[fidelis]

The Sikh's have always been valiant warriors and their distinctive beards and head-wear has never been an impediment to their effectiveness.

Soldiers Unheard of — The Sikhs’ Call to Duty

[Sequoyah101]

That’s nice. If they want to be like them they can go join them instead of the USAF. There is a place for everyone with their own kind.

[Lumper20]

This in not India and Muslims are not Sikh’s. Our American Indians were better then Sikh’s.

[Svartalfiar]

The Sikh's have always been valiant warriors and their distinctive beards and head-wear has never been an impediment to their effectiveness.

That doesn't change the fact that historically, Sikhs have never had an air force, much less one that included advanced craft that require oxygen masks. Sikh forces have never had to wear gas masks, they don't really use combat helmets, etc. But in US forces, that stuff applies. This doesn't detract from them as warriors, but it does detract from their effectiveness in many of the roles they might be in.

Sure, Airmen don't really have a need for gas masks like the Army does, but how do they do jobs like pilot? Firefighter? Air Crew Chief? (FYI they are required to be qualified on the craft they crew for, and attain so many flight hours. For all I know, the rest/some of the crew might have to get qualified on the craft as well.)

How long until some bright AF general claims discrimination because Sikhs are self-banned from all these MOSs?
How many Sikhs are actually now able to join the AF because of this policy change? (Guess what, all the ones already in were apparently fine with following the old uniform standard!) Sikhs aren't a major group in these US, and this policy change isn't going to suddenly cause bunches of them to join our military..