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.
It’s part of my Christian sect that I have a cross on my chest.
But yet they ban the bible from the navy? This is $#%&!@*en bull$#%&!@*
These rag heads will be the best enforcers for martial law but I will resist
As someone who served – I completely disagree – uniforms are functional and eliminate individuality – you are part of a team and anything that takes away from that is harmful to the unit – one force one uniform – one soldier!
Why are we even allowing Islamists to serve in our Military, That seems dangerous to me, and why allow them and not Christians !!
not right
Bull $#%&!@*
That head dress is not Muslim it is Seik sp . Until they bring back the Chaplains for our Christian Military all of this must stop.
What a joke !! What next ??
but yet the lame stream media reports nothing, and when they do, it’s “oh by the way”-a 5 second report..