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.
This is NOT good
OBAMA RULES AND HE DAM WELL WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW IT. HE’S THE END OF AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT.
So that means that Native Americans can wear feathers? or is that only for witch doctors?
obama is probably making it mandatory since he is one of them
Are hats required?
I for one would strongly object to Turbans being worn as part of the Military Uniform. Of course, it would make a perfect target should the Muslims decide to do as the Major in Ft Hood did. The only thing wrong In the Fort Hood incident is that the guy is still walking on this earth. He should have been shot and killed right then.
At least now we’ll know who to keep an extra eye on.
Lol wtf
A Sikh is not a Muslim in any way. They are actually allowed to dress in their turbans in the British army and are reputedly very good fighters and steadfastly loyal .Sikhs strongly believe in martial arts and battle warfare and the idea of martyrdom and battlefield heroism. For a Sikh it is a great honour to die fighting on a battlefield, quoted in the Sikh National Anthem; “…May I Die Fighting on the Battlefield Courageously.
Omg