This Order establishes Marine Corps policy, procedures and responsibilities for management of the Item Unique Identification (lUID) program for ground equipment in accordance with references (a) through (p). This Order does not apply to Marine Corps aviation assets which will be addressed by forthcoming IUID instructions from the Navy staff. IUID is a DOD system based on international standards of serially identifying items in inventory, enabling individual life-cycle management of otherwise identical items. Unique Identification (DID) is the overall DOD program that extends beyond IUID to assign globally unique identifiers to other entities, including acquisition programs and personnel. The term UID in some documents is used synonymously with IUID, and although the concept is common, IUID is specific to tangible DOD equipment referred to as personal property in certain references. IUID requires that qualifying items have a machine- readable, 2-dimensional data matrix inscribed either directly on the item or on a permanent label or data plate affixed to the item. The data matrix contains a set of data elements forming a Unique Item Identifier (UII) which can be read by Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) devices, commonly known as readers or scanners. The UII identifies an individual item distinctly from all other items within or outside of DOD inventory. Standardized use of the UII for serialized management within Automated Information Systems (AIS) improves data discovery and interoperability across acquisition and operational logistics domains, providing greater visibility throughout the logistics chain, and improved insight into the health of serialized items. This information will allow DOD to associate valuable business intelligence with an item throughout its life-cycle, thereby providing accurate information for asset management and valuation. IUID will provide the information foundation for Total Life Cycle Management (TLCM). More comprehensive information about the IUID program and OSD policy documents, guides, directives and instructions is available at www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/pdi/uid/index.html. The definitions applicable to this Order appear in enclosure (l).