How can you tell if dog tags are real?

Check the serial number. If your dog tag has a serial number and it dates from after 1969, it is probably fake. The Army switched to Social Security numbers after 1969. From 1967 to 1969 a dog tag might have had a serial number, a Social Security number or both.

Are dog tags magnetic?

Our stainless steel tags are 304 grade stainless steel – this is a weakly-magnetic grade of stainless steel, which sometimes confuses people who expect steel to be strongly attracted to a magnet.

What info do military dog tags have on them?

Nowadays, the tags are “official” and thus, standardized. Military dog tag information includes the wearer's name, blood type, social security number (SSN), and religious preference. Previously, for “religious preference”, soldiers could only put “Protestant”, “Catholic”, “Hebrew”.

What are real dog tags made of?

As stated at the beginning of this article, the first dog tags were basic, created by soldiers out of what sturdy material they could get. Dog tags were originally made out of aluminum, with the navy instead opting for a nickel alloy for theirs. Today, dog tags are a nickel-copper alloy.

What does POS on a dog tag mean?

Social Security Number. 123-45-6789. Blood Type. A POS. Religious Preference.

What are dog tags

What does T43 mean on dog tag?

Dog Tags from WWII up until the Korean war included the year that a tetanus toxid vaccination shot was administered, in the format of T## where the ## represents the year i.e. T43. The subsequent vaccination booster shot usually followed one year later at which point it would also be added to the tag.

Is it disrespectful to wear dog tags?

Civilians can legally wear dog tags. Yet, attempting to use the dog tags for personal gain may be considered an act of stolen valor, which is a punishable offense. Some veterans and active military members may consider it disrespectful, while others do not care.

When did they start putting blood type on dog tags?

Although the Rhesus factor was already discovered in 1940, its indication was only introduced after World War 2 (blood types embossed on the Identification Tag during the war period included: A – AB – B – O).

Do soldiers keep their dog tags?

There's no specific protocol for what happens to dog tags after leaving the service, whether by discharge or death. Former service members do not have to return them to the military, but they also can choose whether or not to keep them. For the ones of fallen soldiers, there may or may not be a choice in what happens.

What do WWII dog tags look like?

By World War II, military ID tags were considered an official part of the uniform and had evolved into the uniform size and shape they are today — a rounded rectangle made of nickel-copper alloy.

Why do soldiers wear 2 dog tags?

The U.S. Army changed regulations on July 6, 1916, so that all soldiers were issued two tags: one to stay with the body and the other to go to the person in charge of the burial for record-keeping purposes.

Is taking dog tags a war crime?

Targeting civilians, torturing prisoners of war and stealing dog tags are all illegal actions that have been used in games without penalty.

What do black dog tags mean?

The black dog tag was first used by the military personnel. It was used as identification for the military personnel. It is similar to dog tags which are placed on dogs to be able to identify them, if they get lost or killed.

What do you do with old military dog tags?

Write on a piece of paper where you found the tags, the date you found the tags, your full name and contact information. Place the letter and dog tags into an envelope. Seal the envelope and address it to the Secretary of Defense. The address is: 1400 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1400.

What do British army dog tags look like?

Currently British Forces dog tags feature two 38mm 316 surgical stainless steel disks which are either laser etched or dot peen marked with the wearers details. Laser etching gives a permanent black mark on the tags while dot peen marking uses a sharp point to mark out the text using a series of dots.

Does the Navy still issue dog tags?

The U.S. Navy no longer issues Dog Tags to its sailors, however you can still order replica mil-spec tags as replacements from us. Read more about the history of US Navy Dogtags.

Why do soldiers swallow their dog tags?

When a soldier is killed in combat, his/her dog tags are placed in the mouth or wedged between the teeth for identification purposes.

How many dog tags does a soldier get?

Generally, each soldier is allotted two dog tags. One of them is worn at the neck as a chain and the other is kept inside the shoes of the soldier.

Can I get a copy of my dog tags?

Military members and their families can request replacement military records such as discharge paperwork from the National Archives. However, replacement dog tags are not available.

Are old dog tags worth anything?

Regardless of its condition, a buried, corroded or damaged dog license tag has value to a collector, especially if it is a rare specimen.

Why are some dog tags notched?

Known as the “locating notch” in military manuals, the notch helped medical personnel properly seat the dog tag into the imprinter. The Model 70 allowed medical or mortuary affairs personnel to transfer a soldier's personal information on the dog tag and imprint it directly onto medical documents.

Do all military branches have dog tags?

The first dog tag would remain with the body of the fallen soldier, while the second was for burial service record keeping. In 1917, when the U.S. Navy required all their sailors wear dog tags, the War Department finally mandated that all American combat troops have dog tags.

How do you preserve military dog tags?

Metal polish can be used on stainless steel and aluminum tags, but should not be overly used on bronze and brass. You should also apply these protective coatings with the use of a soft cotton rag, to prevent the possibility of scratches occurring.

When did dog tags lose the notch?

Notched dog tags were phased out by the 1970s, when the machines that required notches were replaced with more advanced embossing machines. Aluminum tags gave way to stainless steel.

Do you salute if you are not military?

"Civilian personnel, to include civilian guards, are not required to render the hand salute to military personnel or other civilian personnel. "Salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate, or both are in civilian attire."