Usmc Dog Tags Format

Cold War & Desert Storm Accessories

Other items related to Cold War & Desert Storm:

Other items related to U.S. Military Dog Tags:

If you have an original dog tag, you can send it to us and we will figure out the spacing. See options below for uploading a picture. Indent text, because it is stamped downward, has a tendency, over time, to gather dirt within the letters. This makes the letters easier to read. If you would like, we can add black color to the letters for an additional $5.00 USD.

Identification tags are issued today as they were in 1916. They secure the proper interment of those who fall in battle and establish beyond a doubt their identity. Should it become desirable subsequently to disinter the remains for removal to a national or post cemetery or for shipment home, the identification tag suspended from the neck of the Marine is in all cases interred with the body. The duplicate tag attached is removed at the time of burial and turned over to the surgeon or person in charge of the burial. A record of the same, together with the cause and date of death are made and reported to the commanding officer.

The tags are prescribed as part of the uniform and when not worn as directed, they are habitually kept in the owner’s possession. When they are not worn, the identification tags are considered part of the individual’s equipment and they are inspected regularly. Tags for officers are issued upon first reporting to active duty and tags for individuals enlisting are stamped and issued at the recruit depots.

During the early 1960s two revisions were made to the standardized 1940 identification tags: the tetanus shot date was eliminated and serial numbers were replaced by Social Security Numbers. Later, the Marine’s gas mask size was also added to the information included on the tag. The current layout for a Marine Corps identification tag is:

FAQ

What information is on USMC dog tags?

“Officers – full name and rank at date of issue; enlisted men – full name and date of first enlistment in the Marine Corps. These tags were regarded as part of the field kit and were to be suspended from the neck under the clothing.

How many numbers does a Marine dog tag have?

The tags are worn on the neck with a ball chain. The tags contain the information listed below: Branch (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines) Service Number; the first two digits state the starting year of service and the other eight digits state the specific unit of the person.

Does the USMC still use dog tags?

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”.