Some History on the Origination of Army Dog Tags

Military dog tags were used by soldiers for identity tags throughout the Civil War. They included a soldier's basic details namely the name, date of birth, blood type and a crucial medical background.

Army Dog Tags Later

These tags were put into use by soldiers for recognition tags during the Civil War. These featured a soldier's simple facts specifically the name, date of birth, blood type and a key medical history. These days, they are built authentically as a part of a soldier's uniform, which seemed to be started out through World War I.

As World War II prolonged, the authentic dog tags turned different because a second tag ended up being used for the soldiers - also recognize as service participants. Each tag had distinctive chains so that one tag could be extorted if a service member is captured or is located dead. A single tag may possibly then be remained with the service member upon burial - either on shore or at sea. The additional tag should be directed to the BuPers (Bureau of Naval Personnel). This specific process served as a way of recollecting and honoring service members for their devotion.

Just how Military Dog Tags Have Evolved Through Time

Now more than ever, army identification tags have emerged as trendy and commercialized. Typically the purpose of army tags has expanded from being used as a "heroic" symbol to a "fashion" sign. More and more civilians are attracted to military tags for their fashion and style. All of these are now becoming an important item for the youth and even for the adults in the commercialized world.

For teenagers, army tags may display a tough military look, a fashionable style and numerous other representations in the group of fads. These have expanded in popularity with remarkable characteristics and hip looks. Also, they are used as a private souvenir. Despite having the developed functions, they still embody the original feature of being a distinctive id. Personalized details may include name, age, blood type and other particulars - according to the wearer's preference.

Single dog tags have become more appealing to the mainstream with great increase in popularity due to advertisements in publications, runways, and video. Military tags are also renowned in custom-made versions. Military tags erupted the trend among young people and grown people with the primary idea of personalized look. Most of these possess various sizes, concepts, and font designs.

Things To Have In Mind

You actually can easily buy personalized dog tags from retail stores or malls. Yet somehow, the desire for quality-made and genuine army tags has led a lot of customers to get theirs from the internet rather than retail stores. Unique tags are most likely made from metal alloy and titanium or stainless steel for durability. In selecting them, you should be certain that they are authentic.

Authentic military dog tags are widely available in online stores - offering informative imagery and additional accessories such as chains, silencers and engraving designs.

Generally there is a large range of military tag online stores and shops to to find elegant designs and personalized models. Most consumers find online stores easier and faster to get tags in just a couple of quick clicks. Despite that there are numerous websites that give these items, you should be wise where to buy yours. The best option would be to find a place with a wide variety of alternatives, giving comprehensive images and features.

Some stores hike up the value of army dog tags with a minimum purchase amount. Hence, paying for a military dog tag ought to come with the quality you paid for and, at a very inexpensive price. Here is one good site to have a look at, if you want the most recent elements, styles and designs for your army dog tags.

Army Officer Rank - Basic Training for the Organizationally Challenged

To begin, there are ten levels of officer rank in the United States Army. (An eleventh rank level is possible, but rare in military history.) Rank begins with the Second Lieutenant, and ends with the General of the Army. Along with each proper rank name, is an abbreviated rank identifier and an officer grade, or pay grade. The officer grades also start at O1 and end at O10.

It is easy to distinguish officers, who wear 'brass' on their collars, from enlisted soldiers, who wear 'stripes'. From bottom to top, the Army rank structure is as follows:

Second Lieutenant, 2LT, O1 - This is the lowest rank for the general-type officer. A soldier becomes a 2LT either through the ROTC program, attendance at a US Military Academy, or direct appointment. The 2LT wears a single gold bar on his collar, hence the nickname of 'butter bar' for these inexperienced officers. The grades of O1-O3 are known as 'company grade officers'.

First Lieutenant, 1LT, O2 - The First Lieutenant wears one silver bar on his collar. Usually, First Lieutenant's will serve as Platoon Leaders or Company Executive Officers. Advancement to First Lieutenant occurs after completion of 24-month time in grade as a 2LT.

Captain, CPT, O3 - The Captain wears two silver bars, side-by-side on his collar. The bars are referred to as 'railroad tracks' because of their visual similarity. Captains are generally assigned as Company Commanders, though they may also serve in a number of capacities, such as Logistics or Personnel Officers.

Major, MAJ, O4 - The Major wears the insignia of a gold oak leaf on his collar. Duty positions vary, though a Major could be assigned as a Battalion Executive Officer, Operations Officer, or Intelligence Officer. The grades of O4-O6 are known as 'field grade officers'.

Lieutenant Colonel, LTC, O5 - The Lieutenant Colonel wears the insignia of a silver oak leaf on his collar. Known as a 'light Colonel', the LTC is generally in command of a battalion sized unit.

