ABSTRACT
The proper use of biometrics can have a profound impact in any military operation from combat missions to humanitarian operations. Military forces in the future will often face a foe and a local populace that they need to understand on a much deeper level than has been the case in past conflicts. Who is a friend? Who is a foe? Who do I already know? Who is hiding their true identity? Answering these questions quickly, accurately, and across great spans of time and distance is what biometrics can do for us. In fact, there have been many instances in which biometric collections performed in Iraq and Afghanistan and shared across multiple USG (U.S. Government) agencies provided the key information that allowed our homeland security elements to deny entry into the United States to individuals who were lying about their backgrounds and personal histories. This information has also been used to deny refugee status to persons who may have intended to do harm here in the United States.
