06/05/2026
A Statement from the Covenant of the Goddess:
The Covenant of the Goddess is concerned by reports that the Department of Defense has significantly reduced the number of recognized religious affiliation codes available to service members, resulting in the removal of Pagan, Wiccan, Druid, Heathen, Asatru, and many other minority religious designations. According to public reporting, the number of available codes has been reduced from more than 200 to approximately 31.
For decades, members of Pagan and Earth-centered traditions have served honorably in every branch of the United States military. Their service has contributed to the gradual recognition of religious diversity within the armed forces, including the addition of Pagan, Wiccan, Druid, Heathen, and related religious affiliation codes in recent years.
The Covenant of the Goddess believes that our service members must receive spiritual guidance consistent with their faith, whether belief or non-belief. The accurate recognition of an individual's sincerely held religious beliefs is not merely an administrative matter. Religious affiliation data helps ensure that military leaders understand the diverse communities they serve and can make informed decisions regarding religious accommodation, pastoral care, end-of-life matters, and the spiritual well-being of service members and their families.
We are particularly concerned that the removal of minority faith designations may have the unintended effect of rendering those communities invisible within official records. Service members should not be forced to choose between misidentifying their faith, selecting a broad category that does not reflect their beliefs, or appearing to have no religious affiliation at all.
The Covenant therefore calls upon the Department of Defense to provide greater transparency regarding the reasons for these changes, how affected service members will be represented within military records, and what measures will be taken to ensure that members of minority faith traditions continue to receive equal consideration and support.
Religious liberty is among the fundamental values that American service members swear to defend. That commitment should extend equally to all faiths, including those whose numbers may be small but whose members serve with the same dedication and sacrifice as any other American.
The Covenant of the Goddess remains committed to supporting Pagan military personnel, veterans, chaplains, and their families, and to working constructively with military and governmental institutions to promote religious freedom and equal treatment for all.