Colonel, COL, O6 - The Colonel wears a silver eagle on his collar. The wearer of such rank is often referred to as a 'full bird' or, less often, a 'full bull'. Generally, a Colonel is in charge of a Brigade sized unit.

Brigadier General, BG, O7 - The Brigadier General wears one star on his collar. Brigadier's are usually positioned as Assistant Division Commanders. The grades of O7 and higher are known as 'general grade officers'.

Major General, MG, O8 - The Major General wears two stars on his collar. The duty position is generally that of a Division Commander, Post Commander, or any number of Commandant, Deputy Chief or Chief positions.

Lieutenant General, LTG, O9 - The Lieutenant General wears three stars on his collar. LTGs might fill a duty position such as a Deputy Commander of a major command, like Northern Command.

General, GEN, O10 - The General wears fours stars, side-by-side, on his collar. Four-star's occupy major command billets like Central Command, or might serve as a Chief-of-Staff.

General of the Army, GOA, O11 - This special rank consists of five stars in a pentagonal pattern, with star points touching. No officer has held this rank since World War II, when Omar Bradley was promoted to the position. By regulation, any officer holding the position of General of the Army will remain on active duty for life. Dwight Eisenhower, who also held this position, resigned his Army commission so that he might serve as President of the United States, because the office of President can not legally be filled by any active duty U.S. military officer.

General of the Armies, GOA, O11 - The General of the Armies is the highest ranking officer position in the military. Though it is sometimes considered a 'sixth star' rank, the insignia of the General of the Armies is the same five-star formation as that of the General of the Army. Promotion to this rank places the service member as the overall commander of all United States forces. This special rank and position has only been authorized for two people in our nation's history: George Washington and John J. Pershing. (By executive order of President Gerald Ford, George Washington will always remain the most senior commander, and can never be outranked by any other officer of the U.S. military.)

Each of the aforementioned ranks is special in its own way, and holds a valuable place in the military hierarchy. Though their ranks, duties and responsibilities may vary, soldiers serving at every level of the military order are equally as important as their fellow service members.

Army Continuing Education

Army Continuing Education is an effort that is highly encouraged. From a private to a Sergeant Major, all are encouraged to enhance their educations and obtain their degrees. Officers are also encouraged to further their education, in their chosen field and with other opportunities. Army Continuing Education is a theme that is often heard throughout both the active duty Army and its reserve and National Guard components.

Each Army base has some form of Education Office. A soldier can visit this office for information on continuing education. They can sign up for correspondence courses. They can take the CLEP test. They can see an education counselor to plan for their college education. Some education offices offer college classes on the premise where others work with colleges and universities in the area to provide classes for military members to attend. However, online military-friendly universities offer great flexibility for active-duty soldiers who need their study schedules to fit around their military responsibilities.

Each enlisted soldier attends an Advanced Individual Training Course also known as an AIT. This is their job specialty and the area they will work on during their Army career. Once they graduate from this course and are shipped out to their first duty assignment, they are encouraged to start taking correspondence courses in their MOS, Military Occupational Specialty. They can also take correspondence courses in basic soldier skills, such as first aid, NBC and a land navigation course. The Army rewards soldiers with promotion points for every five credit hours of correspondence course they finish.

CLEP test are available to soldiers. These tests are where college classes can be challenged. A soldier who takes these tests and passes will be awarded college credits. They are available in many different topics, such as math, English, science and specialties such as nursing and computers. The education office will have a list of available test. These tests are available at no cost to soldiers who qualify for the specific test and pass them.

The Army also encourages continuing education through its Tuition Assistance program. Through this program, the Army will pay for up to 100% of the tuition cost for qualifying classes. This program provides financial assistance to active duty soldiers to obtain college credits toward their degree. This form of Army continuing education is available all over the military community. The program covers $250 per credit hour for any qualifying class. The solider will be responsible for any cost for books or incidentals. A soldier must also apply themselves to pass the class. If they fail the class they will have to pay back the money that was paid for them to attend.

The Army has a wide variety of programs that it offers to encourage soldiers to continue their education, even after serving on active duty. The Veteran's Administration administers the many GI Bill benefits that are available. A soldier who has served their time and qualifies may be able to qualify for further financial assistance to obtain their degree.

Also available are scholarships geared specifically for those who served on active duty. Some may even qualify while still on active duty. The education office or the Veteran's Administration may have this information as well. Schools counselors may also be a source of information for this continuing education resource.

The Army continuing education effort is for the soldiers that serve our country proudly. It gives them the opportunity to receive job training and an education while doing that service. A soldier who applies themselves can leave the military with job skills, job experience and educational benefits.

This article is based on publicly-accessible information and has not been reviewed or approved by any military branch.

