The Pentagon has approved a new policy that will allow troops to wear turbans and other religious clothing and engage in religious observances.
Until now there has been no set policy in the military to allow accommodations for religion.
Soldiers must apply for a waiver to be able to wear their religious garment or engage in a specific religious activity, which the military says they will take on a case-by-case basis.
The Pentagon has approved a new policy that will allow troops to seek waivers to wear religious clothing, seek prayer time or engage in religious practices.Defense officials say the waivers will be decided on a case-by-case basis and will depend on where the service member is stationed and whether the change would affect military readiness or the mission.
Until now there has been no consistent policy across the military to allow accommodations for religion. Now, for example, Jewish troops can seek a waiver to wear a yarmulke, or Sikhs can seek waivers to wear a turban and grow a beard.
Others can request specific prayer times or ask that they be allowed to carry prayer beads or other items.
The policy also says that service members can choose not to recognize any religion, according to NBC News.
According to Defense Department statistics obtained by NBC, there are only three Sikh Americans in the military. There are about 3,700 Muslims. 6,300 Buddhists, and 1,500 Wiccans.
The directive stresses that “the importance of uniformity and adhering to standards, of putting unit before self, is more significant and needs to be carefully evaluated when considering each request for accommodation,” according to NBC.
ABSOLUTELY STUPID TO CHANGE YEARS OF TRADITION FOR MUSLIMS OR ANYONE ELSE,,,
That’s our Commander in Thief.
Army guys hate rag heads?
oh hell no..they want american christians to stop praying and such…to f**king hell with any other unamerican religon….i’d shoot em if they looked like a towelhead…thats how they do us..look like one thing and kill you when u let down ur guard….
Does this mean christians allowed pray?
What the HELL?!?!?
When I was in the military you could have beard, side burns or a mustasch but it had to be on your photo of your I.D. card issued to you in basic training where the cut off ever piece of hair before training ! I guess they have changed this !!!
We can thank that f”””” Obama for this
bull $#%&!@*
B.S.. Maybe Obamas brothers ISIS will put his head on a stick for the American people..