Dog Tags

[USMCRCTFORSTER]

Hey just a quick question, when do recruits recieve their dogtags? And is that something we have to pay for or do we get issued them

[Joseph P Carey]

You are kidding, Are you not?

[Tegan]

Oh man... im a new poolee but know way more than to ask that question. But, Joseph Carey, be nice to us poolees!!:)
Whatever happened to poolees talking to their recruiters?
SF

[jinelson]

Poolee USMCRCTFORSTER always remember that the only stupid question is the one not not asked, that said, your dog tags are issued and will be provided free of charge to you. But also remember this you must first prove yourself worthy of wearing them.

[KingDonkeyPunch]

You do have to pay for them. Through 13 weeks of blood, sweat, tears, and sore muscles. You also get them after all the debt is paid off, dose that answer your question poolee?

[USMCRCTFORSTER]

Yes, and that does seem like an obvious question that i should have known the answer to, however, i have found other matters to be more pressing than that of dogtags. I appreciate it however, as i was curious. btw SSgt Nelson...who made that graphic for you? I do graphic design and like that sig...nice work to whom ever made it.

[dgallagher]

I don't know how it is now, but when I was there Marines wore ID tags. Dogs and army wore dog tags. Same with fighting holes.

dg

[USMCgrunt0331]

Well, Marines are Devil Dogs....so i guess dog tags would be fitting, lol

[Old Marine]

A hole is a hole, doesn't matter if its fighting, fox or azz. (unless it's whole)

[Phantom Blooper]

Fair Question For A Poolee always remember that the only stupid question is the one not not asked,

Jim, I 99.9% of the time agree with you as far as the Poolee Hall Forum is concerned. But this time I beg to differ. It has always been said that "the only stupid question is the one not asked."

In my lifetime of dealing with Marines and civilians,I have heard a whole lot of stupid questions,some denote sane answers and some rate stupid answers. However I will agree that this was a sensible question. All in life have asked stupid questions and all have more than likely received stupid answers.


USMCRCTFORSTER,you will get dog tags issued in boot camp if you are allergic to a medicine or something besides work you will also be issued a red allergy tag,hang on to them,don't give them to the girl back home. Same with the I.D. card.When you get to the FMF there is usually an antique dog tag making machine somewhere in the regiment,but few and far between.Then you have to make statements on how they were lost ect. and have it signed by your NCOIC,same with the I.D. card.

Old Marine ,A hole is a hole, doesn't matter if its fighting, fox or azz. (unless it's whole) Stupid Question: "are fox or azz related if it's on the same being?"

Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall





:marine:

[outlaw3179]

I 100% agree with the only stupid question is the one not asked. Poolee you remember that through boot camp and when you get to the fleet. Remember the more knowledge you have the more it will help you when you get to Iraq.....Oh yeah by the way ...thats where youre going, so remember that , when you think that maybe its a dumb question and you dont want to ask what an IED is..

Semper Fi

[jegries]

When you recieve your dog tags should be the least of your worries!!!

[jay2120]

you will get them the last couple of days you will put them in your srb and wear them after you leave or if your lucky the last day or two. It all depends on your Drill Instructors.

[Phantom Blooper]

outlaw3179 ,

I 100% agree with the only stupid question is the one not asked. Poolee you remember that through boot camp and when you get to the fleet. Remember the more knowledge you have the more it will help you when you get to Iraq.....Oh yeah by the way ...thats where youre going, so remember that , when you think that maybe its a dumb question and you dont want to ask what an IED is..



Phantomblooper,


In my lifetime of dealing with Marines and civilians,I have heard a whole lot of stupid questions,some denote sane answers and some rate stupid answers. However I will agree that this was a sensible question. All in life have asked stupid questions and all have more than likely received stupid answers.



___________________________________________


Above remark still stands.....Stupid questions/Stupid answers.In my days ask a drill instructor stupid question..get pitted or trashed.


