Monday, August 14, 2017

Why soldiers wear 'dog tags'

Source Website: http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/heres-why-soldiers-wear-dog-tags
By Cheryl Heng, ConnexionSG on 13 August 2017


Soldiers wear 'dog tags'
PHOTO: Soldiers wear 'dog tags'
There are two differently shaped tags. Each soldier in the Singapore Armed Forces is given one of each when they enlist. If the soldier gets injured, the ID tags would be used to identify the soldier’s blood group and any allergies he/she might have. And in the event where the soldier is killed? The oval tag would be placed in his/her mouth because it is the safest place on the body and the circular one would be collected by his/her platoon mates to report the location of the body.
PHOTO: Danny Ng
Posted by Cheryl Heng, ConnexionSG on 13 August 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0_h4VuVZ1wX1GLeliUaQy70F0v61sksyTZzmyUbZXeesVfc_SYy9PzD9toILI8Rwn6uhVMKRx6rdFiMvz7VaGfrvlpqvysfgaVBU_SUNfWfV_jRMK3gDp-feR_I-5BlWVK6INu7C6Gc/s1600/20645141_1667210666654225_1330198084065027480_o.png
https://scontent-sit4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p720x720/20645141_1667210666654225_1330198084065027480_o.png?oh=9a83cee4c68e24dfe928d5780099213c&oe=5A2488BA
http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/heres-why-soldiers-wear-dog-tags


Many of us have seen people wearing Identity (ID) tags, better known as dog tags, as fashion accessories.


Sexy young woman holding part of an American soldiers uniform, wearing a dog tag.
PHOTO: Sexy young woman holding part of an American soldiers uniform, wearing a dog tag.
Picture posted by Stock Photo
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwNlZKx6ziuEzLqXOMXz9BOd7XaSm6UvImPVeI6_PlzBU9cfrMnMhiOCgTwOij-6UUkpGRBjOuIpxWy3odB-Khmti0wpAju3L5JgPzVUGsSw9xKAr7mOG4koqayA5fyS9SMv-hmmpWt4/s1600/17803541-1.png
https://previews.123rf.com/images/raymondg/raymondg1302/raymondg130200012/17803541-Sexy-young-woman-holding-part-of-an-American-soldiers-uniform-Standing-nude-wearing-only-panties-Pat-Stock-Photo.jpg
https://www.123rf.com/photo_17803539_sexy-young-woman-wearing-part-of-an-american-soldiers-uniform-pants-dog-tag-and-a-bra-patriotic.html


But did you know that these tags have a military origin? Yup, these ID tags are used to identify a soldier if he/she had been severely injured or killed.


A US Marine of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, holds a dog tag of a fallen comrade as he gives his final respects during a memorial ceremony for four fallen comrades.
PHOTO: A US Marine of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, holds a dog tag of a fallen comrade as he gives his final respects during a memorial ceremony for four fallen comrades.
Photo: Lima/Getty
Posted bY The Associated Press on Saturday, 27 March 2010 at 2:36 PM
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWWVJfsneRHSReGsy4bT-PuOU73lMmM_g6tLR7D-R3xv5VoKU1XbF5nHcpY83ffMYvbwxissF4gJdgjwYQMwSrcxGG1AhIfkEy_Eetq4vrssb1qiLwBuajH2fOR5DSgXCv18CKAR-snA/s1600/alg-afghanistan-soldiers-jpg.jpg
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.175170.1314044142!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/alg-afghanistan-soldiers-jpg.jpg
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/troop-deaths-double-afghanistan-surge-article-1.164622


Notice that there are two differently shaped tags? Each soldier in the Singapore Armed Forces is given one of each when they enlist. If the soldier gets injured, the ID tags would be used to identify the soldier’s blood group and any allergies he/she might have. And in the event where the soldier is killed? The oval tag would be placed in his/her mouth because it is the safest place on the body and the circular one would be collected by his/her platoon mates to report the location of the body.

This isn’t a new invention though. In fact, there are stories dated all the way back to the early centuries when Roman soldiers wore ID tags known as the signaculum.


There were personal details on the signaculum and they served the same purpose as an ID tag would today.
PHOTO: There were personal details on the signaculum and they served the same purpose as an ID tag would today.
Photo: Imperium Romana
Posted by Cheryl Heng, ConnexionSG on 13 August 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJrxMNaZff7UeOY39pi1kbW9Rn1RHyzrM458VgVPvx8lEdvlHqxffsNyug6axZE9FXMLfELL6f9m-eJm4CsEK6X0OluXox02f9zyOP_4oFZNxqBL0zojI8qkhmP9qbzqewoEHL4PSrHc/s1600/20729381_1667211506654141_300160986275825240_n.png
https://scontent-sit4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20729381_1667211506654141_300160986275825240_n.png?oh=060a56d550aa391eed363569fb04bb8f&oe=5A378973
http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/heres-why-soldiers-wear-dog-tags


Fun fact: Since the Medieval times, many soldiers who died were buried in graves marked with a single word “Unknown”. It wasn’t only until the 1800s that armies around the world started issuing official ID tags. In fact, during the American Civil War (1861 - 1865), soldiers wrote their names on a piece of paper or handkerchief and pinned it to their clothing before going into battle because they were worried that their bodies could not be identified.

