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.
If it helps keep suicides down then let them.
I agree Eric Neis!
The they better allow Christians to Carry a BIBLE and Ware a CROSS if they wish to ….
I agree with Bruce Childs.
just more bull$#%&!@*..dam whats next to ruin usa
You dress alike because you are supposed to be A TEAM -NOT AN INDIVIDUAL !!!!!!!!!!!! THE AMERICAN MILITARY WAY !!!!!!!!!
This exclusion should be limited only to the Sikhs who have their own military dress as well as the most superior code of conduct, ordained by their supreme master Shri Guru Gobind Singhji!
This isn’t bad I say we should allow it. Wanna know why? 1st amendment. You are free to express your own religion. No religion should be persecuted.
this is totally absurd!!!! U S military…U S uniform period!!!
The military uniform for each branch is a proud tradition. I can’t imagine why the military would want or even consider a change to the uniform.