When did militaries start using dog tags?

The History of Military Dog Tags

The practice of issuing identification tags to soldiers did not happen overnight, but a crucial turning point arrived in December 1906. At that time, the United States Army officially issued a general order requiring troops to wear aluminum, disc-shaped ID tags.

Roughly the size of a half-dollar, these early tags were stamped by hand with essential personal details, including the soldier's name, rank, company, and regiment or corps. To keep them secure and accessible during service, they were suspended from a cord or chain worn around the neck.

While the design and materials have evolved significantly over the decades—transitioning into the notched rectangular pairs most people picture today—that 1906 order laid the vital groundwork for modern military identification, ensuring that individual service members could always be accounted for in the line of duty.