by 
The Curious Bag
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Military identification tags, or dog tags, were first issued in December 1906. Soldiers were required to carry an identification tag as of 1913. In 1916 a second tag was added, and by 1917 all troops were wearing dog tags. Before dog tags were issued by the military, soldiers often carved their information into coins or wood in an effort to ensure that if they were to die in combat their identity would be known.
Line 1
Line one on military dog tags lists the soldier's last name. In the military, you are normally referred to by your last name, therefore, last name appears first.
Line 2
Line two on military dog tags lists the soldier's first name. Because dog tags were made for identification purposes, it is imperative that the soldier's full name is visible.
Line 3
Line three on military dog tags lists the soldier's service number. This number is a more efficient way for military personnel to locate service records and next of kin.
Line 4
Line four on military dog tags lists the soldier's blood type. If the soldier were to get injured in battle and need to be given blood, listing the soldier's blood type on the dog tags can help speed up the process and potentially save the soldier's life.
Line 5
Line five on military dog tags states the religious preference of the soldier. If a soldier is seriously wounded or killed in battle, the visible religious preference helps those who administer last rights and those who have to make end-of-life decisions determine how to proceed.
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