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.
Dink says:
“This is un American. What are we going to look like the enemy now!!!!!!!??????”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/us-military-allow-religious-clothing-observances/comment-page-40/#comment-423780
This is un American. What are we going to look like the enemy now!!!!!!!??????
Such bull$#%&!@*
But chrsitian s can’t. Fuk them all.
WHAT C**P!!! o all this power gone to and above your head!!
this is BS! Christians can’t read the bible but muslims get special religious exxceptions. throw this bum president out the door. he is no commander in chief.
This kind of $#%&!@* drives me crazy…which is a short trip…but since when does the military bow to such minute bull$#%&!@* as allowing a sect to wear their own headwear. You join our military you change to meet our standards. Don’t like it, don’t enlist.
disgrace- you live America and join our military you ware what we ware—-
NO WAY, this is just wrong
What am I missing here? He’s allowed to wear his towel on his head while in the military but if someone hangs a U.S. flag outside their home or business they are told to take it down cause someone is offended by it. I’m offended by the towel on that guys head so what’s going to be done about that???