girl's bathroom, why would you mix bathrooms without being a peeping tom which is against the law. Dogs don't try to be a cat, a cat goes meow, a dog goes ruff! ruff! What I see in the military now, is that men or so beat down by the LBTQ Community, is that we cannot define ourselves as men and women no longer, that's dead now we are all transgender according to cards, have anyone ever thought in the kingdom of God, man and woman were the first species of mankind, but we have now add to the Word of God, a new species of humans and they are not aliens. Why is the military accommodating such none sense in life, you are either and man or women, your personal feelings of wanting a man and you are a man is and abomination the same as women. And I am not judging anyone just telling the truth, the devil is telling you otherwise.

Response by SSgt John Bak made Feb 18 at 2017 11:07 PM

SSgt John Bak — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 23:07:10 -0500

Colo

Response by SSgt John Bak made Feb 18 at 2017 11:07 PM

SSgt John Bak — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 23:07:41 -0500

Ethnicity

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2017 12:51 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 00:51:40 -0500

The W is for Wambo

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2017 10:55 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 10:55:33 -0500

It is to distinguish the color of the card if you are color blind.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2017 6:14 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 18:14:42 -0500

Major Brendan Sullivan, I really hope that you aren't in a command position sir. Your comment is absolutely ridiculous and that type of intolerance has no place in the United States military. You should really check your opinion and realize the impact it may have.

Response by PVT Luther Haynes made Feb 19 at 2017 10:35 PM

PVT Luther Haynes — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 22:35:28 -0500

https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/604894/cac-change-aids-visually-color-impaired-security-officers

This is from their website.

CAC Change Aids Visually Color Impaired Security Officers

Response by PVT Tj Horton made Feb 19 at 2017 11:48 PM

PVT Tj Horton — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 23:48:46 -0500

All these bastards are wrong. It stands for Mother fucker.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2017 4:45 AM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 04:45:58 -0500

We have color-blind security guards

Response by MSG Brian Schaeffer made Feb 20 at 2017 7:30 PM

MSG Brian Schaeffer — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 19:30:24 -0500

Halarious...

Response by Amn Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2017 1:27 AM

Amn Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 01:27:37 -0500

One extreme or the other, the only way.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2017 5:44 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 05:44:47 -0500

They need to put active, reserves, and national guard back on the ID cards. During tax season it better than having to print out LES... for the reserves, well nothing like taking and reprinting an active duty LES with their name on it.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2017 9:27 AM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 09:27:46 -0500

The w is for wumbo

Response by TSgt David Hurst made Feb 21 at 2017 10:04 AM

TSgt David Hurst — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 10:04:12 -0500

Love the coffee and cannot wait to move to Salt Lake City to be a regular.

Response by CPO Michael Lake made Feb 21 at 2017 1:03 PM

CPO Michael Lake — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 13:03:27 -0500

I'm honestly shocked that they're doing this, the answer while I was in always seemed to be "limit the career options for those color blind scum! Screw 'em!" When there are such simple ways to accommodate and get around the color coding obsession. Adding a letter seems very reasonable instead of firing or not hiring someone for a limitation that only affects people when unnecessary color coded systems are used!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2017 3:11 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 15:11:48 -0500

They set it to "Wambo"

Response by SGT Kaye Fiorello made Feb 21 at 2017 10:08 PM

SGT Kaye Fiorello — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 22:08:35 -0500

Well if it has a W with a line through it, it means no water, so if it has a W with no line, it must mean you don't need to wear floaties when swimming...

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2017 11:37 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 23:37:15 -0500

W for wall

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2017 11:41 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 23:41:48 -0500

So, it doesn't stand for Warrant Officer? LOL

Response by SPC Jodi JOe made Feb 24 at 2017 12:14 PM

SPC Jodi JOe — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 12:14:06 -0500

Mines been had and I got it last July

Response by Debbie Whitehead made Feb 26 at 2017 1:50 PM

Debbie Whitehead — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 13:50:50 -0500

It stands for with privilege meaning you have the right to certain things on post.but limited to others

Response by SFC Gerald Zendejas made Feb 27 at 2017 11:50 AM

SFC Gerald Zendejas — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:50:21 -0500

Now all of these negative comments are sad, Obama passed "guidance" that allows school kids to use whichever bathroom they wanted depending on how they felt, regardless of biology, so how is this different? yes, it is funny to a lot of us, but if you find it offensive, then you must also find Obama's guidance offensive. this was meant as a humor, laugh (or don't) and move on

Response by SFC Tracy Scott made Feb 27 at 2017 9:16 PM

SFC Tracy Scott — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 21:16:58 -0500

Well, let see when the uncle sam said jump, you said how high A-Z look like you landed on W.

