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 say it is a good idea so we know who to shoot first in the eventual uprising here.
AS LONG AS JEWS CAN WEAR YARMULKE’S I’M FINE WITH IT.
I do not believe turban wearer were responsible, but id ont belief in this either. Every kook in the world will try to do something. I believe this man is a Skih (sp?)
We might as well just surrender to All these whimpy complaining mother $#%&!@*ers! I am offended by people being offended dammit
This is hard to believe only a ////// would let this happen all he is doing is when you go to war you want no who to shoot but this makes it easy GOD BLESS your hat
Whhhaaaat ?!?!
$#%&!@* that….
Google how Obama looks like Osama Bin Laden. Its spitting IMAGE. . Is this a impostor in our white house.. im baffeld. Herd thay were not allowing christian prayer and now this .. somethings serios wrong. Just an american girl but im tripping.why no one can make this get out of white house. Everyone is so rude now. Started the day he won. Its bad. Bad bad.
Sikh .. it all looks baffeling to me.
@Dave Cox.. its not funny.. its $#%&!@*ed up .. its the United States of $#%&!@*ed. !!