US Military Recruitment - Revealing The Process Step By Step

The military recruitment process is extremely disciplined. All the information one need about military service can be found at the click of a button on the army website. You can either serve part time or for full time and the website details the differences between the two. A person who chooses to apply through this site for taking up military service is led to the army career explorer which gives you a plethora of information on beginning the recruitment process. The site also provides every bit of information you need starting from the recruitment process to the life in the US Army.

Military recruitment is an ongoing process for both the American and the British armies because of their current overseas involvement. Once the people waiting to be recruited go through the information in the site and the career's explorer, they are required to submit documentation. After this, a military recruitment officer will pay a visit to the applicant to verify the information provided by you. Also, the officer will be able to make sure your skills and qualification and ensure that you are fit to serve the US army and can survive its rigorous lifestyle. It is not necessary that the officer must come home to do all this. You may complete the entire process over the telephone if you wish to do so.

This military officer is your friend, philosopher and guide throughout your life in the army. This officer can tell you anything regarding life in the army or the application process or even on how long you can be expected to stay in the army. If you are interested in pursuing education even after joining the army, your officer is the one you must contact. He can provide you al the necessary information. There are many recruiters whom you can reach for more information. They can be found either online or even in your neighborhood. On completion of this, you will have to take up an aptitude test. You will be subjected to a set of multi choice questions which allows the military to asses your skill set and zero down on a role you are fit for.

On successful completion of all these processes, you will be given a posting station where you can collect your kit. You will also be assigned to a post here and be inducted into the army.

Motorcycle and the Military

The Motorcycle as we know it is a derived from the two wheeled bicycle. Comparatively its history begins from the middle of the nineteenth century. But within a short span of time, the motorcycle soon caught the imagination of the public .But as with all inventions the motorcycle was also adapted for military use.

The First World War (1914-18) saw the entry of the Motorcycle as an accoutrement to the Military. It was initially put into use as a dispatch rider. Earlier the Army was using horses and the motorcycle was a replacement. The war in Europe launched the motorcycle as part of the military in a big way. The US Army started by using motorcycles for provost duties by the Military Police, both for patrolling and carrying Military Police personnel .In addition the motorbike was also used for escort duties and couriers duties as telecommunication was in its infancy at that time. However the the motorcycle did not find favor with the Allies as a combat vehicle. Their use was confined to behind the battle lines. But the use of the motorcycle with its ability to negotiate difficult terrain as well as movement of Military personnel has made it indispensable for over a hundred years. The motorcycle could also be airdropped along with Para troops to add mobility to the paratroopers.

The use of the Motorcycle by the German Army needs special mention. The German Army used the motorcycle extensively. They also attached a side car to the motorcycle with a machine gun mounted on it. These machines terrorized the populations in the villages of occupied Europe during world war II.They also perfected the use of motorcycles extensively for liaison and reconnaissance purposes. The Bikes they used were BMW, NSU, DKW, and Zundapp. The BMWR/75 motorcycle with a capacity of 746 cc and a horse power of 26 is the best and most versatile of the lot. The German war machine had motorcycle infantry units attached to all their panzer divisions.

The magnitude of motorcycle usage can be seen from the fact that the average infantry division on the Eastern Front against Russia was equipped with 452 motorcycles including those with a sidecar. However the number of motorcycle got reduced to 168 when the infantry divisions began to use the Kubelwagens (This vehicle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen) and Kettenkrads (Motorcycle half trucks). Most early models of German military motorcycles proved unreliable after the invasion of Russia in June 1942, due to the peculiar conditions there and the difficult terrain. Only the BMW R/75 was a success. The Russian Army were so impressed with this bike, that after the war they cannibalized this bike and produced their own bike called the K-M72.

The American Army had also a checkered history as far as use of motorcycles is concerned starting from 1913. The standard machine in use was the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Harley Davidson produced motor cycles en masse for the United States Armed force. If numbers have a meaning than nearly 90000 bikes were manufactured by the company for the military. A large number were also produced for the Russians.That's a colossal number. Two other motorcycles via 'Scout' and 'Chief' were also patented by The Indian Motorcycle Company, but they could not match the products of Harley Davidson.

The US Army introduced the motorcycle in the Vietnam War. In fact the 'special forces' a specialized group to fight the Viet Cong made extensive use of the motorcycle for their operations. This was followed by the invasion of Iraq and the motorcycle was integral to Army operations during that campaign. More recently, the maneuverability of two-wheeled transport has proved invaluable in Afghanistan where the rugged terrain gives ample scope for operations with a motorcycle. The use of a motorcycle can best be illustrated with the adage that when the going is tough and no road is available the motor cycle can press forward and when there is a smooth road, it can be unchallenged as far as speed is concerned. Motor cycles are also in use by the Armies of China and India. In India the 1955 model Royal Enfield 348cc is still in production and extensively used by the Army Military Police and also for ceremonial duties like out riding for VIP's. Today the Japanese manufacturers, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha dominate the large machine market

But the role of a Motorcycle for the military is not likely to diminish in the years to come.

