[rlmorel]

"...they were forced out of the US military in the 1980s, over demands that they shave and not wear their olive-drab turbans, and they were very unhappy about this discrimination..."

I would be astonished to learn that any Sikhs were serving in the US military general ranks anywhere in the 1980's while wearing turbans, beards and daggers.

If they were serving, I am certain they would have been clean shaven and not wearing turbans or carrying daggers. More likely, a group probably began pressuring the military to allow it, and when the military would not allow it, the Sikhs who WERE serving honorably were forced to make a choice by the very people lobbying to quit or no longer be considered a Sikh. Cast out unless they left the military.

But I could be mistaken. Can you provide any information on this?

[stormer]

Really? Here's a couple of captains:

And a bird colonel:

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

No, the Sikhs in the US military always wore turbans and had beards, along with the small ceremonial version of their dagger they kept in their pockets.

The US had Sikhs in the Special Forces as well as the regular army, and they preferred to be in combat arms, instead of combat support or combat service support. Their expulsion was rapid, because not a single one of them would give up their turban or beard.

[ansel12]

They were grandfathered in before 1986.

You have to be careful when these freepers start pushing the Sikh agenda against the American military.

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times - Monday, April 14, 2014
Only three of 500,000 active-duty and reserve Army troops are Sikhs.