What is the primary card that grants access to buildings, facilities, installations, ships, and controlled spaces?

The primary card that grants access to buildings, facilities, installations, ships, and controlled spaces is the DoD Common Access Card (CAC). This card serves multiple purposes and is an essential tool for personnel in the Department of Defense, providing a secure means of identity verification and access control. It includes a microchip that stores important personal information and can authenticate the holder's credentials on various military installations.

The DoD CAC is not just an identity verification tool; it also enables secure communication, access to government services, and provides encryption capabilities for email. This functionality is critical in maintaining a secure operational environment, especially within military contexts where access control is crucial for safety and security.

While access badges, military IDs, and visitor passes are all forms of identification, they either have limited scope, are not universally recognized across all military facilities, or are temporary in nature. In contrast, the DoD CAC is comprehensive, interoperable across various branches of the military, and is mandated for use by all active duty members, reserves, and certain civilian employees, making it the primary and most secure means of access.