Today, names are not engraved on the ID tags. Instead, the soldier’s NRIC number, blood group and religion go on one side of the tag while the other side would indicate any allergy the soldier might have.

Like the SAF 11B (green army identity card), details are engraved onto the ID tags at CMPB itself!


This is the machine used to engrave details onto the blank ID tags.
PHOTO: Engraving details onto the blank ID tags.
Posted by Cheryl Heng, ConnexionSG on 13 August 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08y0BijWnqUx8WaeZrB6x7zZRnaoWtZZ0JtiWNupaV1hSEs37Em-qZ_BJCsGqRO3Nrdy3sDMCxmXdY4D7zwTK9mA1P8ZbUoMYVnbtjynfQ7J4QmXKR8SyMKV8XefB7bvU2hZBed2Dsu8/s1600/20728902_1667216179987007_6835431253866795822_o-1.jpg
https://scontent-sit4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p720x720/20728902_1667216179987007_6835431253866795822_o.jpg?oh=bf43cef3eda4e3417f1bd271cfcbb4e3&oe=59EF639E
http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/heres-why-soldiers-wear-dog-tags


Have you also noticed how some of the tags have a black rubber ring around them?

The black rubber casings are meant to silence the sound of metal clinking onto each other. You wouldn’t want your enemies to know where you are during a battle just because you are wearing two metal tags right?


Tags have a black rubber ring around them meant to silence the sound of metal clinking onto each other.
PHOTO: Tags have a black rubber ring around them meant to silence the sound of metal clinking onto each other. This can reduce the chances of being detected by the enemies, especially at night. The same reason for having black colour strings tightening the tags and the other equipments. To minimise detection by the enemies. Army Recruits were trained by being asked to jump up and down before every night training, That was to ensure that their "night camouflage" make very little noise from their actions.
Posted by Cheryl Heng, ConnexionSG on 13 August 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAY064HtYp3z1GAsqKso28cHvDO0XBnAIhm9tga10ks1C110hanbtu4_X931qsOtogMsXVDJ0chNAzpSIWeblFfR5a4z06uPJPOUXhKuQmmr_DyD1PBjhpUJOrYYKXz-FEI9K2IjJRwE/s1600/20664073_1667213006653991_8363115538339894430_n.png
https://scontent-sit4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20664073_1667213006653991_8363115538339894430_n.png?oh=00b2e419ceb97375bb85aff20cd279f5&oe=59F7066F
http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/heres-why-soldiers-wear-dog-tags


Also, I am not sure if this is a current practice in Singapore but I have read of instances where soldiers in US wear one tag around their neck and the other threaded through a boot lace. Reason? It is unlikely to have both your head and foot removed in the same injury so there would be at least one ID tag remaining on your body.

A Library of Congress tribute probably said it best.

"The tag itself individualises the human being who wears it, despite his/her role as a small part of a huge and faceless organisation. While the armed forces demand obedience and duty to a higher cause, dog tags, hanging under service members' shirts and close to their chests, remind them of their individuality."

This article was first published in ConnexionSG.

By Cheryl Heng, ConnexionSG on 13 August 2017


Camouflage
PHOTO: Camouflage: the disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings (from google).
A sisterly dream team. Domino, Lola and Jemima Kirke photographed by @JasonBellPhoto for V.F.'s #SistersIssue. by vanityfair
Picture saved by Карелия to Jemima Kirke (Pinterest) from amenjemima.tumblr.com - The Kirke sisters for Vanity Fair
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJafA6EZio2mn5Ena49C8R86oZ4MgzivcGnLQflQBK6GVnvJ5i2S5JdfPMLevHwW3uzYm7GoUca3I-1MPlNWZBBVZ1P-c16tqnsIMA1wesW6LzFhGAtQyMIIqZYLxUNCirCu-HDLikotU/s1600/8105150a2916efce34e0631ccb3e41af.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/81/05/15/8105150a2916efce34e0631ccb3e41af.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/566257353133204044/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/566257353133204044/?lp=true



Reference
[1] Cheryl Heng, ConnexionSG, Here's why soldiers wear 'dog tags', posted on 13 August 2017, http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/heres-why-soldiers-wear-dog-tags

Links
ConnexionSG - https://www.facebook.com/notes/connexionsg/the-id-no-one-wants-to-use/1667208546654437/
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,