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 ...
“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.
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)
“No tats”
You’d lose 3/4 of your fighting force.
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.
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.
Dey do wat dey do.
Shoulda went marines. Company, Corps, God, Country.
The issue would have stopped at Company.
Camel nose in the tent...
Got no problems with Sikh’s but....
Is he allowed to carry his religiously required kirpan dagger?
The rules were there for safety reasons.
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.
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.
Hygiene too, keeps lice down.
” 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.
The Armed Forces are not a social experiment.
Comply or get out.
I have never understood why God hates the top of the human head.
The Army no-beard rule was a social experiment.
Are are Gurkhas part of the Sikhs clan?
Agree.
We’re lucky to have them.
Big, big mistake!!!
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