Do Special Forces Soldiers Wear Dog Tags and Can Their Comrades Retrieve Them?

Special forces soldiers, like other military personnel, do wear dog tags as a standard practice. These small metal tags serve crucial purposes, including identification in case of injury or death. Dog tags typically contain the soldier's name, service number, blood type, and other relevant information.

In the event that a special forces soldier is killed in action, their comrades are well-trained to retrieve dog tags as part of the recovery process. This is essential for proper identification and for notifying the soldier’s family. The retrieval of dog tags plays a significant role in standard operating procedures during missions, ensuring that the fallen soldier can be correctly identified and honored.

Special Forces Dog Tags: A General Overview

Special forces units such as the Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Green Berets, commandos, and Delta Force use black dog tags. The requirement for black dog tags was mandated by a regulation in the United States Army Vietnam (USARV) on January 15, 1967. Traditional dog tags were often worn around the neck or laced into the soldiers' combat boots during military operations and in combat zones.

The wearing of dog tags, particularly in covert or black operations, is a form of commemoration, love, and loyalty to one's comrades. These tags serve as a constant reminder of the group's camaraderie and the bond between soldiers. Despite this, it's important to consider the context of the situation, as sometimes they might not be worn for operational security reasons. During such times, the focus is on the mission and minimizing risks to the team.

Retrieving of Dog Tags and Body Recovery Procedures

After a mission, the retrieval of dog tags and body recovery procedures are critical for proper identification and notification. Comrades in arms are trained to handle these procedures with respect and professionalism. If a soldier is killed in action, the team will bring the body back if humanly possible, or if immediate retrieval isn't feasible, they will hide the body and return at the earliest opportunity to recover it.

A Historic Example: Black Hawk Down

The events of the "Black Hawk Down" mission in Somalia in 1993 provide a poignant example of these procedures in action. Rangers who were wounded or killed during the mission gave their blood and lives to recover the bodies of three fallen comrades, Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart, both of whom were members of Delta Force. Shugart, a close friend of the narrator in this piece, illustrates the importance of retrieving their comrades' bodies and the deep sense of duty that special forces soldiers have towards one another.

The act of retrieving dog tags and the bodies of fallen comrades underscores the importance of maintaining respect for the deceased and their service. The soldiers in special forces units, often in the most dangerous and challenging missions, rely on these procedures to honor their fallen brothers.