Posted on 01/22/2014 2:22:32 PM PST by SkyPilot
The Pentagon will become more accommodating to individuals’ respective religions, according to updated instruction released today.
A new Pentagon policy states that military departments will accommodate religious requests from individual service members unless a request would interfere with military readiness, a mission, unit cohesion, or good order and discipline.
This would include religious clothing, facial hair, religious tattoos and piercings. The changes come after a Sikh American Army major complained to congressional staffers that fellow Sikhs should be able to wear a turban or maintain a beard while in uniform.
Each request will be decided on a case-by-case basis, and some decisions can be made by immediate commanders, while others will have to be referred back to their respective military service.
The new policy is intended to reduce the instances and perception of discrimination toward those whose religious expressions are less familiar to the command, said Pentagon spokesman Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nathan J. Christiansen.
"The Department of Defense places a high value on the rights of members of the military services to observe the tenets of their respective religions and the rights of others to their own religious beliefs," "including the right to hold no beliefs,"
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
I’ve got no problem with Sikhs....but this ruling doesn’t make any sense to me.
The stumbling block? The gas mask.
Our military men used to have beards - just about every civil war general sported one. But that all changed with World War I. Mustard gas was being used, and soldiers had to put masks on their faces - and the masks had to seal well to the face. Nothing has changed, and the same is true today.
WWI also was so industrialized, and each side was able to bring so many men to the battles, that lice and other critters became a major problem - so short hair also became a requirement.
So how is a Sikh going to put on his gas mask? If I recall, at least once a year we had to go through the gas tent, demonstrate we could put the thing on in time, etc. Will the Sikh’s be exempt from this training?
“The Department of Defense places a high value on the rights of members of the military services to observe the tenets of their respective religions....”
.
With the exception of Christians.
Pagans, wicca, satanists, atheists, and tribal secular humanists.
“So how is a Sikh going to put on his gas mask?”
That’s an excellent question that I honestly couldn’t answer. There are Sikhs in the British army. I wonder how they’ve handled the gas mask issue - presuming they have similar mask standards as we do. Don’t our submariner and special forces guys also grow beards? I wonder how the gas mask thing works for them? It would be interesting to know. In any event, Sikhs have been fighting Islamic terrorists for many centuries and would be an asset to the US military if these issues could be worked out.
Yes, special forces do grow beards. But frankly they aren’t a candidate for being gased. Gas would be used on large, concentrated groups of troops...so a lone warrior wandering around Afghanistan wouldn’t be a likely target. I doubt those guys even carry gas masks with them.
I don’t know how the British Sikhs handle the gas mask.
The retards at the Pentagon tried this crap back in the 70s during one of their PC hug moments. It didn’t work out then either.
Its beyond insane but thats what its about. Letting the Muzzies do their thing. Wearing crosses will still somehow be inappropriate.
Religious beards!!!!! Now I wonder what religion that’s for!!!
“So how is a Sikh going to put on his gas mask?”
Better question to start with: are surgeons ever issued pro masks? The few times Sikhs have surfaced in the military in my memory, they’re always medical officers who have much needed skills in specializations such as specialized surgery. They can make more money elsewhere and they are often among the best in their profession. Why would a sensible person care about a beard and a hat if it means better care for our servicemembers?
A beard prevents a proper seal for a gas mask. Just sayin’.
Being in the military isn’t about the individual, or his religious beliefs or his preference for facial hair. In order to optimize unit cohesion the individual has to be subordinated as a whole, with the same haircuts, uniforms and privileges. All this will do is further separate people into individual cliques and cause resentment and charges of either favoritism or prejudice.
I don't have a problem with Sikhs, as they are generally up for killing muslims wherever they may be, but no, it's not a good idea to accommodate their dress. Military uniforms are, uh, uniform for a reason. It's a matter of discipline if nothing else. This will not help unit cohesion.
“Being in the military isn’t about the individual, or his religious beliefs or his preference for facial hair.”
In a regular unit, I mostly agree. Uniformity allows the most throughput and effective employment of force to fight and win our nation’s wars. In things like vascular surgery, uniformity is far less important than saving lives and limbs.
Active Duty ping.
Some of this was already true when I retired in 2002. I believe beards, separate rations, and some head coverings was the extent of it with the Army. I couldn’t tell you much about the other branches.
Gamecock might know.
You are right. I remember seeing a few Sikhs in uniform as far back as the 80s. this was somewhere in Washington DC, either when I was at the Pentagon or the DIA.
“This will not help unit cohesion.”
Point well taken, but again, the British army has allowed Sikhs in their ranks for over 100 years without any apparent cohesion problems. Assuming the exception is limited to Sikhs, why is it an issue for Americans, but not the British?
The bigger issue, of course, is that once you accomodate Sikhs, you’re suddenly accomodating everyone. No thanks.
I really think that's essentially the bottom line. Like I said before, I don't have issues with Sikhs because of their historical enthusiasm for killing muslims, but I think you're opening the door for some really dangerous stuff with this rule. Others mentioned issues with gas masks. I would figure that would be a show stopper in most ground units. Like others, I'd be interested in knowing how the Brits handled issues like that.
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