The Department of Defense has been one of the leaders in the march to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) implementation, but not without some stumbles along the route, related to the cost of active tag technology (between $80 and $120 per tag) and database synchronization. The Marines have done what they do best during these trials and errors: They've adapted.

They are now moving toward limiting the use of the more expensive active tags to identifying container loads in intercontinental shipments. Less expensive (about 50¢ each) passive tags will now be used for pallets and small containers while bar codes will continue to be used for individual parts.

The advantage of the passive RFID tag is that it is disposed of at the end of the passive tag's shipping cycle, saving the expense of tag recovery and repair. The passive tag also overcomes the need to update data written to the tag when the container contents change. The active tag database must be synchronized with the common logistics database everyone views which is a laborious, time consuming process.

Col. Alan Will, chief of staff of the 2d Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., suggests you look at your processes carefully then identify technology that supports process change and enables the process.

"We wanted to jump on this technology from the start so we put the cart before the horse," he says. "Now the value for us will be hands-off reads and the ability to see material at various nodes."

The Marines' vision is to eventually eliminate the tag reader infrastructure by having the tags talk directly to the logistics databases via network access points such as cellular or military networks that communicate via satellite. This would eliminate the cost and maintenance, as well as the security, associated with tag reader infrastructure.

For details on the Marines' RFID implementation plans, and insights from the private sector, see Modern's exclusive webcast on the "ROI in RFID."