The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/department-of-defense)
The Marine Corps has released an administrative message advising personnel of the Pentagon’s revised religious affiliation codes, requiring Marines to update their records by September 30 as minority faiths previously represented individually are consolidated into religious categories.
Following criticism over revised military faith codes, the Pentagon issued corrections as the Army rolled out new chaplain uniform policies, prompting renewed questions about representation, visibility, and support for Pagan and other minority faith communities.
An interfaith coalition of military chaplaincy endorsers, including Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary, is urging the Pentagon to restore eliminated religious affiliation codes and adopt a more transparent review process, arguing that accurate religious identification is vital to chaplaincy support, accommodation, and religious liberty for service members.
The Pentagon’s decision to eliminate more than 180 religious affiliation codes has prompted swift responses from Pagan organizations, veterans, and chaplaincy advocates who warn that reduced visibility can lead to reduced protections for minority faith communities.
The Department of Defense has reduced its recognized religious affiliation codes from more than 200 to just 31, eliminating Pagans, Asatru, Druidry, and Wicca, along with numerous other minority faiths and secular worldviews, in a move officials say will streamline chaplaincy support for service members.