Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (February 8, 2025): Just like Americans do at the kitchen table, the U.S. Air Force must account for everything it purchases. With a budget of $1.88 billion a year, keeping track of every single item is a tall order. In this photo by Senior Airman Jessica Sanchez-Chen, Airman 1st Class Deshawn White, 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, scans individual plates into a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system.

RFID uses radio waves to automatically identify and track objects using electronic “tags” that store information and transmit data automatically. We have all seen grocery clerks use point-and-shoot devices to keep inventory, essentially aiming a beam at a shelf tag to “read” its information. Unlike a barcode, the RFID tag does not need to be within the line of sight. The tag is activated when in range of the RFID reader which then “interrogates” each tag, extracting the information attached to each item.

This technology is currently used in various applications besides inventory control. RFID can be used to track assets, grant or deny access to buildings, collect tolls, and for product identification. It is even used to track animals using microchips implanted in livestock. Additionally, most people do not realize what a large part of their daily lives are affected by RFID technology. It is used in car keys, employee identification badges, highway toll tags, and security access cards.

Using RFID, the Air Force estimates it will save over seven thousand man-hours annually doing inventory control. It also ensures that every taxpayer dollar is accounted for, right down to the last item.