Did you know that the military is finally removing SSNs from dog tags?

2015-12-11T08:37:12-05:00

A few weeks ago COL Mikel Burroughs posted a "Did you know" question about somebody's dog tags being found and returned to the owner some 40 years later. I noticed in the photo of the dog tags that the serial number was missing and with good reason. I was one of the last soldiers to receive a serial number. While in basic the Army switched to using SSNs in place of serial numbers. It appears that they are finally switching back. Your thoughts please...

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/12/08/major-change-army-removes-social-security-numbers-from-dog-tags.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm

In Major Change, Army Removes Social Security Numbers from Dog Tags

U.S. Army dog tags will no longer include soldiers’ Social Security numbers, the Army announced on Tuesday, ending a more than 40-year identification system.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 11 at 2015 8:39 AM

2015-12-11T08:39:26-05:00

Yes I read a couple days ago that the military is removing the SSN from ID Tags going back to the way it was decades ago when military service number was used PFC David Ryba
This may be a good thing since the SSN was supposed to be used for limited purposes and so many scam artists know that if they have you name and SSN they can access a lot.

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Dec 11 at 2015 8:41 AM

2015-12-11T08:41:52-05:00

I never liked the idea of the social security number being used as a multi purpose number. Glad to see service numbers returning!

Response by CSM David Heidke made Dec 11 at 2015 8:52 AM

2015-12-11T08:52:15-05:00

I can see a huge scramble to replace dog-tags like if we don't the apocalypse will come.

It will be the top priority metric on all staff calls, reportable on a name tape basis.

That's what I think.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Dec 11 at 2015 8:56 AM

2015-12-11T08:56:55-05:00

Good Riddance!!
It's finally happening to use our DoD numbers to protect the member from ID theft, etc. Short story, I still have my 1974 Navy issue Seabag with my stenciled SSN on it...it was a common use back in the days. A few years ago my wife, God bless her soul, was deploying and was using my Seabag along with her foot locker. I couldn't believe my eyes, my SSN splashed all over and she's taking this out in public!! I of course being a good and patience husband, I hope, asked her why she was using my Seabag that had my SSN stenciled on it...to my surprise she said she uses it all the time...WHAT-GENERAL QUARTERS-CRASH ALARM!! Needless to say, I gingerly with great deft and slight of hand swapped out my issue Seabag with a newer Seabag minus SSN. Another subvert operation circumvented!! So, good riddance to the old dog tags and cheers to a peaceful harmonious marriage minus SSN stenciling.