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.
They ware turbines too
Also happen to be some of the nicest people I have ever met.
Why exceptions! The cohesion of a military unit is partly because of their uniformity. You enlist you adapt to military standards period!!
But don’t allow Christians to have Bibles or speak the name of Jesus. If your rights take precedence over mine, that is not equal rights.
As long as our American soldiers are allowed the same rights..
That is wrong!
Soldiers have uniform dress codes for good reasons.
Wrong!!!!
How long are we going to cater to these people? If they don’t like the way our military has been dressing, why don’t they go back to the country that allows turbans as part of uniforms.
Disgusting