Pentagon to Allow Religious Symbols on Commercial Dog Tags: Retroactive Change to 2013

The "Religious Insignia on Dog Tags Act" mandates the Secretary of Defense to update regulations, allowing licensed vendors to combine religious symbols with Department of Defense trademarks on commercial identification tags. This isn't just a future change—it's retroactive to September 13, 2013.

Tagging Tradition: What's Changing?

The core of the bill, found in SEC. 2, is a direct order to the Pentagon: update the rulebook within 90 days. This update specifically permits the inclusion of religious insignia on commercially sold dog tags that already feature DoD trademarks. Think of a vendor who's licensed to sell tags with the Marine Corps emblem; now, they can also include a cross, Star of David, or other religious symbol on the same tag, if requested.

Real-World Rollout: Who Benefits, Who Pays?

For service members, this means a new way to express personal faith on an item many wear daily. A soldier, for example, could now have a dog tag that reflects both their military branch and their religious affiliation. Licensed vendors also gain a broader market—they can offer a wider range of customized products, potentially boosting sales. The retroactive clause to 2013 is important. Basically, any sales of tags with religious symbols that might have been questionable under the old rules are now officially okay, going back nearly a decade.

Potential Hurdles

While the bill expands options for personal expression, there are a few practical points to consider. For example, what happens if a vendor starts producing tags with symbols considered offensive or inappropriate by some? The bill doesn't spell out specific guidelines for what constitutes an acceptable religious symbol, which may mean more rules, and oversight, are on the way. Also, while the retroactive application to 2013 clears up past sales, it might also open the door to legal debates about what was or wasn't allowed in the past.