Posted on 04/01/2016 5:43:35 PM PDT by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
In what is fantastic news for religious liberty, the U.S. Army granted a Sikh soldier a long-term accommodation to serve in the military while wearing a beard and turban. Captain Simratpal Singh, a West Point graduate who received a Bronze Star in Afghanistan, had previously cut his hair and beard while serving, but filed a request for accommodation in October of 2015. That accommodation was granted today.
As part of the accommodation, the turbans worn have to be either black or camouflage.
Three other Sikhs are seeking a similar accommodation before beginning Basic Combat Training, but according to the Sikh Coalition, these requests have been ignored.
The government should be doing everything possible to allow for religious liberty. Captain Singh is clearly an accomplished soldier, and a beard and turban won't have a negative effect on this.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
Bad decision. Next will be Muslim’s request for those towel things they wear. Transgenders will wear whatever it is they wear, etc.
Really?
Perhaps with a can of "Great Stuff".
These variations are a real problem for commanders at Company level. This crap does not go over well in Infantry companies. If this country wants a Sikh unit like the Brits had fine have one. Do not push this crap on everyone. This country has gone mad. It is time to go back to mid 60 rules and the ten commandments. The Army needs to get back to the early 60’s and before and adhere to the damn UCMJ.
There’s something coming up about the military on Fox-—10PM.
A Bret Baier special.
.
Fair enough, I’m simply saying, exemptions have been made for Sikhs, Muslims and a Rabbi in recent years. If a religious exemption is acceptable for them, I can’t fault this guy for seeking the same treatment. I personally look at it like this, either being clean shaven is of the utmost importance, or it isn’t. Given previous exemptions, I’m led to believe that it isn’t.
In what is fantastic news for religious liberty...
In what is fantastic news for political correctness and the continuing deterioration of military standards...
They’re going to need custom made helmets.
Issue him an oversized helmet to fit over the turban. Or mould a turban out of kevlar.
Just issue Kevlar cloth for the turbans.
Very bad decision, IMHO.
Thanks. I wonder about little Bret. He seems to appear a bit effeminate at times.
I see your ignorance is evident.
Although awards don’t matter in this discussion, the number and type of awards I have received in my 29 year military career could never be obtained by someone like you.
Save your nonsense for another thread.
Very true.
But it’s not the ‘60s anymore, and a Sikh unit would be decried as segregationist. This is our reality now. Would a different CinC push back on this? Would it matter? Or would the courts make it happen anyway?
I don’t see what is wrong with having a well trimmed beard in the Army.
Appearance and not standing out is often what saves your ass in combat. We damn sure don’t need a bunch of folks wearing different hats, facial hair etc, going out on combat patrol. That crap can get you killed. Hell Sikh’s are not Gurkha’s.
It is getting sad.
It is getting sad.
I am sure we can make a helmet look like a turban.
Will Rastafarians be allowed to wear their Dreds?
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