A service number is a identification code used to easily 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. A civilian is a person who is not a member of a military. ... This article needs cleanup. ...
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. A serial number is a unique number applied to a product example, as opposed to a model number or type number. ...
Examples
The Armed forces of the United States first invented service numbers in the year 1905 and abolished their use in 1974. Prior to that time, the following formats were used to denote U.S. military service numbers: The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...
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 123-34-5678. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Coast Guard shield The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coast guard of the United States. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ...
The number was previously known as the Revenue and Social Insurance Number (RSI No) until 1998 and was issued first in April 1979 as a replacement for the separate PAYE Number and Social Welfare Insurance Number which had been used for income tax and social welfare purposes resectively until then.
The PAYE Number was issued by the Revenue Commissioners and these numbers were transferred to the RSI No system as a basis for the unified system.
The format of the number is a unique alphanumeric in the general form 1234567A and is issued on a "Social Services Card" often when a child reaches the legal age of employment, currently 16, otherwise a "Letter of Entitlement" is issued.
Enlisted men in the service on 28 February 1941 were assigned file (serial) numbers by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and their commanding officers informed.
Each number was identical with the file case number then used to identify the man at Marine Corps Headquarters, and remained the same during the man's entire enlisted service.
The number was preceded by an "0" to distinguish it from an enlisted number.