FORT MEADE, MD –
In accordance with Department of Defense visual information requirements, photographs should include a Visual Information Record Identification Number (VIRIN) in the caption, and should also use the VIRIN as the filename, i.e. VIRIN#.jpg. A VIRIN consists of fifteen (15) data elements, in four (4) fields, separated by three hyphens, for a total of 18 characters, organized in the alphanumeric format NNNNNN-A-AANNN-NNN.
- Field 1 (NNNNNN): The year, month and day the photo was taken.
- Field 2 (A): The service affiliation or status of the photographer. Service affiliation or status shall be abbreviated as follows:
- A = Uniformed member, civilian or contract employee of the Army
- N = Uniformed member, civilian or contract employee of the Navy
- F = Uniformed member, civilian or contract employee of the Air Force
- M = Uniformed member, civilian or contract employee of the Marine Corps
- G = Uniformed member, civilian or contract employee of the Coast Guard
- D = Other Civilian or contract employee of the DoD
- O = To indicate a person not falling into one of the categories above
- Z = Uniformed, Guard, civilian or contract employee of the National Guard
- Field 3 (AANNN):VISION ID identifies the specific unit or photographer.
- Field 4 (NNN):The approximate order in which each photo was taken by the person identified in Fields 3 and 4 on the day identified in Field 1, starting with 001 and continuing consecutively as necessary up to 999.