"Life is hard enough,it's even harder when you are stupid." John Wayne

Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall :marine:

[outlaw3179]

Uhhh yeah.....tell me that if one of my Marines comes up to me and asks me a question that I might think is stupid, I should beat him or make him feel dumb.
Negative.
My Job as an NCO is to teach my Marines what I know , not to keep the information to myself. My job is to try pass on the knowledge I know , to my younger Marines. This is how we keep our traditions alive. This is also how we keep our Marines alive.
The poolee did ask a question which I do admit was not a matter of National Security , and although it may not be important to you or I , it is to him.
Tell me that asking dumb questions does not save lives. Tell me that young pfcs dont sometimes catch the mistakes senior Marines make.
It is your job as senior Marine to teach the younger ones everything from the importance of hygiene to how to properly set up a squad in a defensive perimeter.
But if you want to be the Marine that hoardes all the information, you can also be the Marine that has to explain why your Marine was killed because he didnt know the challenge and password for the night. All because he didnt want to ask because he thought it was a dumb question .

Semper Fi

[Phantom Blooper]

Missing my point entirely,I did not say that I would hoard the info or not answer the question. I said that there are stupid questions.

By all means answer the question!

However I will agree that this was a sensible question.


Encourage questions........YES! Give the correct answer or find out the answer.




But if you want to be the Marine that hoardes all the information, you can also be the Marine that has to explain why your Marine was killed because he didnt know the challenge and password for the night. All because he didnt want to ask because he thought it was a dumb question .

If the Marine payed attention,he would know the battle orders and the password. When the word is passed from the Plt.Cmdr.,Plt. Sgt.,Guide,Squad Leaders and Fireteam leaders to the last man in the last team. When a matter of life and death is involved the Marine should know the plan and ask questions,even stupid ones.

All stupid questions do not demand stupid answers.To start off with this was a blanket statement. There are stupid questions,if a Marine does not want to ask a question because he believes he will look dumb then he is stupid for not asking the question and jeopardizes his life and the life of his comrades.

I have asked many stupid questions and I was given the correct answer and after looking at what I stated I realized that it was a stupid question.

Above remark still stands.....Stupid questions/Stupid answers.In my days ask a drill instructor stupid question..get pitted or trashed. Different time ,different era!

Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall

[outlaw3179]

I do understand what you are saying SSGT. the only thing is we both know, for some reason some pfcs and lcpls need extreme supervision and as leaders we inspect not expect anything out of the juniors.

[USMCRCTFORSTER]

I appreciate the information, however my wish wasn't to start conflict. As was said, it is not a question of "National Security"...thats why i posted the question here. Usually when i ask my recruiter and/or my NCOIC a question, it usually is pertaining to something more important...and i merely asked the question as i was curious...as it hadn't crossed my mind to ask before. Being that i have been concerened with ship dates, jobs, ASVAB scores and what not, i have directed my larger questions with more importance to my recruiters and NCOIC those appointed over them. The question merely popped into my head so i posted the question hoping for just a simple answer. i did get my question answered however i did not wish for there to be conflict, so for that, i apologize.

[Phantom Blooper]

USMCRCTFORSTER,There is NO conflict. Everyone answered the question and are entitled to the opinion of ones choice. I agree with what was said by outlaw3179,I was just defending my statements,as he his. And as all threads on this site,everyone has the right to say what their opinions are.

Keep asking questions! Marines have a way of working things out. Stay hard charging and good luck with all future endeavors.


Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall

[Cole11]

we got em towards the last days of our 3 month vacation at the luxurious Hotel MCRD, it was among our parting gifts, HA! But anyway we couldnt wear them until after boot camp. Im onea those Marines that will wear his dogtags til the day I die, any other Marines like that?

[USMCgrunt0331]

Phanton Blooper-Not so much of a different time and era that recruits don't still get thrashed or pitted for stupid questions, actions or whatever else reasons the DI's conjure up.

Cole 11-Oohrah! I plan on doing the same thing.

[Osotogary]

When the hounds feel like issuing one. LOL

(Did this one awhile back. It might work here.)

[marinefamily5]

OUTLAW3179

great reply i totally agree with you on what your post said. Ask all the question you can think of.

I knew this Marine @ 2d CEB that was a PFC, 3rd award, he did stupid stuff after he was secure for the night but he was prolly one of the smartest Marines I know. He even had CPL's & SGT's that asked him stuff every now and then. So don't feel stupid asking a question because there is always gonna be someone that knows more then you do.

