https://ictnews.org/news/department-of-defense-removes-native-american-religion-distinction-groups-as-other/
QuoteDepartment of Defense removes Native American Religion distinction, groups as 'other'
A list of recognized religion codes used by military chaplains to aid service members has been reduced from over 200 to just 31 Amelia Schafer ICT
The U.S. Department of Defense drastically reduced the number of recognized religions it observes from roughly 211 to just 31, following a memorandum issued by the Under Secretary of War, Elbridge A. Colby, and signed by Anthony Tata on May 20.
Native American religion, a term used to classify traditional Indigenous faiths, was among the 180 recognized faiths removed from a list of codes used by the Department of Defense. Religious Affiliation Codes are used in the creation of "dog tags" worn by active duty members as well as given to military chaplains to aid them in providing religious support needs. Aside from dog tags, religious information is used in the creation of headstones for service members.
The removal of a distinct code for Native American faiths does not mean Native religious practices will no longer be protected or recognized, it just means there is no separate distinct category to select, grouping them instead with all "other" category religions.
It's unclear if this move is a violation of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act as the religion itself will still technically be recognized through the "other" category, just not in the form of a distinct, separate category. What could happen is a potential impact to the availability of tailored religion-specific resources from chaplains, though that aspect is also uncertain at this point.
The removal of a distinct Native American religious code falls in stark contrast to the overwhelming number of American Indian and Alaska Native service members, who serve at five times the national average and have served in every major conflict for over 200 years.
The distinctions removal also means that Native Americans are once again placed in the "other" category, said Frances Dupris, a Sicangu Lakota/Northern Arapaho veteran who served 24 years in the Air Force. Dupris was a United States Air Force Master Sargent.
Also reported here, from a Native American Point of View:
https://www.buffalosfire.com/the-daily-spark/defense-department-removes-native-american-religion-code