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.
I don’t know, I am honoring the man with the Turban more than the asshat who says, “I’m going into the Navy seals to be an Army Ranger!” >.> This guy is at least walking the walk whereas the rest are full of hot air. I am finished with my Naval career and all I can say is I was babysitting more than doing the mission at hand. People don’t teach their kids $#%&!@* anymore and that is the reason we are failing! There isn’t any interest to preserve our Freedoms. It’s a matter of time until we are DEAD.
I do not agree with the turban and I do not agree we feel the need to accommodate any religion in our armed forces.WTF
The country is going down a slippery slope allowing non-conformity in the military. A soldier has to know he can count on the others in his unit to be well trained, have an unconquerable attitude, be like minded, and not have allegiances to entities that do not like the US.
Wait for the pink heels and earrings !! Thanks liberals !!
While Christians are shut out from having bibles and praying.
Thank God I’ve been out since 1958
Horse$#%&!@*! One Military, One Country, One Flag we WIN; <3 <3 <3
Last I heard members of the military weren’t allowed to have Christian chaplains now “some people” will be allowed to wear turbans. No way! This must stop now!
This is BULL$#%&!@*!!!! If you join the USA MILITARY…ANY branch, you should conform to and adhear to the dress code.
Well if we have to pull se them, lets send them.into the enemys hideouts and use them all as suicide bombers for us. Every one of them