DAFI52-201 governs religious freedom and religious accommodation in the Department of the Air Force.
View DAFI52-201 on armypubs.army.mil
It addresses accommodation factors, procedures, approval authorities, religious liberty inquiries, chaplain accommodations, and civilian employee accommodations. It requires documentation, reviews, and coordination for religious accommodation requests.
Applies to: This guidance is applicable to the Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and the United States Space Force.
The Department of the Air Force will approve a member’s request for religious accommodation unless the request would have a real (not theoretical) adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, good order, discipline, health or safety. (paragraph 2)
The accommodation request letter will include, at a minimum, the name, grade, DoD Identification number, faith group, unit, and specialty code of the Airman or Guardian; the nature of the accommodation requested; the religious basis for the request; a comment on the sincerity of the request; and the substantial burden on the member’s expression of religion (T-1). (paragraph 2)
Airmen and Guardians and organizations that receive external religious inquiries will forward the inquiry to the appropriate commander prior to responding to any non-federal entity. (T-1). (paragraph 1)
In accordance with DoD Instruction 1300.17, Religious Liberty in the Military Services, no Service member may require a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the chaplain, nor may any Service member discriminate or take any adverse personnel action on the basis of the refusal by the chaplain to comply with such requirements. (paragraph 9)
Supervisors should notify the unit commander of all requests by civilian employees for religious accommodation. Commanders should consider convening the Religious Resolution Team to assist the supervisor with a response to the request. Supervisors will consult at a minimum the Civilian Personnel Office prior to issuing a decision on the requested accommodation. (T-1).