[Sgt Ski 2/7]

when you get the dog tags you can do what a bunch of us did after getting out of boot camp. Get a meat slab as they are called.that is when you get all the info of your dog tags tattooed on your side under you arm along the rib cage. if i am correct and please chew me out if i am wrong lol..but that started in Vietnam when guys got blown apart they had the info tattooed on their side for quick id and other things. but always put at least one dog tag in your boot

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Sgt Ski 2/7
when you get the dog tags you can do what a bunch of us did after getting out of boot camp. Get a meat slab as they are called.that is when you get all the info of your dog tags tattooed on your side under you arm along the rib cage. if i am correct and please chew me out if i am wrong lol..but that started in Vietnam when guys got blown apart they had the info tattooed on their side for quick id and other things. but always put at least one dog tag in your boot

Off hand, Ski, I don't remember that particular practice of tattooing ID Tag info under the arm on the side of the chest, but I do remember some very few tattooing their Name and Serial number on their chest below their heart

And, for the most part, our boots fell off of us un RVN, because of water rot, even the jungle boots, and resupply was not a very quick thing to say the least. Besides, walking on an ID Tag could be very painful, and many of our boots were taken off of us when we were treated for injuries in battalion med, if it looked like we were not going back into action anytime soon.

As a matter of fact, one of the first things they treated us for when we were taken to a hospital facility was for 'Trench foot'. After our feet were in water for so long, and then taken from the water so quickly and allowed to dry, the skin on our feet would dry and would crack down several layers of skin causing some very painful cuts, and difficulty in walking. Anyone that was there at the time will remember this along with the jungle rot on our hands and arms. I still have the purple marks on the back of my hands from this, and that was 40 years ago.

One of the first things I look for when someone tells me he was a grunt in Vietnam is the marks on the back of the hands. It is strange what we remember the most about that place.

As far as ID Tags went, I remember the first thing we did with them was to get some tape from Doc, and cover both tags with the tape. This eliminated flash from the tags, and it made them quiet at night, but that was about it.

[Namvet67]

Carey's assessment of the dog tags is correct! We did tape them and they were worn as instructed by the Corps. Vietnam era tags had your name, serial number, USMC and what other information stamped on the tags? I know the Nam vets can answer this.

[rproctor922]

religion

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Namvet67
Carey's assessment of the dog tags is correct! We did tape them and they were worn as instructed by the Corps. Vietnam era tags had your name, serial number, USMC and what other information stamped on the tags? I know the Nam vets can answer this.

Gas mask size, blood type, and religion!

[Namvet67]

Carey is right again! Never really understood why it was necessary to put the gas mask size on there.

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Namvet67
Carey is right again! Never really understood why it was necessary to put the gas mask size on there.

I actually asked once about that, and I was told, if a Marine was wounded and unconscious, and his equipment was gone, a mask from another casualty may be avilable in the case of gas attack, but, in logic, I can not, and did not go along with that!

In truth, I think it was an administrative thing to assure that the proper number of masks and sizes were available for the Company, if they had to be delivered to the field because of Intelligence's warning of a possible gas attack, as we did not carry the things in RVN, and this was the Cold War, and the greatest concern then with the USSR was Nerve Gas.

[Namvet67]

I'll buy that! There are still a lot of Marines out there that don't know what the s,m,l stamp on the tag means! Mine has a s stamped in....i think it means Special! LOL

[outlaw3179]

Lol...this is what I love about the Marines. The only reason myself and Phantom were discussing , note, not arguing is because thats what we as Marines are instilled to do. Look out for our juniors and make sure that the mission is accomplished.
Semper Fi Phantom !
and by the way poolee you will get them when you earn them . and then you can get them tattood wherever you want as long as it in regs.
I got mine on my ribs ...

Semper

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Namvet67
I'll buy that! There are still a lot of Marines out there that don't know what the s,m,l stamp on the tag means! Mine has a s stamped in....i think it means Special! LOL

I too had an S on mine, and I always thought I had a pretty large face. Someone would have to have a head like a basketball to rate a large. But than again, it could be a code to the Corpsmen: S = save, M = Make an effort, and L = Later, dude, I have to go, there is an S down. :-) Of course I am joking, Corpsmen never paid attention to anything, except the men that were in need of their assistance in front of them, no matter what the circumstances or the personal danger to themselves. If God could not save us, the Corpsman would give it his best effort to prove him wrong!

