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I have everything that i was ever issued. it is all in serviceable condition. My chain is saying that I must purchase more ID tags than I was issued. is this lawful? Can they lawfully order me to buy ten pairs of boots or to buy a uniform every month?
Posted in these groups: 
Army Regulations
Army Regulations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
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There is a big difference between boots every month and a set of dog tags. Dog tags are 80 cents for the set and a couple bucks to get them stamped. You get a clothing allowance just for stuff like this.
T his is not the hill to die on.
T his is not the hill to die on.
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When I was in an Infantry BN, 9th ID. The Medics had the ID tag machine and would make extra tags so that you had to put on your boots. Just in case of any mishaps causing the removal of the head. There shouldn't be a charge for that. If you were getting ready to deploy and didn't have your dog tags, believe me they would make you a set right there on the spot. You might take an ass chewing for not having them but they would get you another set. The Army issued you one set and unless you want them for your boots, that's the only set you need. The speach I always gave my trainies was "you ID Tags should be as important to you as that gold chain you have around your neck and your ID card should be as important as your drivers license". I still had one or two every cycle lose one or both. I'd simply send them up to personnel to have them reissued.
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1SG Frank Boynton
Exactly. I was with the 4/23 Infantry at Ft. Lewis. And you are correct. The medics automatically made a second set of DT's for you when you were assigned. We were required to have a set in our ready bag at all time.
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Have they ordered you to purchase 10 pairs of boots, or a new uniform every month, or is this just about the ID tags?
The unit should provide the ID tags.
As others have pointed out, in my words, though: Don't make yourself a pop up target.
Soldiers shouldn't have to purchase items that should be provided solely because the responsible person likely failed to make it happen, with regard to ID tags, or anything else.
I've never had two pair of ID tags in 21 years, so I don't get what's driving that requirement.
As an aside, there will be times when you may be asked to join, donate to, purchase, etc., especially once you become an NCO. Sure, they can't order you to do so, and if you can't afford to, you shouldn't. Keep in mind though, that when you see others getting those rare school slots, desirable high profile details, or other opportunities considered good, your team player reputation will be part of their thought process.
Figure out where they are made and what it takes to get them made.
The unit should provide the ID tags.
As others have pointed out, in my words, though: Don't make yourself a pop up target.
Soldiers shouldn't have to purchase items that should be provided solely because the responsible person likely failed to make it happen, with regard to ID tags, or anything else.
I've never had two pair of ID tags in 21 years, so I don't get what's driving that requirement.
As an aside, there will be times when you may be asked to join, donate to, purchase, etc., especially once you become an NCO. Sure, they can't order you to do so, and if you can't afford to, you shouldn't. Keep in mind though, that when you see others getting those rare school slots, desirable high profile details, or other opportunities considered good, your team player reputation will be part of their thought process.
Figure out where they are made and what it takes to get them made.
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SGT (Join to see)
“Don't make yourself a pop up target“
That’s probably the best-phrased advice on RP in quite a while, and it applies to just about every question. (And overall, excellent response)
One of the most important skills E1-E4 need to learn is knowing when, where and how to fight the system. Pick your battles wisely.
That’s probably the best-phrased advice on RP in quite a while, and it applies to just about every question. (And overall, excellent response)
One of the most important skills E1-E4 need to learn is knowing when, where and how to fight the system. Pick your battles wisely.
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From an AG perspective, I don't want you purchasing ID Tags. The ID tags are required to contain specific information to be used for casualty reporting and the quality control for that is to have them made by the Army. I know it has been a while since I was on active duty so the process may have changed, however, your Commander should be able to send to the RAPIDS facility (ID Card issuing agency) a list of ID tags that are needed in his Command and they will be provided at no charge to the unit and certainly no charge to the individual. Don't mistake this answer as a answer to whether you Command can make you purchase something. That answer is situational, although, the answer is generally, yes.
