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.
Not right to allow this not in America.
Respectfully, I am OK with granting these waivers, as long as there is at least SOME semblance of CONSISTENCY.
We have seen plenty of accommodations for Islamic Service Members, but I remember at least one incident of an Orthodox Jewish CHAPLAIN who was forbidden from wearing a yarmulke, which, as I understand it, is considered to be a DUTY, Commanded by God.
I would most likely draw the line at the so-called “Pastafarians” who claim to require the wearing of a Colander on their heads.
Well hell let’s take there guns give them dildos so they can run around slapping at our enemy
this so wrong,, what’s wrong with our leaders
shaking my head
What the hell are these rag heads doing in our military any how. The last known one killed a lot of good people and we still have these sand thugs in there. WTF??
May Heaven help us!
Disgusting!
What is this bull$#%&!@*?? they want to wear rags, go back to rag land…
so….effing…tired….of….being…..the…..one…..to….conform….
Only certain religions, Christian troops can be court-martialed for proselytizing, and if I am not mistaken, it was Bibles the Pentagon were burning awhile back.