Response by Wes Welch made Mar 2 at 2017 10:47 PM

Wes Welch — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 22:47:05 -0500

Hey, no conspiracy theory going on. This is for gate guards that may be color-blind. A "W" means a white stripe for Government; a "G" means a green stripe for a contractor.

Response by AA Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2017 6:10 PM

AA Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:10:16 -0500

Uhh, they told me in boot camp it's because I'm a winner......

Response by SGM(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2017 7:52 AM

SGM(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 07:52:22 -0500

Being the old school grumpy ass 20+ year 1SG, I checked, I don't have it. Must mean whiney ass millennial. Just love dealing with these new soldiers, and their attitude towards the Army.

Response by SSG Robert Hamilton made Mar 9 at 2017 7:34 AM

SSG Robert Hamilton — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 07:34:37 -0500

It's for W.O.C. And of course everyone wants to know what's a W.O.C.

A W.O.C. Is what you throw at a wabbit wunning down a wunway

Response by SrA Angela Waterman made Mar 10 at 2017 8:46 PM

SrA Angela Waterman — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 20:46:14 -0500

My stepson who was an army mp says the circled letter represents the band color - (W)hite, (B)lue, (G)reen.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2017 4:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 16:36:49 -0500

Beginning in July 2015, only new CACs will be issued with the changes -- encircled letters “W” for military and civilian employees, “G” for contractors and “B” for foreign nationals, Yousef said. The encircled letter will appear under the card’s expiration date.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2017 11:38 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 23:38:21 -0400

W for wombo

Response by CPT Nathan Machado made Mar 16 at 2017 1:41 AM

CPT Nathan Machado — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 01:41:15 -0400

Leave it to the government to pick White as a distinguishing feature on a white plastic card. Haha! That made my day!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 2:47 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:47:51 -0400

It is for civilians that do security, that are color blind, it tells them the color of the card.

Response by MSG Brian Wyatt made Oct 26 at 2017 1:54 PM

MSG Brian Wyatt — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:54:13 -0400

Military.com | Week of July 06, 2015

The Department of Defense's (DoD's) Common Access Card is undergoing modification to make it easier for visually color-impaired security officials to identify bearers who are military, government or contractor civilians, or foreign nationals. Beginning in July, only new CACs will be issued with the changes — encircled letters "W" for military and civilian employees, "G" for contractors and "B" for foreign nationals. The encircled letter will appear under the card's expiration date. Security officials will recognize the new format as valid DoD cards on military installations both stateside and overseas. DoD employees with up-to-date CACs do not need to get new cards. The new format will only be issued for new and expiring cards, which can be obtained at the cardholder's Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System ID card office.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Jul 10 at 2020 10:55 AM

SFC Quinn Chastant — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 10:55:47 -0400

Well I could give the following answer: War Department. Prior to there being a Department of Defense, the Army came under the War Department. But truth be told it means Weirdo.

Response by 1LT Esvin Menendez made Jul 10 at 2020 3:44 PM

1LT Esvin Menendez — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:44:14 -0400

M is for mini and W is for wumbo

Response by SGT Matt Tracht made Jul 10 at 2020 9:48 PM

SGT Matt Tracht — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:48:41 -0400

I don't think that W is only for active duty. I have a DOE badge with the W on it indicating that I am a federal employee. I think it just indicates the difference between feds and contractors with active duty falling under the fed side of it.

Response by SP5 Ronald Hopkins made Jul 11 at 2020 2:33 PM

SP5 Ronald Hopkins — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 14:33:28 -0400

The only thing I can say with certainty is that they are not CAC cards. They are CACs. Common Access Card, not Common Access Card cards.

Response by SFC Jason Wolfe made Jul 11 at 2020 8:31 PM

SFC Jason Wolfe — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 20:31:21 -0400

W for wussy! Must be a POG!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2020 2:57 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 02:57:20 -0400

It’s the same useless W that every UIC starts with.