A UIC is a unique, five-character identifier assigned to every single "activity" in the United States Navy. The word "activity" is broad on purpose. A UIC covers:
It is easy to confuse UICs with other military identifiers: navy uic code list
In the vast and complex logistical machinery of the United States Navy, clarity is paramount. With thousands of ships, squadrons, bases, and administrative units operating across the globe, the Navy requires a precise method to identify every single node in its network. This is where the Navy UIC (Unit Identification Code) comes into play. A UIC is a unique, five-character identifier assigned
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) uses UICs to route shipments. A box destined for "UIC 31245" will automatically route to Naval Air Station Lemoore, even if the address line is incomplete. A box destined for "UIC 31245" will automatically
: Acts as a permanent "social security number" for a unit to track its funding, readiness, and manpower across Navy systems.
The general public cannot see the full UIC list, but several official publications contain sanitized versions: