A major bureaucratic reform has taken place within the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), affecting the spiritual sphere of the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated the removal of 180 religious denominations from the official registry, deeming the old system impractical and cumbersome. This decision radically changes the approach to tracking the religious affiliation of service members and even the appearance of the clergy.
Fighting Bureaucracy for Efficiency
The predecessor to the new system was overloaded: chapels were forced to navigate a huge number of religious codes, many of which were "dead" — they remained empty for years as no military personnel listed them as their faith. According to Hegseth, the overwhelming majority of soldiers traditionally use only six main religious codes.
In a memo, Deputy Defense Secretary Anthony Tata explained that reducing the list is necessary to improve the work of the Department of Labor and optimize processes. The new list, which includes major world religions and the largest denominations, reflects the real needs of the personnel.
"The new list will provide chaplains with clear and easily accessible information that will allow them to better anticipate the needs of service members for religious support and conduct activities consistent with the personal faith and practices of the soldiers," Tata noted.
Spiritual Rank Above Military Rank
The reform affected not only statistics but also the visual identification of the clergy. The Pentagon issued an order requiring active chaplains to change their insignia. Now, on the uniform, priority is given to religious symbols rather than military ranks.
Pete Hegseth justified this ideologically, stating that the spiritual mission must come first. "A chaplain is, first and foremost, a chaplain, and only then an officer. This change is a visual reflection of this fact," the head of the department emphasized.
Parallels with the Situation in Ukraine
Against the backdrop of reforms in the US, the issue of military chaplaincy is becoming relevant in other countries as well. In particular, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has expressed its intention to replenish the ranks of military chaplains, responding to the greater need of Ukrainian warriors for spiritual support.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has also made changes to the Regulations on the issuance of a mandate for the right to carry out military chaplaincy activities. Now, candidates are given six months instead of the previous three to sign a contract, which should simplify the process of taking office.