Posted on 01/23/2014 12:55:43 AM PST by kingattax
The US military is easing its uniform rules to allow religious wear including turbans, skullcaps, beards and tattoos, officials have said.
Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Wiccan soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen can now request exemptions to strict military uniform and grooming policies.
Requests will be evaluated individually and can be denied if they hinder military readiness.
Previously, at least three Sikhs had won specific accommodation.
Sikh soldiers such as Army Cpt Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, photographed in 2010, may receive religious dispensations to wear head coverings and facial hair
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
We have become an EU member army...
And this started w the Army going all beret during Bush 43...
Actually the military has made religious exemptions forever. I had a guy in my Command who was Jewish and was able to wear his “cap” everyday for as long as he needed or wanted too. Also when we were on the ship, we ensured that Sailors were able to go to Church on Sunday mornings and not work during that time. This is nothing new.
I’m sure the wearing of crosses will be deemed a “hate crime,” punishable by UCMJ action.
WRONG! The Chaplains do wear a cross on their uniform.
Mine too. These guys are true Warriors and have a genetic dislike of all things Islam. I don’t have a problem with them at all. Would probably be my only exception, but all things have to fair and equal... BS.
From what I know of Wicca. . .the uniform is NO uniform. As in “naked”. Or, as my simpy-liberal Wiccan sister calls it, “skyclad”. . .
Throw away tradition you might as well throw away the institution.
FYI -
A former Marine operator-turned-entrepreneur has set out to honor a fallen comrade and raise money for wounded warriors with a new line of beard care products.
Stubble & ‘stache is the invention of Nick Karnaze, a former Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command captain, who started the company in 2012 after one of his closest battle buddies, Sgt. Justin Hansen, was killed in action in Afghanistan...
Yes. Muslim ones, specifically.
Correct, but I don't think we're talking about the Chaplain corps here...
They are fearsome warriors!
Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot
??
I’d lie to see him wear a protective mask with real gas and that crap.
The U.S. Navy has done quite well without “traditional” flogging or the “traditional” hot box for many years. When was the last time a soldier had to face the punishment of running a “ traditional” gauntlet between two lines of men with ram rods. Suppose you would support decimation because it was “traditional” at one time. When was the last time an officer of our army lead his troops into battle with his “traditional” sword. Head gear and beards, do not make a difference if the mans heart is in fighting. Why should we exclude Ghurkas, or Sikhs because of their personal beliefs. These men have a very long tradition of being some of the toughest fighting men in the world. We should welcome their service to the American people.
A Sikh is featured to quell qualms. They were used by a group called the Military Religion Freedom Foundation.
As this article by Chris Rodda, Senior Research Director for MRFF explains, the military had been protecting “belief” not the expression of belief. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/rep-fleming-ndaa-religiou_b_4461318.html)
The language of the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) (Section 533) had been:
“The Armed Forces shall accommodate the beliefs of a member of the armed forces reflecting the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the member and, in so far as practicable, may not use such beliefs as the basis of any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment
2014 NDAA changed it to require the US military to accommodate religious expression:
In accordance with section 533(a)(1) of Public Law 112-239... unless it could have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, and good order and discipline, the Military Departments will accommodate individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs... of Service members in accordance with the policies and procedures in this instruction.
MRFF has pushed the military to ban any cross because some view it as disrespectful to non-Christians and a reminder of Crusades. MRFF is anti Christian and pro islam.
It is called dhimmitude.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.