Can I put Satanist as my religious preference on my dog tags?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 19:36:06 -0400

Religion, dog tags

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 11:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:26:08 -0400

PV2 Brunmeier,

The current Army policy governing the wear and appearance of identification tags is AR 600-8-14. As such, there is no defined list of "approved religions," as I assume this would set the precedent that the US Army's stance is to support one over the other.

Therefore, I will say you can, but you should also ensure that you go through your S1 or Orderly Room to update your ERB to reflect what is on your tags, as per the AR:

(4) Line 4. Religious preference. Spell this out when possible (the example shown in figures 2–1 and 2–2 is used to set forth a pattern for guidance). If the religious preference is incorrect, the Soldier must update the personnel system of record.

Personally, my records and my tags read: Atheist. For a year or so when I was a Specialist, they read "Jedi."

Bottom line is that the Army and the government cannot tell you what to believe, nor should they try. This is reflected in the lack of any specific guidance governing what religion can or cannot go on your dog tags.

Good luck.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Mar 21 at 2018 11:38 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:38:30 -0400

You can probably put whatever on your dog tags. Doesn't mean they'd adhere to it. I've wanted Roman Catholic and they listed me as "No Preference".

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Mar 21 at 2018 11:40 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:40:21 -0400

You can put anything. I actually had a lot of fun getting all of my privates to put fun stuff as their religions once (e.g. O.G., Jedi Master, Sith Lord, Pastafarian). My last set of dog tags made at SRP said "Badass" as my religion. The government cannot set boundaries as to what is and is not a religion.

Response by Kathleen Celata made Mar 22 at 2018 12:06 AM

Kathleen Celata — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 00:06:50 -0400

As one of the purposes is to identify someone who may want religious support in case of severe injury I'm not sure if you would want them to send you Satan in the field? It's be really nasty if that entailed sending you across enemy lines....

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 12:13 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 00:13:06 -0400

You can put whatever you want!

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 22 at 2018 12:21 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 00:21:19 -0400

Then you have to go see the Chaplain

Response by CW3 Jeff Held made Mar 22 at 2018 12:28 AM

CW3 Jeff Held — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 00:28:53 -0400

If you are just being a prankster then get a set of tags for that purpose. But if you are joking have a set you will wear at all other times. If you are joking, would it be worth it to embarrass / humiliate your NOK or fellow soldiers if you took one and you had the joke set on you?

FWIT; I could care less what religion you associate with. I only hope you would not do anything that would discredit your family, your unit, or yourself - just for the sake of being able to put whatever you want on your tags.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 22 at 2018 7:24 AM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 07:24:41 -0400

I have seen many things on (DOG TAGS) Identifications tags, you can put whatever your ass can handle and whatever negative attention you can stand. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, do you need negative attention just for shits and giggles or are there more important things to deal with.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 10:41 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 10:41:45 -0400

I had agnostic listed and mine ended up saying CHR - Non Denom. As others here have said, make sure you get your records to reflect and if that is truly your religion, list it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 11:45 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:45:59 -0400

You can.
I would not recommend it.
Once discovered, you are sure to get blowback.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 11:52 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:52:14 -0400

Funny that I was the '666th' view on this post...

Anyway... the whole reason for having a religious preference listed on your dog tags is so if you get killed or significantly wounded/ likely dying in combat or in the field, whatever personnel may be present-- a chaplain is best or even just your buddies-- can honor what 'last rites' would traditionally be associated with that religion to the best of their understanding. (I air-quote 'last rites' because I know Catholics have them-- basically prayers you say over someone you know to be dying before they actually die. I don't personally know if other religions have something like that.)

If you want to do it as a joke-- I would seriously think twice about it. While no one would ever have to know or care, it is disrespectful to all of those who have had a 'need' for their religious preference to be known in that type of environment (basically those that have died for your right to be an a**hole) to make light of the purpose for stating a religious preference on dog tags.

