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Published Sept. 25, 2026 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A chaplain assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing wears a religious insignia on his chest at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Aug. 19, 2026. Under Department of the Air Force guidance, effective June 15, 2026, chaplains transitioned to wearing religious insignia instead of officer rank on their Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms to remove visual barriers and increase approachability for Air Commandos. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashton Hamby) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The Department of the Air Force is updating its personnel data systems to align with the Department of Wars standardized list of Religious Affiliation Codes. Starting September 25, 2026, the Military Personnel Data System and associated accessions systems have transitioned away from legacy Faith and Belief Codes. Airmen and Guardians must take action to update their RAC in the Virtual Military Personnel Flight and certify their Record of Emergency Data is accurate. These mandatory actions must be completed by October 16, 2026, for active duty and November 9, 2026, for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. Airmen and Guardians who fail to update their RAC within this selection window will have their records automatically realigned according to an approved transition construct. Our commitment to the spiritual readiness and religious freedom of every Airman and Guardian remains steadfast, said Richard Anderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Transitioning to these standardized codes ensures our Chaplain Corps has the accurate demographic data they need to provide tailored resources and support to our Service members, while continuing to respect their individual convictions. When selecting a religious preference for identification tags (commonly known as dog tags), Airmen and Guardians are not limited to choosing from the standardized vMPF list. Members retain flexibility to specify their preference on their ID tags as they see fit. This transition is strictly an administrative measure. Standardizing the codes improves demographic awareness, helping DAF chaplains better understand the religious composition of their units and optimize resource planning. The change in data codes does not indicate, nor will it result in any reduction or alteration of chaplain services or religious support. U.S. Air Force Logo
