US Military Dog Tags: Format, Meaning and How to Read Them

US military dog tags carry five lines of stamped text: surname, first name and initial, service number, blood group and religious preference. They are issued in pairs so that one tag stays with the casualty and one goes to the unit records. Everything else you may have heard — the notch, the “toe tag” story, the colour codes — is either a technical detail with a mundane explanation or an outright myth. This guide explains what each line means, how the format changed over time, how to tell a service-issue tag from a novelty one, and what to consider when you order a personalised set.

We have been supplying identification tags, insignia and militaria from our shop in Udine, Italy since 1989, to serving personnel, re-enactors and collectors. Customers outside Italy can order these items without the identification requirements that apply to some categories inside the country.

What is stamped on a US military dog tag?

The standard post-1969 US tag carries five lines, each limited to 15 characters. The layout is fixed, and the order never changes: identity first, then the two pieces of information a medic needs in seconds.

Before 1969 the format was different: tags of the Second World War era carried the soldier’s name, service number, tetanus immunisation date, blood type and next of kin with address. That address line is the quickest way to date a wartime tag — it disappears entirely from later issues.

Why are dog tags issued in pairs?

Two tags, one purpose each. In the event of a death in the field, one tag remains with the body so that it can be identified at every stage of recovery, while the second is removed and handed to the unit for the casualty report. That is the whole logic, and it explains the two different chain lengths: a long chain for the neck and a short one that loops through it for the second tag.

The short chain is not decorative. It exists so the second tag can be detached quickly without cutting anything.

How do you read the blood group and religious preference lines?

The blood group line uses the ABO group followed by the Rh factor written out: O POS, A NEG, AB POS. It is deliberately unambiguous — no symbols, no abbreviations that could be misread under stress or poor light.

The religious preference line records what the soldier declared, and it is there for one practical reason: it tells a chaplain or a burial detail which rites apply. Common entries are CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, JEWISH, MUSLIM, or NO REL PREF for those who declined to state one. It is the most personal line on the tag, and on original tags it is often the one that tells you the most about the individual.

What is the notch on older tags for?

The notch on tags issued between roughly 1941 and 1970 has generated more folklore than any other feature. It was not used to wedge the tag between a casualty’s teeth. It aligned the tag in the Model 70 Addressograph machine used to imprint medical records — the same principle as a credit card imprinter.

When the US forces moved to embossing machines that did not need the alignment slot, the notch disappeared. So an un-notched tag is not automatically a reproduction: it simply dates from 1970 or later. Conversely, a notched tag with a post-1969 five-line format is a red flag worth examining closely.

Silencers, chains and how the set fits together

A complete set is four items: two tags, a long chain, a short chain, and usually two rubber silencers. The silencers matter more than they look. Stainless steel tags against each other, or against a rifle sling, produce a distinct metallic click that carries a surprising distance at night — the rubber rim stops it and also protects the stamped face from wear.

• Rubber Silencers for US Military Dog Tags — the standard black rim, sold as a pair.
• US Military Dog Tag Chains — ball chain in the issue lengths.
• US Military Dog Tags Without Rubber Silencers — if you prefer the bare metal look.

How do Italian army dog tags differ from US ones?

The Italian piastrina di riconoscimento follows a different logic altogether. Instead of two separate tags it uses a single tag designed to be broken in half along a scored line, with the same details stamped on both halves. One half stays with the body, the other is recovered — the same procedure as the American pair, solved with one piece of metal.

The Italian tag is also generally smaller and carries fewer lines, since the personal number system differs from the US service number. If you collect European militaria, the Italian Army Dog Tag is a useful comparison piece to hold next to a US set: the two solutions to the same problem sit in your hand at once.

Ordering personalised dog tags: what to decide before you type

Personalised tags are stamped or engraved to your text, so the decisions are made before production, not after. Three things are worth settling first.

Character limits. Fifteen characters per line is the format limit, spaces included. Long surnames get truncated in ways you may not like, so it is worth writing the five lines out and counting them before ordering.

Finish. Stainless steel is the service standard and the most durable. Gold-finish tags and black tags with black chains are chosen for wear rather than field use; the black coating in particular will show scratches where a steel tag would simply dull.

Purpose. A tag ordered as a gift or a memorial piece has no reason to follow the military five-line format at all. A name, a date, a short line of text often works better — and the engraved gold tag or the dog tag pendant with bullet exist for exactly that use.

The full range is in our customisable products section, which also covers embroidered name patches and name tag holders for service uniforms.

Telling a service tag from a novelty one

Four checks, in order of usefulness:

1. Dimensions. The issue tag is 50.8 × 28.5 mm with a 5 mm radius on the corners. Novelty tags are frequently a millimetre or two off, and once you have handled a real one the difference is obvious.
2. Stamping depth. Service tags are debossed by machine: the letters are pressed into the metal and you can feel them from the back. Laser-etched surface marking is a modern commercial method.
3. Line format. Five lines, fifteen characters, in the order given above. Anything else belongs to a different era or a different country — or to nobody at all.
4. Edge finish. Rolled, smooth edges. Sharp stamped edges indicate a cheap blank.

Caring for and displaying dog tags

Stainless steel needs almost nothing: warm water, a soft cloth, dry immediately. What ruins tags is what people do to “improve” them — metal polish and abrasive cream round off the edges of the stamped letters, and on an original tag that is irreversible damage to the only thing that makes it readable.

For display, keep original tags out of PVC sleeves, which release plasticisers over time. Acid-free card and a closed frame are enough. If the tag came with its chain, keep them together: a separated chain loses provenance that cannot be recovered.

Frequently asked questions

Are dog tags still used by modern armed forces?

Yes. Despite biometric records and digital identification, physical identification tags remain in service in virtually every NATO country, for the simple reason that they work without power, network or equipment of any kind.

Can civilians buy and wear military dog tags?

Yes. Blank and personalised identification tags carry no rank, unit or state insignia, so they are freely sold to civilians. They are among the most popular items with collectors and with families ordering memorial pieces. Note that this applies to identification tags specifically — official insignia of a serving corps is a different category.

Can I order personalised dog tags from outside Italy?

Yes. We ship worldwide with tracking, and identification tags carry none of the restrictions that apply to some uniform items within Italy. Customers abroad can order them like any other product.

What does “NO REL PREF” mean on a dog tag?

“No religious preference” — the entry recorded when a service member declined to declare a religion. It is a standard and common entry, not an anomaly.

Why do some tags have a notch and others do not?

The notch was needed by the imprinting machines used between about 1941 and 1970. Later machines did not require it, so it was dropped. It has nothing to do with placing tags in the mouth of the deceased, a story with no basis in any manual or regulation.