Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1300.17
February 10, 2009
Incorporating Change 1, Effective January 22, 2014
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the Military Services
References: (a) DoD Directive 1300.17, “Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the
Military Services,” February 3, 1988 (hereby cancelled)
(b) DoD Directive 5124.02, “Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness (USD(P&R)),” June 23, 2008
(c) DoD Instruction 1000.29 “DoD Civil Liberties Program,” May 17, 2012
(d) Public Law 112-239, “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2013,” December 18, 2012, as amended
(e) Section 2000bb-1 of Title 42, United States Code
(f) DoD Instruction 5025.01, “DoD Directives Program,” September 26, 2012,
as amended
(g) Section 774 and chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:
a. Reissues Reference (a) as a DoD Instruction in accordance with the authority in Reference
(b).
b. Prescribes policy, procedures, and responsibilities for the accommodation of religious
practices in the Military Services.
2. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE
a. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the
Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field
Activities, and all other organizational entities within the Department of Defense DoD (hereafter
referred to collectively as the “DoD Components”).
b. The policies, procedures, and definitions prescribed herein apply solely to the
accommodation of religious practices in the Military Services and in no other context.
