After years of protecting the many freedoms Americans enjoy, whether for three years or 30, military personnel transitioning out of the military should not have to worry about protecting themselves from an additional threat–identity theft.

And most veterans are unaware that in addition to their military records, their personal information–home location, payroll information, and social security numbers–are in the public domain and available to anyone, friend or foe.

All this informatin is contained in the document all veterans file in their home county, in a DD-214. Now, the 1,369 Overton County veterans, as well as the thousands of veterans across the state of Tennessee, can breathe a little easier after the passage of a Tennessee Code (8-13-116) (2012).

Working with former State Representative Henry Fincher, Col. James Kennedy, Ret. and Col. Ron Cyrus, Ret. and Overton County Executive, managed to get this law passed where only specific individuals for specific reasons may access the information from a vet’s DD-214.

Citing a Texas law that was already in effect, Kennedy and Cyrus worked closely with Fincher to get the law passed that authorize “a county registar of deeds to remove from the public record held in such registar’s office, excepting records preserved on microfilm, several forms, or any other military discharge.”

Calling the law “long overdue,” Cyrus said, “As veterans age, we want to be sure they are not exploited, and this law will provide another level of protection that has not heretofore been in effect.”

Cyrus said that he learned of the security loophole in a personal way, when an individual unrelated to him asked for and obtained a copy of his own CD-214.

Cyrus said, “That’s when I realized what was at stake for veterans everywhere, no matter their length of service, no matter their age. But for our older veterans who are not as acquainted with the dangers of identity theft, it was particularly urgent that we deal with this security breach.”

Kennedy said, “When I transitioned out of the military, the last person I spoke with told me to register my DD-214 with the county where I lived. And I obeyed this last order, just as I had all others. Little did I know that anyone could walk in off the street and obtain sensitive personal information about me.”

With the help of people like Larry Redwine, 4th District Commander of Cookeville Chapter 117, Disabled American Veterans, and Tim Shelton, past president of Tennessee Register’s Association, Cyrus and Kennedy have spread the word through the 95 Tennessee counties about the benefits of the new Tennessee Code.

Cyrus said, “Veterans have given so much of themselves to serve for our country, they deserve the security of knowing the information contained in their DD-214 is safe. We owe them that and so much more.”