Table of Contents
- 1 Is it disrespectful to wear a relatives dog tags?
- 2 What does it mean if someone gives you their dog tags?
- 3 Can you wear dog tags in civilian clothes?
- 4 Can you wear your dog tags in civilian clothes?
- 5 Why do you get 2 dog tags?
- 6 Does Air Force wear dog tags?
- 7 Do military dogs have Social Security numbers on their dog tags?
- 8 Where can I get a replacement dog tag for a veteran?
It is absolutely 100\% respectful. You are honoring your father’s memory and his service by wearing his dog tags.
Dog tags are uniform items covered by military regulations. They must be issued by a specific office in the military and they must carry certain vital information about the person such as SSN, religion, and name. They are meant to identify Soldiers who are killed and whose body has been damaged beyond recognition.
Do you keep your dog tags when you leave the army?
Yes, services members keep their set of identification “dog”tags when they leave or retire from service. They are not a reusable item One may also end up with many sets if one stays in long enough.
Since dog tags are used for identification purposes, active duty soldiers are required to wear them at all times while in the field, on an airplane or overseas. However, it is generally considered in poor taste to keep dog tags visible in civilian clothes.
Why are some dog tags notched?
They were metal and rectangular, with a notch in a lower corner. The soldier’s information was imprinted on the metal tag. That notch was used to align the metal plate on the machine that embossed the information. The notch became the center of U.S. military troops’ first myth around their 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.
The military personnel wear them around their necks for identification as casualty, i.e. if they get injured or if they die. It is not a symbol of honor and should never be considered as one.
What is the right way to wear dog tags if not military?
The original questions asked “What is the right way to wear dog tags if you’re not in the military?”. The answer is that there is none. Dog tags are not a fashion accessory to be adorned with your white t-shirt and camo pants from the strip mall.
There has been a move in recent years away from including Social Security Numbers on dog tags; depending on the branch of service and other variables SSNs may still be required, but this feature is likely on the way out for all branches of service eventually.
Where can I get a replacement dog tag for a veteran?
There are many companies that offer such services and they are easily found via Google, Amazon.com, etc. It is recommended that families opt out of including a service member’s Social Security Number on such replacement dog tags – this is a detail that is too easily used for nefarious purposes should the tags fall into the wrong hands.
Should you wear dog tags as a fashion statement?
The consensus among military members vocal enough to voice an opinion about the wearing of dog tags as a fashion statement is that context matters; it’s one thing to wear them openly on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, etc. A show of patriotism in such cases excuses the open wearing of dog tags as a show of support.