FOR CHAPLAINS
RESOURCES
THE DUTY OF CHAPLAINS
When it comes to religious accommodations under U.S. Department of Defense policies, may they be for a beard or a medical procedure (including immunizations), the duty of a Chaplain consists solely in verifying “a firmly held religious belief”.
Under this policy, a Chaplain does not need to understand said religious beliefs, nor approve of them. This is meant to shield service members from bias and discrimination. Most Chaplains in the U.S. military are indeed of a Christian denomination, and thus, inherently biased and prejudiced against other religions, especially non-Abrahamic, as demonstrated by centuries of oppression and persecution of Pagans.
Photo by Spc. Doniel Kennedy 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
U.S. Army Maj. Brandon Schlecht, a chaplain assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, runs down a trail during the Norwegian Foot March, Feb. 7, 2025, on Fort Carson, Colorado
MEMORANDA FOR RECORD
A memorandum for record (“Religious Accommodation Request Requiring a Waiver to [Branch] Grooming Policies” or “Religious Accommodation Request Requiring a Waiver to [Branch] Immunization Policies” is issued to service members we assess as firmly holding religious beliefs within Forn Siðr.
In order for qualify for said memo, a service member must follow an extensive course (Forneskja course) and pass a challenging exam (with a significant failure rate), become an active member of Forn Siðr (Silver or above), and complete an interview and assessment with a Forn Siðr military liaison officer.
The issuance of a memorandum for record by Forn Siðr is therefore effectively verifying and demonstrating “a firmly held religious belief”.
LEGAL BASIS
Army Directive 2016-34 (Processing Religious Accommodations Request Requiring a Waiver to Army Uniform or Grooming Policies)
Title 42, United States Code, section 2000bb-1-4 (Religious Freedom Restoration Act)
Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 1300.17 (Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the Military Service), February 10, 2009, Incorporating Change 1, Effective January 22, 2014
Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 1300.17 (Religious Liberty in the Military Services), 1 September 2020
Milpersman 1730-020 (Immunization Exemptions for Religious Beliefs), August 15, 2020
Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 1300.17 (Religious Liberty in the Military Services), 1 September 2020
Title 42, United States Code, section 2000bb-1-4 (Religious Freedom Restoration Act)
NAVY SEAL 1, et al., Plaintiffs, v. JOSEPH R. BIDEN, et al., Defendants. United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. Navy SEALs 1-26 v. Biden, No. 22-10077 (5th Cir. 2022)
U.S. Navy SEALS 1-26 v. Biden, 4:22-cv-01236-O (N.D. Tex.)
ABOUT FORN SIÐR
Forn Siðr is a Norwegian religious NGO with the same status as The Church of Norway. It is registered in Norway under number 922 586 918. Registration details, including board information, are available from official Norwegian government public records.
Forn Siðr also owns the FORN SIDR trademark in Norway, as well as other countries, including the United States.
More information about our successful lawsuit in U.S. courts is available here.