[Sgt Ski 2/7]

when I was in ..way after you 88 to 96...we put them in our boot laces. I got the meat slab story from my old 1st Sgt . He was a salty SOB from Vietnam and a tunnel rat. I noticed his info tattooed under his arm and that is where I got it from took me about a year to ask him...
Chesty Bless 1st SGt Johnson 7th Marines

[RLeon]

Gee wiz, you poolees here ask too many questions...just go to bootcamp and find out already. When I enlisted the only thing I was told was were to be and not to bring anything. :)

[Joseph P Carey]

I agree with Cpl Leon. I went into the Marines to be a Marine! If they wanted me to stand duty on a Ship, I was going to stand duty on a ship; if they wanted me to drive a truck, I would have been driving trucks; and, if they wanted me to be a cook, I would have been a cook. No matter what I did in the Marines, first and foremost, I would have been a Marine!!!

You guys act like you should bring a lawyer with you to Boot Camp. To quote the less educated: "It ain't that simple! First, you have to become a Marine, before you can be anything else."

There is History, and Tradition, and Discipline, and basic skills one must learn to be a Marine, and you will not learn these things worrying about your contract all the time! If things don't work out for you, you will be out in four years, if you like it, you will be out in 20. Either way, you get out with the title, and the bragging rights that go with it.

Quote: "It ain't everybody that can be a Marine, just the best!"

[RLeon]

Exactly Cpl Carey, I went in open contract. I knew nothing...graduted Hard charging and motivated.

[Riven37]

Originally posted by USMCRCTFORSTER
Hey just a quick question, when do recruits recieve their dogtags? And is that something we have to pay for or do we get issued them


THIS IS WHY YOU'RE A BOOT...YOU S*IT BIRD !!...WHO IN THE HELL YOU THINK YOUR TALKING TOO ? WHAT, DID YOUR MOTHER GIVE YOU BRAINS OR WERE YOU MADE THIS WAY ? YOU GET DOWN AND GIVE ME 50 NO, DO THEM UNTIL I TELL YOU TO STOP BOOT !!! NOW MOVE, MOVE, MOVE, GET DOWN ON THE GROUND BOOT.

[speakeasy]

however that question could get you the nick name "dog tag" and you'll have it the rest of your life

[Mastergunz G]

I agree with Outlaw about teaching young Marines. That is a big problem with our young NCO's today...they don't want to pass on information to those younger Marines.
Here's a thought; maybe Carey didn't know the answer!
Mastergunz

[sm@@thrider]

S- small. head is small with nothing to fit in it.

M- medium head with some room but more air

L- large head, small brain, shake it and listen

EXLG- ha ha, big ego

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Mark Gordon
I agree with Outlaw about teaching young Marines. That is a big problem with our young NCO's today...they don't want to pass on information to those younger Marines.
Here's a thought; maybe Carey didn't know the answer!
Mastergunz

Truthfully Master Gunny, I would doubt that! The Recruit asked a question that needed no answer! When the Recruit hits Boot Camp, he will not see the outside of a Marine Corps Base until Graduation, or release from the service, or until he has to take emergency leave for some unforeseen reason. In either case, the Corps will provide him with whatever information and identification he or she needs before he or she ever leaves that base. The Marines brand their own, and they identify their own for all to know. Hell! The Master Gunny knows that it is a strong contention in Boot Camp that, "They ain't Marines until we say they're Marines," and they stick to that thought pattern all through training, or the Marine Corps has changed a great deal from when I was released because of my wounds, and I seriously doubt that.

[outlaw3179]

If a young Marine has a question it is your responsibilty to answer it ! I dont care how salty or how long youve been in the Corps. your younger Marines are a direct representation of yourself , and more importantly they are in your charge.
Dont be that Marine that has all this information wether it be simple or important and keep it all to yourself. Not only do the traditons of the Marine Corps depend on it , but more importantly the lives and the welfare of your Marines are depending on you.

