Military Dog Tags 🎖️

The US military currently issues Dog Tags to members of each Branch of Service except the Navy. As of January 9, 2019, Army and Air Force Dog Tags have the same information format: Name, DoD ID, Blood type, Religious preference. Marine tags differ by including USMC, Gas Mask size, and use the first initial instead of name.

A Dog Tag is the informal name for the identification tags worn by military personnel, because of their resemblance to actual 'dog' tags. The tag is primarily used for the identification of dead and wounded along with providing essential basic medical information for the treatment of the latter such as blood type and history of inoculations. In the event the member has a medical condition that requires special attention, an additional red tag with the pertinent information is issued and worn with the Dog Tags. Wearing of the tag is required at all times by soldiers in the field. In the U.S., two identical tags are issued. One is worn on a long chain around the neck; the second on a much smaller chain attached to the first chain. In the event the wearer is killed the second tag is collected and the first remains with the body.

Cited from Wikipedia article on Dogtags

Yes - we make the real thing. Made according to military specifications with 304 rolled-edge stainless steel and embossed using the same automated machinery as used on military bases.

In the military every soldier is issued two ID tags as soon as possible after entry on active duty, initial active duty for training, or assignment to a Reserve Component unit. Dog Tags are used for identification, casualty reporting, and graves-registration purposes. In the unfortunate event that they are killed in combat, one tag would stay with the body (sometimes attached to the toe using the short chain) and the other tag would go with a scout and eventually to the next of kin. In keeping with this military tradition, we only sell our tags in sets of two, however each tag from mydogtag.com can still be individually customized.

Yes, as per Army Regulation 670–1 (AR670-1) p3-11 soldiers will wear identification tags at all times while on duty in uniform unless otherwise directed by the commander. Wearing identification tags is governed by AR 600–8–14 and DA Pam 600–8–14.

Cited from AR670-1

The following resources link directly to the appropriate page on PDF files hosted on government websites.

• Army Regulation 670–1: Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
• U.S. Army: Army Identifications Tags Pamphlet 600–8–14
• U.S.A.F.: Air Force Instructions 36-3103: Identification Tags
• U.S. Navy: MILPERSMAN 1000-070: Identification (ID) Tags For Members
• USMC: IRAM MCO P1070.12K: Chapter 7 Identification Tags

If you are looking to make a replacement set of dogtags for yourself or in memory of a family member who is a veteran, you can find all of the information required on their DD Form 214, here is a good article on how to request it. This Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a "DD 214", is a document of the United States Department of Defense, issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. This form contains the following dogtag related information:

• Full Name as stamped on Dog Tags
• Service Number, Military ID number, or Social Security Number
• Blood Type
• Religion

Cited from Wikipedia article on Dog Tags

A brief history of Dog Tags including formatting, content, etc:

• Dec 20 1906 : Introduction of single Dog Tag by General Order No. 24.
• Jul 06 1916 : Introduction of second Dog Tag (complete pair).
• Feb 12 1918 : Introduction of Army Serial Number(as a result of too many identical names e.g. Smith, Brown, Jones, etc)
• Oct 1938 : Testing for Introduction of new ID Tag
• Feb 15 1940 : Official stocklist number & nomenclature adopted "TAG, IDENTIFICATION, M-1940 - Stock No. 74-T-60"
• 1940 : 1st type Dec 1940 - Nov 1941
• 1941 : 2nd type Nov 1941 - Jul 1943
• 1943 : Bead Neckchain & Extension Stock No. 74-N-300 adopted
• 1943 : 3rd type Jul 1943 - Mar 1944
• 1944 : 4th type Mar 1944 - Apr 1946
• Jul 17 1947 : New prefix for Enlisted Men’s Dog Tags RA Regular Army
• Sep 02 1949 : Army Air Forces introduces special prefixes for Enlisted Men & Women: AA Enlisted WAF (Woman in the Air Force), AD Aviation Cadet, AF Enlisted Airman, AO Air Force Officer
• Sep 02 1949 : New Army Regulations AR 615-30 and replacement of "Army Serial Number" designation by "Army Service Number"
• 1950 : Introduction of the "Rh" factor on Dog Tags, with indication of either "POS" or "NEG" after Blood Type.
• Early 1950 : Introduction of new prefixes for Enlisted Men & Women: RO Regular Army Soldier with Reserve Officer’s Commission, WL Regular Army WAC with Reserve Officer's Commission
• 1952 : Introduction of the letter "X" to designate other religious affiliations not covered under Protestant/Catholic/Jewish faith groups, and the letter "Y" for those who did not have a religious preference. The letter "J" replaced "H" for Jewish US servicemen.
• 1960 : Notched Dog Tags are no longer used, as new Embossing Machines don't require them for positioning.
• Late 1960 : Tetanus inoculation is no longer indicated.
• Nov 1962 : Religion codes (i.e. P, C, H) were replaced with the soldier's religion fully spelled out (i.e. Catholic, Protestant).
• 1964 : Introduction of new prefix for Officers, O is replaced by OF
• Oct 1967: : Introduction of "Social Security Number" (SSN) instead of "Army Service Number" (ASN)
• Jun 30 1969: : Use of "Army Service Number" terminated.
• Aug 12 2012: SSN is replaced by DoD ID (10 Digits no hyphens) in accordance with DODI 1000.30

Cited from Alain Batens

Children as young as six were forced to prepare for nuclear Armageddon during the Cold War ... and even had ready-made DOG TAGS so their parents could identify their bodies in the event of a nuclear fallout.

• School districts nationwide outfitted their students with inexpensive Dog Tags as a civil defense measure
• The Dog Tags were most commonly stamped with the child's name, address, date of birth, phone number and religion for final rites
• The effort was promoted by the Federal Civil Defense Administration in posters, pamphlets, films and radio segments
• Educators also contemplated tattooing children, but decided against it because the markings wouldn’t be legible once their skin peeled off after a nuclear blast

Cited from JORDAN GASS-POORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

• What are the specs of the Dog Tags do you offer?
• What's the difference between Embossed and Debossed?
• What Chain sizes and fasteners are available?
• What are silencers for?
• Why do some Dog Tags not come with silencers?
• What can I put on my Dog Tags?
• What characters are allowed on my Dog Tag?
• How can I fit more characters on my Dog Tag?
• Do you make BRAILLE Dog Tags?
• Are these real military Dog Tags?
• Why are two tags issued in each set? Can I order only one?
• How do you make your Dog Tags?
• Are Dog Tags suitable for small children?
• What are the official specifications for USA Military Dog Tags?
• What are the official specifications for Canadian ID Discs?
• Where can I learn more about Dog Tags?

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