| In today's modern world there's hardly anyone who is | | | | through a style first termed as "military chic". Originally, |
| not familiar with the pair of silver, oval metal tags worn | | | | they were worn as a part of a pseudo-style of military |
| by soldiers and servicemen both now and in eras past. | | | | uniform by teens and college students wishing to put |
| The common, familiar name for theses identification | | | | forward a tough or militaristic image, dog tags have |
| tags is "dog tag" because of their resemblance to the | | | | since gained prominence in broader fashion circles, also |
| actual licensing disks worn by dogs (Recently, the | | | | becoming popular with celebrities like movie or rock |
| army stopped calling the tags "Dog tags" and adopted | | | | stars and athletes. The tags can be engraved with a |
| the more civilized moniker "I.D tags". It has been | | | | person's personal details, sentiments for a loved one, |
| suggested that some enlisted trainees in the 1990s | | | | their beliefs or tastes, a favorite quote, or may bear |
| complained that the term "dog tag" was offensive, but | | | | the name and/or logo of a popular band or performer. |
| this reasoning has never been confirmed.). While there | | | | Like its military cousin, for the longest time identification |
| are several dog tag formats extant around the world, | | | | tags used to aid in finding lost pets were all stamped |
| it's the US Army dog tags form that we are most | | | | or embossed on metal blanks which were more or |
| familiar with. They list the surname, given name, social | | | | less limited to a finite amount of information proscribed |
| security number (originally service number), blood type | | | | by the size of the embossed letters used on the tags |
| and religion - stamped on small oval pieces of metal | | | | by the machines employed for stamping. In recent |
| that are worn on a metal chain around the neck. The | | | | years, new materials like silicone, colored metals and |
| U.S. Army was the first branch to authorize | | | | plastics and methods of machine or laser engraving |
| identification tags in War Department General Order | | | | have given birth to a cornucopia of fun, new shapes, |
| No. 204, dated December 20, 1906. The Army altered | | | | colors, and methods of engraving for the new |
| its regulations on July 6, 1916, and now all soldiers are | | | | materials which have rendered the old stamped tags |
| issued two ID tags -- one to remain with the body and | | | | obsolete. Gone is the day of the boxy, sometimes |
| the other to go to the individual responsible for the | | | | unevenly spaced letters borne on a silver or |
| burial for record-keeping purposes. After WWII, the US | | | | gold-colored metal blank which was only available in |
| Navy Department adopted the same dog tags used | | | | limited-sized round or oval shapes. In addition to a |
| by the US Army and Air Force, which led to a single | | | | varied palate of colors like red, green, orange, purple, or |
| size and shape to become the American standard of | | | | even reflective choices like a holographic silver, tags |
| today. During World War II, dog tags were first worn | | | | now come shaped like hearts, paw prints, dog or cat |
| by civilians when soldiers often gave them to loved | | | | faces, and dog houses. It's even possible to find |
| ones before deployment or when dating, very much | | | | shapes like a skull and crossbones, dog bones, |
| like the high school or college tradition of giving a | | | | suitcases, stars, t-shirts and the Liberty Bell. Now, |
| girlfriend one's letterman jacket or school ring to wear. | | | | anyone can buy personalized id dog tags and can |
| Also, in the 1950s, at the height of fears about a | | | | include any type of custom message or design. New |
| possible nuclear war with the USSR, it is rumored that | | | | laser engraved custom dog tags engrave in a frosty |
| all New York City public school pupils were issued dog | | | | white for a great eye-catching contrast of colors. |
| tags to identify them in the event of war. In recent | | | | Modern dog tags or I. D. tags have clearly come a long |
| years, the wearing of dog tags has found its way into | | | | way from their humble beginnings as a way to keep |
| the fashions favored by the younger generation | | | | track of servicemen. |