E Army U

Most people know about veteran's benefits. It's heavily advertised that you can sign up for the US Army and they'll give you a VA loan and money for school after you've served your term. Few people, even the Army's own soldiers, realize that you can get a university education, even a graduate degree, for free online while serving your country.

Welcome to E Army U, the military answer to educating soldiers in the 21st century. Via the web, and at times through a free laptop for soldiers, it offers university degrees on flexible schedules. Soldiers complete the work in their off-duty hours, just as their civilian counterparts might work full time and go to school in their off hours. This program is available to all soldiers.

It actually consists of two related programs, Go Army Ed and E Army U. Go Army Ed is a tuition reimbursement program for distance education courses offered by civilian colleges and universities. This covers 100% of the soldier's tuition, fees, and books, up to a semester hour cap of $250 and an annual cap of $4,500. The school the soldier chooses must be accredited in the US; there is a list of approved schools on the Go Army Ed website.

E Army U is a web portal that consolidates the distance learning offerings of dozens of colleges and universities, allowing soldiers to log on to a single site to manage their entire college education. As an officially recognized university itself, it allows the soldier to bypass the residency requirements that traditional schools have. It also allows the soldier to apply for tuition reimbursement, do all paperwork filing, and track transcript information, all in one place.

There is a single application for all 25 universities and 140 degree programs that participate in E Army U, and credits earned are guaranteed to be two-way transferable between all of the institutions. Soldiers who have been able to get into the Laptop Program (suspended indefinitely for new applicants) can also access unlimited tutoring. The accredited university grants the degree the soldier earns.

Since the program was specifically designed to reach soldiers regardless of their duty station, thousands have transferred to new posts without interrupting their studies. More than 31% of E Army U students either extend service or reenlist specifically to access this benefit. In some cases, non-commissioned officers have finished their bachelor's degree through E Army U, and then reenlisted as an officer in order to pursue a master's degree.

Army Reenlistment Cash to Be Slashed

If there is any group of men and women who have deserved bonuses over the last seven years, it has been the Soldiers who have served during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And during that time, particularly in specialties that the Army puts a high value on, reenlistments bonuses have been generous, yet as the year draws to a close, the Army has announced that there will be cuts starting on Dec. 31. 2008.

The Army reduced the number jobs qualifying for a bonus from 88 to about 63, according to Master Sgt. Patrick Johnson, in an interview with Stars and Stripes newspaper. The decision also means that the total amount of bonuses that all Soldiers receive will be reduced as well.

Army officials say there is no connection between the move to slash bonuses and the global recession.

"We're trying to ramp down from the highs that we had in '05 and '06," Lt. Col. Thomas Erickson told Stars and Stripes. "It's an unpleasant subject when you're talking about what you've taken off, and really, at the end of the day, what really is driving the train is we have to live within our budget."

While this is certainly not welcome news for the Soldiers, there are still numerous benefits that Soldiers can look forward to when they stay in the Army. And one of the biggest bonuses for Soldiers is increased support and education opportunities for both Soldiers and Army spouses.

Last year Army leaders signed the Army Family Covenant as part of an effort to help support Army families and Army spouses as the Army dealt with the strain of long and frequent deployments. The Covenant aimed, in part, to address the education obstacles that Army spouses faced. In that vein, efforts have been made to help military spouse have more access to education and career opportunities.

Soldiers who stay in the Army also retain their eligibility for Army Tuition Assistance, which provides Soldiers with $4,500 a year in education funds that they can use to study at the school of their choice. Soldiers are free to enroll in accredited online educational programs in addition to traditional school programs.

And whenever we are speaking of Soldiers and benefits, it's important to stress that Soldiers do not make decisions about leaving or staying in the service based solely on money. Soldiers and their families believe deeply in the value of service to one's country; and though financial matters play a part, they are never the sole factor.

Bonus money and health care benefits can never explain why a Soldier chooses to spend two, three or sometimes four combat tours in the Middle East, often at the expense of seeing their children grow up. This is why more efforts like the Army Family Covenant and the expanded GI Bill benefits are so important - they in some small way express a country's gratitude for the sacrifices of these Soldiers.

During this Christmas season (and beyond) Americans can show their support for the Soldiers by sending cards, gifts and snacks to those stationed abroad. And they should remember that even with reduced bonuses, America's Soldiers will always step up and serve their nation.