Pentagon’s New Religious Code System Leaves Native Traditions Unseen

Why removing a distinct religious code for Native American military service members will make their needs invisible

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Pentagon’s new religious code system leaves Native traditions unseen

When the Pentagon cut roughly 180 faiths from its religious affiliation codes, shrinking the list from more than 200 categories to 31 in May 2026, it folded "Native American religion" into the broader category of "other religion" - one of many faiths the change pushes out of the military's view.