diff --git a/apps/pom.xml b/apps/pom.xml
index 9ebc8eb67..5bc872064 100644
--- a/apps/pom.xml
+++ b/apps/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
     <artifactId>struts2-apps</artifactId>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
diff --git a/apps/rest-showcase/pom.xml b/apps/rest-showcase/pom.xml
index 40f1cf943..825c7bce7 100644
--- a/apps/rest-showcase/pom.xml
+++ b/apps/rest-showcase/pom.xml
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-apps</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-rest-showcase</artifactId>
     <packaging>war</packaging>
-    <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.5.3</version>
     <name>Struts 2 Rest Showcase Webapp</name>
     <description>Struts 2 Rest Showcase Example</description>
 
diff --git a/apps/showcase/pom.xml b/apps/showcase/pom.xml
index 3fc934ff1..d7ed82ec9 100644
--- a/apps/showcase/pom.xml
+++ b/apps/showcase/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-apps</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-showcase</artifactId>
diff --git a/assembly/pom.xml b/assembly/pom.xml
index 72792da92..7dabb99dd 100644
--- a/assembly/pom.xml
+++ b/assembly/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-assembly</artifactId>
diff --git a/bom/pom.xml b/bom/pom.xml
index b10e9f3f2..5865120c6 100644
--- a/bom/pom.xml
+++ b/bom/pom.xml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-bom</artifactId>
-    <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.5.3</version>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
 
     <name>Struts 2 Bill of Materials</name>
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     </licenses>
 
     <properties>
-        <struts-version.version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</struts-version.version>
+        <struts-version.version>2.5.3</struts-version.version>
     </properties>
 
