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Air Force grants Sikh airman religious accommodation to wear turban, beard
Yahoo ^ | 06/10/2019 | Mahira Dayal

Posted on 06/10/2019 3:49:38 PM PDT by devane617

The Air Force granted a religious accommodation to allow a Sikh man to become the first active-duty airman to wear a turban, beard and unshorn hair.

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 2pathetic4words; airforce; military; uniform
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To: Innovative

“here was a reason to keep people in the military wearing short hair, no head covering and no facial hair.”

The “no facial hair” rule came about in WWI because of gas masks. Still an issue, theoretically, but new masks seal a 2-4mm beard just fine. Certain positions in the Navy (e.g., submariners) generally didn’t have the rule, at all.

I’m Israeli, so obviously I get a pass on a yarmulke, but many brave American soldiers wear them, as well.


21 posted on 06/10/2019 4:15:14 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: devane617

That pesky First Amendment.

Sikhs served with turban and beards up until the 1980s when the regs against beards were renewed.

After that the the Army often waived the no-beard rules for Sikhs on a case by case basis.

In 2017 (after losing a lawsuit) the Army updated regs on grooming and appearances to make it easier to allow Sikh soldiers and Muslim women to wear religious coverings, and for Sikh men to keep their beards (they just have to ask)


22 posted on 06/10/2019 4:15:38 PM PDT by 13foxtrot
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To: Cobra64

“No tats”

You’d lose 3/4 of your fighting force.


23 posted on 06/10/2019 4:16:09 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: plain talk

Already allowed in the Army upon request.

Generally, there is no legal reason not allow them. But in cases where the Army can show a good reason to deny the request, they can.


24 posted on 06/10/2019 4:18:22 PM PDT by 13foxtrot
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To: BenLurkin

Ghurkas are from Nepal. They don’t generally wear turbans. They are also among the most bad-ass of ALL humans on this planet when it comes to killing bad guys. I have no idea if there are Ghurkas in any branch of the U.S. military, but I’d welcome them without question.


25 posted on 06/10/2019 4:20:25 PM PDT by hoagy62 (America Supreme!)
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To: devane617
As a 24-year veteran, am torn somewhat about this, but Sikhs are loyal, excellent fighters (they served in WWI and WWII, including in Italy), and overall make good, assimilated American citizens. The gas mask seal issue has been shown to be incorrect (don't know about O2 masks). This short video is interesting:

https://youtu.be/Oa-XV6qLT2A

26 posted on 06/10/2019 4:21:10 PM PDT by nickedknack
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To: devane617

Dey do wat dey do.

Shoulda went marines. Company, Corps, God, Country.

The issue would have stopped at Company.


27 posted on 06/10/2019 4:22:13 PM PDT by know.your.why
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To: devane617

Camel nose in the tent...

Got no problems with Sikh’s but....


28 posted on 06/10/2019 4:25:01 PM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0ndRzaz2o)
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To: devane617

Is he allowed to carry his religiously required kirpan dagger?


29 posted on 06/10/2019 4:26:22 PM PDT by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: devane617

The rules were there for safety reasons.


30 posted on 06/10/2019 4:26:48 PM PDT by bgill (when you badmouth women, you are badmouthing your mama and the good women on FR)
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To: devane617

I have been around the military (Army) since I was born in 1947. The first time that I remember an exception for a Sikh soldier was in the sixties during the draft era. The biggest issue that I recall about that dust up revolved around how to seal the protective mask. ho hum.


31 posted on 06/10/2019 4:31:51 PM PDT by centurion316
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To: Gay State Conservative

You both made excellent points and are totally correct.

People in the Armed Forces need to accommodate themselves to the rules, not the other way around.


32 posted on 06/10/2019 4:33:25 PM PDT by Innovative
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To: bgill

Hygiene too, keeps lice down.


33 posted on 06/10/2019 4:35:03 PM PDT by skepsel
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To: Viking2002

” A Grizzly Adams beard and Gene Simmons hairdo ain’t gonna help your situation if someone’s lobbing chemical weapons at you.”

No, nor if you’re in the fallout zone from a nuclear explosion.


34 posted on 06/10/2019 4:35:10 PM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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The Armed Forces are not a social experiment.

Comply or get out.


35 posted on 06/10/2019 4:35:31 PM PDT by Innovative
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To: devane617

I have never understood why God hates the top of the human head.


36 posted on 06/10/2019 4:37:33 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: Innovative

The Army no-beard rule was a social experiment.


37 posted on 06/10/2019 4:39:01 PM PDT by 13foxtrot
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To: CondorFlight

Are are Gurkhas part of the Sikhs clan?


38 posted on 06/10/2019 4:39:08 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: vmpolesov

Agree.
We’re lucky to have them.


39 posted on 06/10/2019 4:44:27 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: devane617

Big, big mistake!!!


40 posted on 06/10/2019 4:49:23 PM PDT by maxwellsmart_agent
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