Service number

A service number is an identification code used to identify a person within a large group. Service numbers are most often associated with the military; however, they may be used in civilian term as well. Social Security Numbers may be seen as types of service numbers.

The term "serial number" is often seen as synonym of service number; however, a serial number more accurately describes manufacture and product codes, rather than personnel identification. In the Canadian military, a "Serial Number" referred to a unique number assigned each unit that mobilized for the Second World War.

Australia

In the First AIF soldiers were allotted numbers known as regimental numbers. These were allotted to NCOs and other ranks but not to officers or nurses, who had no numbers. Regimental numbers were rarely unique. Each battalion or corps had its own sequence, usually starting at 1, although some units were formed in the field and this did not occur. The result was that several dozen soldiers had the prestigious number 1, which was usually given to the Regimental Sergeant Major or the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. When soldiers were transferred from one unit to another, they often kept their number if it was not already held by someone else. Otherwise, they might be allotted a now number, or the letter A or B might be added to make the number unique with their unit again. Re-enlisted soldiers often used the additional letter R. In 1917, the AIF switched to a scheme whereby reinforcements were drawn from common pool instead of being supplied on a per-unit or corps basis. These were known as "general reinforcements" and they were allotted unique numbers in the range of 50000-80000. Despite the limitations of the scheme, in researching a soldier, it is handy to know the regimental number.^[1]

The problems inherent in this scheme were acknowledged and all members of the Second AIF were allocated a unique service number known as an Army number. The first letter represented the state of enlistment: N - New South Wales; V - Victoria; Q - Queensland; S - South Australia; W - Western Australia; T- Tasmania; D - Northern Territory. The serial numbers of female soldiers followed this with an F. AIF serial numbers then had an X. A low number indicated an early enlistment. General Sir Thomas Blamey was VX1. Soldiers transferring from the Militia often kept their old number with 100,000 added, while PMF officers had 200,000 added.^[2]

Canada

Canada began using "Regimental Numbers" during the First World War.

During the Second World War, units were allocated blocks of Regimental Numbers to issue out, usually in the 5 or 6 digit range, though extremely low numbers were also possible due to the blocks.

• X12345 - the X was an alphabetic character denoting the Military District the soldier was recruited in (A represented MD1, B MD2, etc.) Up until 1945, officers never received numbers and were identified by name and rank only.

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) replaced the regimental number in the 1960s.

• 123 456 789

The SIN was itself replaced by a Service Number in the 1990s.

• X12 345 678

The use of the SIN was granted by Revenue Canada to the CF for service numbers as a temporary measure, and was revoked in the 1990s. The new Service Number used a random alphabetic number and 8 numbers in the same format as SINs to avoid changing service forms.

Nazi Germany

In Nazi Germany, the equivalent of a service number was known as a "membership number" which were issued by various Nazi groups based on when a person had initially joined. Nazi membership numbers were also preceded by the name of the organization to which the number applied. For instance, a person who was both a member of the SS and Nazi Party would state their numbers (as an example) "NSDAP #15337 und SS #4436". Membership numbers were considered extremely important in the Nazi system and to hold a low membership number was almost more important than what rank an individual presently had been granted.

The regular military forces of the Wehrmacht used a separate service number system more adapted towards military lines. In the last days of World War II, even these numbers were abandoned as formal military organizations fell into defeat and various last ditch informal groups (such as the Volksturm) were conscripted at random without formal record keeping.

United Kingdom

Soldiers in the British Army are given an eight-digit number, e.g. 25232301. Before the end of peacetime National Service in 1960, servicemen were issued a seven-digit number, e.g. 2715158. National Servicemen who voluntarily remained in the Armed Forces after this time continued to use their National Service numbers. Army officers (as opposed to non-commissioned soldiers) have a six-digit service number.

Prior to 1920 each regiment issued their own service numbers which were unique only within that regiment, so the same number could be issued many times in different regiments. Also, when a serviceman moved, he would be given a new service number by his new regiment. The modern system was introduced by Army Order 338 in August 1920. Numbers were then a maximum of seven digits, later groups of numbers up to eight digits were added.^[3][4]

For Example

Royal Army Service Corps 1 to 294000

Lancers 309001 to 386000

Royal Corps of Signals 2303001 to 2604000

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 16000001 to 16100000

In the Royal Navy, service numbers (prior to the introduction of Joint Personnel Administration-JPA) were also of eight figures, but began and ended with a letter, depending initially on the local depot where the sailor was recruited. The first letter designators were P-Portsmouth, C-Chatham, and D-Devonport, with the final letter being meaningless "checksum".

Later, the designators were re-assigned and were used to distinguish between Men and Women within the Royal Navy as well as to distinguish between Officers and Ratings. Therefore any service number beginning with D was a Royal Navy male Rating, W was Royal Navy female Ratings, C was male Officers and V female officers. A service number beginning P was Royal Marines Other Ranks, while N was Royal Marine Officers.

Following the introduction of JPA, all service numbers became "employee numbers" of an eight number format beginning with 3, with no distinction between male, female, Ratings and Officers or Royal Marines.

United States

The Armed forces of the United States first invented service numbers on February 28, 1918 and discontinued their use in 1974. The first U.S. military member to hold a service number was Arthur Crean.

The following formats were used to denote U.S. military service numbers:

• 12-345-678: United States Army and U.S. Air Force enlisted service numbers
• 123-45-67: United States Navy enlisted service numbers
• 1234-340: United States Coast Guard enlisted service numbers
• 123456: United States Marine Corps enlisted service numbers
• 12345: Service number format for most U.S. military officers

Social Security Numbers are today used as the primary means to identify members of the U.S. military. The common format for a social security numbers is 123-45-6789.

References