What do you think about the Army changing the dog tag system?

American Military University‎ — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:00:56 -0400

For some 40 years, the U.S. military has required all service personnel to wear identity tags, also known as dog tags, which include each soldier’s Social Security Number (SSN).

In the recent years, dog tags provide a name, SSN, blood type and religion. The Army is now changing all of that - check it out: http://rly.pt/2thP6bQ

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Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 12:13 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:13:18 -0400

I think it is a good move, although not enough. The Army still uses the last four digits of social security number for lots of things. You can usually see those "Last 4" stenciled on duffel bags. It is also used on paperwork as well. if you have that, you have half the equation. So if you know where someone was born and the year, it is fairly easy to find the location and year codes, which when added to the "Last 4" yields the entire Social Security number. Once the Army gets rid of using the "Last 4" then things will be a little bit better.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Jun 13 at 2017 12:13 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:13:33 -0400

It's a measure that's long overdue - not that I think it should have ever been used in the first place.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 12:16 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:16:13 -0400

I think it's a great change. It's merely following suit with ID cards. Now, if only the military paperwork will follow suit, as well.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jun 13 at 2017 12:21 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:21:16 -0400

I think the change is good.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 13 at 2017 12:28 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:28:13 -0400

Back to the future. I had a Service Number before I was commissioned as did all military personnel of that era. About the time I became a 2d Lt the Air Force changed over the SSN being your Service Number. If they use the same number on you ID card and dog tags, we're getting pretty close to having a Service Number again. As long as it's kept off publicly available records, it will work pretty well for protecting the SM.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 12:59 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:59:38 -0400

I can see the microchips installed in place of the dog tags.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 2:55 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:55:46 -0400

I had a Service Number instead of SSN on my Dog Tags. Removing the SSN is a step in the right direction.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Jun 13 at 2017 3:05 PM

MSgt George Cater — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:05:05 -0400

Never should have switched from service specific serial numbers in the early 70's. They said that was such a BIG logical thing to do way back then. Ha... guess not. Now I have my DOD ID # on as never to bmy Ret ID cause the SSN that was "never to be used for ID" was used that way by DOD for 40+ years.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 3:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:39:10 -0400

That's why I never wore my tags unless I had to. I was hot identity fraud 7 times since I was 19. It was like they watched my credit as much as I did!!! And those fraud alerts don't really work for nothing!
I just pay cash for everything now and stay as far away from cell contracts, credit cards and checks as possible. And make sure to check your kids SSN because they use it too!

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jun 13 at 2017 4:08 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 16:08:59 -0400

Two things I remember from Basic training my Service Number 1146..... And the white dots we painted on the back of the high topped black combat boots ,woe be unto you if found in formation with the wrongly designated footwear for the day,smoke was going to be brought and mightily I might add!

Response by SSG Michael Needham made Jun 23 at 2017 10:00 PM

SSG Michael Needham — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 22:00:14 -0400

I was drafted and my original dog tags had my US number later it changed to ssn , I still wear dog tags but I had them made without the ssn

Response by SPC Anthony Johnson made Jun 26 at 2017 12:32 PM

SPC Anthony Johnson — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 12:32:12 -0400

I always thought moving from a "serial number" like my Dad had during the '50s to using our SSN as our ID # was a bad mistake. I noted it when I enlisted but I caught flak for mentioning it.. Now some 31 years later they have suddenly realized exactly what a lot of us knew then.. It was a BAD IDEA to begin with!

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Mar 8 at 2018 10:35 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 22:35:59 -0500

The Army has been issuing dog tags for about 100 years. Times have changed. While I like tradition, I think it may be time to move on. On the other hand - I don't like the idea of implanting microchips in people which is probably the next step.