     <build>
@@ -170,4 +170,8 @@
             </dependency>
         </dependencies>
     </dependencyManagement>
+
+  <scm>
+    <tag>STRUTS_2_5_3</tag>
+  </scm>
 </project>
diff --git a/bundles/admin/pom.xml b/bundles/admin/pom.xml
index 9e654b797..fc1792966 100644
--- a/bundles/admin/pom.xml
+++ b/bundles/admin/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-osgi-bundles</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-osgi-admin-bundle</artifactId>
diff --git a/bundles/demo/pom.xml b/bundles/demo/pom.xml
index 09f11b467..b35b2c26c 100644
--- a/bundles/demo/pom.xml
+++ b/bundles/demo/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-osgi-bundles</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-osgi-demo-bundle</artifactId>
diff --git a/bundles/pom.xml b/bundles/pom.xml
index d3323a92c..491854346 100755
--- a/bundles/pom.xml
+++ b/bundles/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-osgi-bundles</artifactId>
diff --git a/core/pom.xml b/core/pom.xml
index 01518c336..75559447a 100644
--- a/core/pom.xml
+++ b/core/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
     <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
     <packaging>jar</packaging>
diff --git a/plugins/bean-validation/pom.xml b/plugins/bean-validation/pom.xml
index 1afcb90bf..8ac046750 100644
--- a/plugins/bean-validation/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/bean-validation/pom.xml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/plugins/cdi/pom.xml b/plugins/cdi/pom.xml
index a9449b63d..143502909 100644
--- a/plugins/cdi/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/cdi/pom.xml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-cdi-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/config-browser/pom.xml b/plugins/config-browser/pom.xml
index 062ea64cc..43f4168b0 100644
--- a/plugins/config-browser/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/config-browser/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-config-browser-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/convention/pom.xml b/plugins/convention/pom.xml
index 80ca8cb3f..a9807cc6e 100644
--- a/plugins/convention/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/convention/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-convention-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/dwr/pom.xml b/plugins/dwr/pom.xml
index 48a835af9..dc9a14f28 100644
--- a/plugins/dwr/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/dwr/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-dwr-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/embeddedjsp/pom.xml b/plugins/embeddedjsp/pom.xml
index bc5ea7c37..159b80617 100644
--- a/plugins/embeddedjsp/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/embeddedjsp/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-embeddedjsp-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/gxp/pom.xml b/plugins/gxp/pom.xml
index 42564ff33..dcc512753 100644
--- a/plugins/gxp/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/gxp/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-gxp-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/jasperreports/pom.xml b/plugins/jasperreports/pom.xml
index 8a01bbb35..d5da54746 100644
--- a/plugins/jasperreports/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/jasperreports/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-jasperreports-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/javatemplates/pom.xml b/plugins/javatemplates/pom.xml
index 133747730..dc31f6a2e 100644
--- a/plugins/javatemplates/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/javatemplates/pom.xml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-javatemplates-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/jfreechart/pom.xml b/plugins/jfreechart/pom.xml
index b3758ef71..06563e131 100644
--- a/plugins/jfreechart/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/jfreechart/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
    </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-jfreechart-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/json/pom.xml b/plugins/json/pom.xml
index 3b48dc940..31133d361 100644
--- a/plugins/json/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/json/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-json-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/junit/pom.xml b/plugins/junit/pom.xml
index 1c2fd4748..182416651 100644
--- a/plugins/junit/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/junit/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-junit-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/osgi/pom.xml b/plugins/osgi/pom.xml
index 027c73899..2eff5e302 100644
--- a/plugins/osgi/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/osgi/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-osgi-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/oval/pom.xml b/plugins/oval/pom.xml
index 1b61d37fd..ac8d62270 100644
--- a/plugins/oval/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/oval/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-oval-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/pell-multipart/pom.xml b/plugins/pell-multipart/pom.xml
index 2d5419c26..20987298e 100644
--- a/plugins/pell-multipart/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/pell-multipart/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-pell-multipart-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/plexus/pom.xml b/plugins/plexus/pom.xml
index bf7fdfffe..7bce06aea 100644
--- a/plugins/plexus/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/plexus/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-plexus-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/pom.xml b/plugins/pom.xml
index 8d52c2424..dc3611bd1 100644
--- a/plugins/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/portlet-tiles/pom.xml b/plugins/portlet-tiles/pom.xml
index f586fd1e1..e98b573e6 100644
--- a/plugins/portlet-tiles/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/portlet-tiles/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-portlet-tiles-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/portlet/pom.xml b/plugins/portlet/pom.xml
index 320fdb0e7..1c29b0902 100644
--- a/plugins/portlet/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/portlet/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-portlet-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/rest/pom.xml b/plugins/rest/pom.xml
index 68e388748..0f670af8a 100644
--- a/plugins/rest/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/rest/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-rest-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/sitegraph/pom.xml b/plugins/sitegraph/pom.xml
index dc516d097..dcfda55ab 100644
--- a/plugins/sitegraph/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/sitegraph/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-sitegraph-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/sitemesh/pom.xml b/plugins/sitemesh/pom.xml
index b322ffb93..68c26b425 100644
--- a/plugins/sitemesh/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/sitemesh/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-sitemesh-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/spring/pom.xml b/plugins/spring/pom.xml
index 43fe50260..f4017c069 100644
--- a/plugins/spring/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/spring/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-spring-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/testng/pom.xml b/plugins/testng/pom.xml
index 6826c775e..c0f3db507 100644
--- a/plugins/testng/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/testng/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-testng-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/plugins/tiles/pom.xml b/plugins/tiles/pom.xml
index a580f8ac4..a3880044e 100644
--- a/plugins/tiles/pom.xml
+++ b/plugins/tiles/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
         <artifactId>struts2-plugins</artifactId>
-        <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.5.3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>struts2-tiles-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index d3610a675..1f6cff5b2 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>struts2-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>2.5.3-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.5.3</version>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
     <name>Struts 2</name>
     <url>http://struts.apache.org/</url>
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
         <connection>scm:git:git://git.apache.org/struts.git</connection>
         <developerConnection>scm:git:https://git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf/struts.git</developerConnection>
         <url>http://git.apache.org/struts.git</url>
-        <tag>HEAD</tag>
+        <tag>STRUTS_2_5_3</tag>
     </scm>
 
     <issueManagement>