If you are legitimately a Satanist-- okay. Go for it.
If you are an atheist-- say that. Even if you are among who I call the 'militant atheists' who thinks religious people are stupid for being so and claim that the sight of any symbol of religion is somehow harmful to you or violating your rights to the point of filing lawsuits with the ACLU to have WWI memorials torn down if they depict a cross-- just say 'atheist'. Insulting others' religions just because you don't happen to believe in them is likewise disrespectful.

(Not attributing the preceding paragraphs to you necessarily... more of an 'if the shoe fits' thing.)

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 22 at 2018 1:43 PM

SPC David Willis — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:43:40 -0400

If you truly believe in that religion put it on there. Our predecessors didn't fight wars so the government could dictate what religion you were allowed to put on your dog tags. I wouldn't recommend ever putting any jokes on your tags or anything like that but if you can answer that yes that's my actual religion no one will ever be able to do anything more than give you a hard time over it.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 2:02 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 14:02:40 -0400

Funny joke, clickbait, whatever. I guess you could get a set with whatever you want on it. Good luck with a Chaplain to administer your Last Rights should the need arise, though. I guess your pals could douse you in MOGAS and torch you while still breathing, if that would bring you comfort.

Response by SFC Christopher Taggart made Mar 22 at 2018 2:46 PM

SFC Christopher Taggart — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 14:46:58 -0400

PV2 Brunmeier, I'd love to hear your reasons why? To shock the Chaplain? Because like doctors, lawyers, and your mom & dad...they've seen and heard it all. You aren't the first kid or last to come up with that idea.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 22 at 2018 3:16 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 15:16:56 -0400

People are known to have Athiest put on, or Wiccan.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 22 at 2018 4:55 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 16:55:37 -0400

Are you legitimately a Satanist? If so... go for it, and best wishes

If you aren't... go for it and STFB for being a self identifying "smart-ass."

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Mar 22 at 2018 5:05 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:05:38 -0400

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member whatever floats your boat

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 22 at 2018 5:12 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:12:21 -0400

If you're wounded they will conjure a Demon to send you to Hell

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 5:19 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:19:25 -0400

I don't see why not.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 22 at 2018 5:27 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:27:48 -0400

As far as I know, tho there is qualifications for headstones. But what the heck, they can just burn you and throw the ashes in the burn pit.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Mar 22 at 2018 5:49 PM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:49:44 -0400

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member I hope you realize this that a crowd will cheer you on in whatever, but remember your choice is your free will for a lifetime. And secretly those who jeer you on are avoiding serious, meaningful association with you. Best to you.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 11:43 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 23:43:55 -0400

I believe they allow Jedi now.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Mar 23 at 2018 5:52 AM

SSG Michael Hartsfield — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 05:52:10 -0400

The short answer? Yes, you can.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2018 10:54 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:54:02 -0400

Listen here, you can believe in a rock laying on the ground in front of you or whatever but common, don't put that Satan stuff on your dog tags man, if shit hits the fan and a Chaplain has to look at that he or she will not know how to approach that , put UNKNOWN or NO PREFERENCE, that way they can do their thing and your sole will go to where ever you want it to go. At that point you're gone, they are in a hurry to move on to others or whatever so do me a favor and let them decide what to say. I personally lost my faith a long time ago but my dog tags say PROTESTANT so that my wife and whoever else is on the same page as far as religious believes go so I leave that decision making to them.

Response by PFC Jim Wheeler made Mar 23 at 2018 3:25 PM

PFC Jim Wheeler — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 15:25:33 -0400

You can put Jedi on them, so it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 24 at 2018 12:14 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 00:14:22 -0400

The article on AKO says there is no,official list, but this 2017 DOD memo says different.

http://americanhumanist.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Faith-and-Belief-Codes-for-Reporting-Personnel-Data-of-Service-Members.pdf

https://www.army.mil/article/123034/whats_on_your_dog_tag

Faith-and-Belief-Codes-for-Reporting-Personnel-Data-of-Service-Members.pdf

Response by Mike Arienti made Oct 12 at 2018 3:41 PM

Mike Arienti — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 15:41:59 -0400

I don't see why not. There's no regulated list of "approved" religions for dog tags, as that would be government getting involved in religion.