Faith
Faith Grows in U.S. Military Ranks
Faith Facts
- The percentage of U.S. military personnel attending church at least weekly rose from 21% in 2010-2012 to 28% in 2022-2024.
- 44% of active-duty service members now say religion is “very important” in their lives, an increase from 39% a decade ago.
- In contrast, only 23% of civilians attend church at least weekly, and just 30% consider religion very important.
Religious commitment is rising among America’s service members, even as broader culture drifts toward secularism. This trend highlights the timeless role of faith and devotion within our military ranks.
Professor Ryan Burge noted that military members ages 18–45 are now twice as likely as civilians to attend church weekly.
“Military folks have always been more religiously active than other Americans, and the devotion of military members has gone up while the rest of the population has secularized.”
These patterns reflect the strong faith-based values often found in states that provide many military volunteers, including Alabama and South Carolina.
“The military has an easier time recruiting in areas of the country that tend to lean right on Election Day,” Burge explained.
Christian identity remains strong, with nearly 70% of the armed forces identifying as Christian. The military continues to exemplify America’s heritage of faith, service, and patriotism—values foundational to both family and country.
Stay informed on how faith shapes our nation’s heroes and uplifts the moral fabric of our land.