---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 774"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "774"
heading: "Religious apparel: wearing while in uniform"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/774"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 45 — The Uniform"
---

# §774. Religious apparel: wearing while in uniform

- (a) **General Rule.—** Except as provided under [subsection (b)](#b), a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) may wear an item of religious apparel while wearing the uniform of the member’s armed force.
- (b) **Exceptions.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) may prohibit the wearing of an item of religious apparel—
  - (1) in circumstances with respect to which the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) determines that the wearing of the item would interfere with the performance of the member’s [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) duties; or
  - (2) if the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) determines, under regulations under [subsection (c)](#c), that the item of apparel is not neat and conservative.
- (c) **Regulations.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) shall prescribe regulations concerning the wearing of religious apparel by members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) under the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3)’s jurisdiction while the members are wearing the uniform. Such regulations shall be consistent with subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b).
- (d) **Religious Apparel Defined.—** In this section, the term “religious apparel” means apparel the wearing of which is part of the observance of the religious faith practiced by the member.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title V, § 508(a)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1086.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 774 was renumbered section 776 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Regulations

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title V, § 508(c), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1087, directed the Secretary concerned to prescribe the regulations required by subsec. (c) of this section not later than the end of the 120-day period beginning on Dec. 4, 1987.