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by outlaw3179
If a young Marine has a question it is your responsibilty to answer it ! I dont care how salty or how long youve been in the Corps. your younger Marines are a direct representation of yourself , and more importantly they are in your charge.
Dont be that Marine that has all this information wether it be simple or important and keep it all to yourself. Not only do the traditons of the Marine Corps depend on it , but more importantly the lives and the welfare of your Marines are depending on you.

Every Marine I ever lead in Combat knew exactly what was going on! Might I remind you that this is not a Marine, as of yet! I owe him nothing until he completes the course! Answers to questions go with the secret handshake, as I have answered your question!

Most respectfully, Joseph P Carey

[Toby M]

There was secret handshake?

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Toby M
There was secret handshake?

Oh My God, Toby! You don't know the Secret Handshake??? ;-)

There is also a secret blood oath that must be recited loudly, when using the secret handshake. It starts like this:

"This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life..." ;-)

[outlaw3179]

Hell I dont know! I didnt even go to boot camp... I just took the MCI !

[bobang]

there was once a hand shake but it was no secret to a grunt in nam,it was a hello and welcome to hell. one was a rubbing of your hand to the shaker,rapping your thumb around his,bumping closed fist to fist toward the end and then the final closed fist atop each other at least twice.it just felt good inside if you know what i mean. no biggie.

[Joseph P Carey]

It is always fun to get the recruits thinking and following orders to the letter! And, Sometimes it can be down right dangerous!

I can remember, when first we were throwing Hand grenades in training, I was sitting on the pine seats and I watched as the instructor was telling the gathering how he wanted the Grenades to be thrown.

"Put the Grenade in your right hand; pull the pin with your left hand; Reach back with the Grenade in your right hand and throw it in a complete motion over your head and in the direction of the enemy; and, while in a continuing motion lay down face first on the ground until you hear the explosion." He said. He then lined up three of us to go into the pits.

Well! As it came to be, I was in the next throwing pit to the first man throwing the Grenade, and the guy did exactly like he was told, but the grenade only went about 15 feet in front of the position, and everyone all over the place hit the deck.

After the explosion of the Short throw, all the range instructors ran down to the first pit. There was a short discussion amongst themselves, and the Range instructors came back to the pits.

My instructor handed me a grenade, and he asked me, "Do you remember what the Sergeant told you in the classroom session? You are RIGHT handed, aren't you?!?!?!"

[Mac88]

Dog tags and uniforms are paid for, not with cash or credit, but with 13 weeks of hell, and a lifetime of being a called a UNITED STATES MARINE


Semper Fi!

[Phantom Blooper]

Mac88 ,I admire your willingness to become a Marine! You are correct in one respect dog tags and uniforms are issued. The title of Marine is earned.

Nothing's free! When you get your pay in bootcamp before graduation and you are given your Leave and Earnings Statement ( LES ) a deduction will be made for uniforms and PX trips, along with all appropriate tax deductions and showing anything you accumulated.

Your credits good as long as you make it thru a MCRD and become a Marine!

Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall



:marine:

[p8ntballsnipr1]

I have set up a plaque in memory of my great grandfather who was in the Army, and my grandfather who was in the Marines, however i want to get a set of dog tags to put in the plaque with both sets of medals and rank patches for them, when i order the tags, how would i set up the information excatly like when they are issued??

[jinelson]

p8ntballsnipr1 thats a tough question only because to answer it we would need to know what era they served in, because the regulations have changed over the years. That would also affect what their rank patches (which we call chevrons in the Corps) look like, meaning with or without crossed rifles. Provide the years they served and Im sure that you will get some help.

[jryanjack]

p8ntballsnipr1 - you may find these links helpful in trying to determine what information should go on each set of the tags.

http://home.att.net/~steinert/us_army_ww2_dog_tags.htm

http://www.dogtagmachines.com/HISTORY/USMC_/usmc_.html

[Lorix]

Get them the day before you graduate from boot camp (family day), same as the ID card. No you don't have to pay for them, but you do have to earn them.

[p8ntballsnipr1]

thanks for the info Sgt.