Military plates

The identification plate, in the military context, is a small metal sheet that every soldier carries hanging from the neck by means of a chain or necklace, for which reason it is also informally known as dog plate, since it recalls the metal plates used in the collars of pets. Its main use is the identification of the soldier in case of being killed or injured, as well as the registration of the most important generic medical data that facilitate their treatment in case of being wounded in combat.

Its use is regulated by the vast majority of armed forces in the world, and the data recorded in it vary from country to country. They can carry the name of the military, a unique identification number, vaccination history, blood group or other information. They are usually made of corrosion-resistant metals, such as monel, aluminum or stainless steel, although in wartime any available metal has been used.

The number of sheets that are carried (usually one or two) also depends on the regulations of each country. As a general rule, when a single sheet is used, it can be easily broken into two parts and the data is recorded on both, while if two sheets are used, they are identical, and one of them hangs on a shorter chain, which It hangs in turn from the main chain. If the soldier dies on the battlefield in conditions that prevent his body from recovering immediately, the closest partner must retrieve one of the plates, if there are two, or break it in half if it has one. In this way, the body can be identified later, and the recovered part can be used to confirm the death.