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When I was active duty back in the 90s it was common practice to hollow out a piece of 550 cord and thread your dog tag chain through it. When I came back on duty in 2008 for OCS, one of the TACs "counselled" a candidate for having the plastic sleeve around their tag chain, saying the chain was designed to break to keep an opponent from using it to choke.
So my question is, do you use a cover or not? I still have the covered chain on my original set of tags, but don't use it.
So my question is, do you use a cover or not? I still have the covered chain on my original set of tags, but don't use it.
Posted in these groups: 
Uniforms
Uniforms
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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I always had mine covered, the 550-cord kept the chain from pulling my chest hairs out, laugh all ya'll want, that shit hurts!!!
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SGT (Join to see)
I have mine threaded through 550 cord, also. I, uh, don't have chest hair, but it kept the chain from rubbing my neck raw.
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I used Shrink Wrap or Plastic. As an Electronics Tech, having my tags on a metal chain drop out on a live electrical circuit was electrifying and frightening. Rubber Silencers alone just did not cut it.
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LTC Paul Labrador
The plastic covers gave me a rash in hot weather and 550 cord just got plain nasty after a while. Never covered mine either after those two learning experiences.
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Never heard that one about the ID tag chain being designed to break so you don't get choked out. I always thought it was designed like that so if it DID break, you could just refasten it on the next bead. Sounds like some made up TAC crap to me. I used to cover mine with 550 because when I was a young trooper I thought it made me look more tactical and salty (to borrow a Navy term). Nowadays, I just stick them around my belt loop and keep them in my pocket unless I am on a jump, in flight, deployed, or in the field. Meh......whatever.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
When I arrived at my first duty station I figured putting the 550 cord on my chain would help remove some of the "newbie" stink. Of course as LTC Labrador mentioned a new stink replaced it after some time in the field...
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SSG (Join to see)
I heard about the choke out, kept mine on a belt loop and in my pocket, and kept one on my boots. As far as I know it had to be on my person overseas and while in an aircraft.
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I covered mine both ways for the same reason as SFC William Swartz Jr Too damn funny! There is hardly enough "covering" be it plastic or 550 cord shell to grab onto with one's bare hands to effectively choke someone, even a person with a smaller neck. Since the chain is not fully enclosed, the chain would break as designed upon being grabbed or in a struggle if the perpetrator were solely grabbing at the covered chain.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_is_an_official_military_dog_tag_chain
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_is_an_official_military_dog_tag_chain
How long is an official military dog tag chain
Standard US military dog tags are issued with one 2.5 mm, 24-inch neck chain and one 2.5 mm, 4-inch chain.
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I never kept the chain covered. I did use the rubber 'silencers' that went around the outside of the tags, but that was it.
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I've used the 550 cord method since AIT without issue. But I haven't heard of a regulation stating it cannot be covered. If it's fed through the hollowed 550 cord and scorched to keep place I see no reason to why it still cannot be broken if pulled firmly.
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Yep gutted 550 cord on mine but mostly because the body armor we wore tended to press the chain into your neck. I really couldn't see anyone choking you out with it though because the chain will still break if tugged on.
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