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.
Does that now include Christians being able to read/study the Holy Bible? Hmmmm
does this mean our troops can pray to the LORD again and read the bible
This is how it starts.
Only in America, can you go AWOL and get 5 terrorists traded for your return, be left to rot in jail if you are a patriotic soldier, and be protected if you wish to infiltrate the U.S. Military as a terrorist. All i can say is they better learn to sleep with one eye open.
They should not be able to serve if they are muslim period!
Don’t Mistaken Sikhs for Muslims. They are not.
This is the USArmy so they should wear the same uniforms at the Americans do or shoot the bastards
so if a woman military member is Muslim they can go around in their religious dress? REDICULOUS lunacy……………………
Regardless of religion you should all have to wear the same thing there should be a separation of church and state
I’m sure our king has something to do with that,,,, they want as many muslims as possible in the military so when marshall law is declared,,,, guess what