Posted on Mar 4, 2014
What are the authorized religions on ID (dog) tags?
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I am aware there is a list of 'approved' religious preferences for your official records, AR 680-29 Chapter 1, Section 1, Table 1-68, however I could not find anything official for the ID Tag. I know the wear of the ID Tag is covered in AR 670-1, Section 1, Chapter 1, 1-16 Wear of Identification tags and security badges. I just assumed you could only have on your ID Tags what is on your ERB, and we know what assuming can get you. I have talked to my Chaplain Assistant who talked to my Chaplain as well as done a bunch of INET searching and can't find anything official on this. Only thing I have found is statements by groups and individuals that the ID Tag is not an 'official' military document and you can put whatever you want on it. Need some clarification, help on this subject please.
Regulation
Religion
Dog Tags
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 27
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I never gave a damn what the regulations say about what we put on our dog tags. Mine say PASTAFARIAN and I am damn proud of it! They should say CALL A MEDIC more than anything else. Why should anyone be limited by what they decide their faith is? When I joined, they made me put no religious preference on there. That's not what an atheist is. It simply isn't.<br><br>BTW, I am a minister of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster :D<br>
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LTC (Join to see)
Atheist has been approved for a very long time, although many in authority were and are not aware of that.
Back in 1984 I had to fight to get Atheist on my enlistment documents and dog tags. People didn't understand my objection to the then-default "No Pref", which at death is translated to "Unspecified Denomination Christian".
I did have my Atheist enlistment and dog tags in 1984, after many push-ups and a trip to see the commander at basic training.
Back in 1984 I had to fight to get Atheist on my enlistment documents and dog tags. People didn't understand my objection to the then-default "No Pref", which at death is translated to "Unspecified Denomination Christian".
I did have my Atheist enlistment and dog tags in 1984, after many push-ups and a trip to see the commander at basic training.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
MAJ Ballinger according to the Chaplain Corps both in San Antonio and Germany that has been what I have been told.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Sir, As someone who has spent the last 10 years in both stateside, Germany and Deployed Hospitals I have never had a Chaplain ask to see my patients Dog Tags. They normally just go and talk to our patients, nothing to do with Religion at first just someone to listen and talk to. After the conversation has been going on for a while they will ask the Soldier, Airmen, Seamen or Marine if they want to pray. If the patient is unconscious they will normally go pray with the family members or just look at the chart for the Religion and pray at the bedside. The Religion preference that we put in the chart we never get from their Dog Tags either, we pull it from their medical records.
As for Dog Tags, my previous statement above is from talking to Chaplains at all these hospitals in the past 10 years. If you want no religious services you can put Atheist, or None on your Dog Tags.
As for Dog Tags, my previous statement above is from talking to Chaplains at all these hospitals in the past 10 years. If you want no religious services you can put Atheist, or None on your Dog Tags.
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CPT Matthew Lee
Here is a March 2017 memorandum that has religious codes listed.
http://americanhumanist.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Faith-and-Belief-Codes-for-Reporting-Personnel-Data-of-Service-Members.pdf
Here is a congressional report.
https://media.defense.gov/2004/Nov/10/ [login to see] /-1/-1/1/Final_DoD%20Chaplain%20Program.pdf
After all that I think I'm more confused.
http://americanhumanist.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Faith-and-Belief-Codes-for-Reporting-Personnel-Data-of-Service-Members.pdf
Here is a congressional report.
https://media.defense.gov/2004/Nov/10/ [login to see] /-1/-1/1/Final_DoD%20Chaplain%20Program.pdf
After all that I think I'm more confused.
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I wish they had room to put on mine what my religion actually is:
"I believe in a creator, but I do not want to hear about yours or tell you about mine because this is a personal thing to me, so screw off!"
Or something to that sentiment. I understand that having the religion on the tags is generally for last rites, but its still a personal thing and I do not understand why people need to make it so "in your face" sometimes.
"I believe in a creator, but I do not want to hear about yours or tell you about mine because this is a personal thing to me, so screw off!"
Or something to that sentiment. I understand that having the religion on the tags is generally for last rites, but its still a personal thing and I do not understand why people need to make it so "in your face" sometimes.
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PO1 Roger Waddle
"in youre face" simple question for most , but I will bet if you stay in long enough you will find a religon and who knows you may even have enough courage to display it.
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Talked to a Chaplain the other day and he said that for the ERB you can put Data Code: 75 which is "Other Religions" to be official on your ERB. Then on your Dog Tags you can put whatever religion that isn't on the list. The Religious coding is to tell the medical staff what Chaplain, Minister, etc to get for you for last rites, burial procedures, etc. The Army however can't tell you that you can't be a specific Religion, they just might not have the resources to support your choice.
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