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Look George- yes they can if they deem you need more than issued, particularly if you are getting a clothing allowance. What are they using them for- we had to place 1 in each pair of field boots we had- most the time they survived mines you know. We had to have name tags on rucks, PC's, etc. cause if you had to dump them, you damn shore wanted to get your's back. Stop whining- ask a question and then buy the damn tags
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Suspended Profile
SGM Bill Frazer none of which still answers the kid’s question. I’ve seen your name enough to know that your default answer seems to be “do what you’re told” without much real thought for the issue at hand. Sloppy, lazy answers based on trying to be John Wayne. The Army has moved past you. War, both strategically and tactically, has moved past you. The moment you become more concerned with your authority than you are with accomplishing the mission and taking care of soldiers, leadership has moved past you. I’m as unimpressed with your leadership style as you seem to be impressed with your own resume.
SGM Bill Frazer
How sweet another millennial answer- go sing Kumbaya with him in a safe corner. It is still amazing only 2 of you are still crying, all other NCO's officer say pick a better battlefield, of just do it for the cheap things. Oh NO Mr MOS we never had till after 1996, is now the new expert on combat, field craft and survival.Go and try to ridicule some one that might care. In words you can understand- drop off the net with and shut up0, not snide remarks- no rocks- you gave you opinion and I gave mine, and more folks seem to agree with me than you. Thats the breaks.
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Suspended Profile
SGM Bill Frazer haha I notice you haven’t tagged me in your last few replies...someone trying to play silly tricks to get in the last word?
My MOS is not relevant to the conversation. Leadership is leadership. Hiding behind your blue cord is childish and immature.
The question posed is can they legally make him buy it...your answer is yes. That is an incorrect answer. Your answer regarding ANY order that I have seen on here is always yes, because you can’t seem to imagine your precious authority being anything other than sacrosanct.
I don’t care who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been. “Because I said so” is a junk leadership style for uncreative and uncritical thinkers...
And I’m damn sure not a millennial (something I predicted you’d get around to in my initial response) I’m a few months shy of 41 years old.
My MOS is not relevant to the conversation. Leadership is leadership. Hiding behind your blue cord is childish and immature.
The question posed is can they legally make him buy it...your answer is yes. That is an incorrect answer. Your answer regarding ANY order that I have seen on here is always yes, because you can’t seem to imagine your precious authority being anything other than sacrosanct.
I don’t care who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been. “Because I said so” is a junk leadership style for uncreative and uncritical thinkers...
And I’m damn sure not a millennial (something I predicted you’d get around to in my initial response) I’m a few months shy of 41 years old.
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My advice is don't get murdered over a pair of dogs tags. You make a stink about this and the CoC will have you policing the cantonment area for the rest of your life. Consult with you unit's E4 mafia. I'm sure they can set you up with some tags. You may need to reach out to someone at your BN's HHC as there is more than likely a tag machine somewhere in their control.
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Negative. A unit cannot force you buy anything additional beyond what the Army says you need to have. However, if any item is deemed un-serviceable, the CoC can then have you replace the item prior to receiving your clothing allowance. Is it a lawful order to do so? Probably, but that would be a JAG question.
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SGM Bill Frazer
Force you- No , just like jump boots- but how long are you going to be on every NCO's shit list till you wise you. Its not about forcing folks to waste money, like name tags on rucks- leave yours unmarked in limbo and that is where it will stay forever.
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SGT Javier Silva
SGM Bill Frazer - As an NCO, a Soldier who didn't purchase extra items wouldn't end up on my shit list. CIF will not take any item that you have permanently damaged, whether the command told you to or by your own volition. As I mentioned before, units have other methods of identifying equipment that won't cause any serious damage to equipment.
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They're not asking you to spend your money. They're asking you to spend your clothing allowance, which is given to you specifically for uniform related expenses just like this... There's a difference.
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Don’t know if they still do it but we had to get another set for our packet when we would deploy. Not sure what they did with them after that. Never did see them again when we got back. If you are real worried about it claim it on your taxes for next year along with anything else you have to buy.
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