Sikh Guy Sports Beard and Turban in US Army

[theGinsue]

This is an old story, but it's bothered me since I first heard about it a couple/few years back.

While I was SD (retired almost 11 years ago), other than Christian chaplains, Christians were not allowed to visibly wear a cross. If worn, they had to be worn concealed under your short/blouse. As far as I know, this hasn't changed, yet accommodations are being made for other religious beliefs?

Christian chaplains aren't allowed to wear their crosses on their uniforms, nor be in possession of a bible while off base while assigned to Saudi Arabia. Do the Sikhs get to wear their non-muslim religious items while off base in Saudi?

I have no objections to Sikh's, but in the military, uniformity is an essential element to maintaining morale, unit cohesion and discipline. When you start making exceptions for one reason or another you risk destroying each of these things which puts the ability to accomplish the mission in jeopardy.

Just my personal opinion after serving for 20 years and supporting shoulder to shoulder with those still serving for 10 years as a .mil contractor.

[Guylee]

I'm cool with it. Sikhs are badass.

[theGinsue]

Yes, in Saudi, it's Saudi law - punishable by beheading. But I still wonder what their perspective is on the Sikh's.

That still fails to address the issue that Christians can't wear their crosses visibly while Sikh's are not permitted to visibly wear their articles of faith.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I have nothing but respect for Sikhs so didn't think this was newsworthy when I saw it. As was noted, the permission came with conditions AND is going to be revisited in a year. The guy is just trying to live according to his religious faith while upholding what he feels is a duty to the country. More power to him, we need more of that.

[KAPA]

in the military, uniformity is an essential element to maintaining morale, unit cohesion and discipline. When you start making exceptions for one reason or another you risk destroying each of these things which puts the ability to accomplish the mission in jeopardy.

Just my personal opinion after serving for 20 years and supporting shoulder to shoulder with those still serving for 10 years as a .mil contractor.

Thank you. That is what being uniform is all about. It is not just about wearing the same dress.

Frankly I am blown away by all the people saying "Oh Sikhs are badass, I am fine with that". You can't make rules based off of how cool you think someone is or even if they served ten years and got a bronze star. That defeats the purpose of being uniform. Picking and choosing is a slippery slope and it will bite you far more often than it will help you.

[Guylee]

Maybe he should just go to SF, CAG, RECCE, PSYOPS, or any of the other multiple units where beards and funny hats are totally acceptable.

[Honey Badger282.8]

I'm fine with religious exemptions being made for people of any faith, with operational needs coming first.

Chaplains DO wear the symbol of their faith on their uniforms.

The Air Force policy is for the member to submit a religious waiver request. The manual also states that these request should generally be approved unless there is an impact on safety or there are other military readiness issues. The Navy is similar but more strict in that the waiver has to go to the SECNAV. Religious jewelry follows the same rules as regular jewelry.

[Aloha_Shooter]

His waiver included caveats about not interfering with his ability to wear a gas mask or perform his other duties. His record indicates he has put the mission first throughout his career, he sought the exemption when he found out he might not need to deny the articles of his faith in order to execute his mission. On the list of things that destroy unit morale and cohesion, allowing someone to grow a beard and wear items required by his faith is pretty low on my list. I seem to recall the Navy allowing beards for a short period while I was on AD and in fact I had one seaman working for me who had a medical clearance for light facial hair (he had a condition where he risked the hair curling and growing under the outer layer of skin).

I recall a certain former Chief of Staff of the Army who placed a real premium on uniformity. So much so, he was bound and determined to make sure everyone in the Army was wearing black berets before he retired even if he had to contract with the PRC to get them in quickly. I recall another former Chief of Staff of the Air Force who also placed a premium on uniformity and did his damnedest to get everyone in the Air Force to look like we worked for American Airlines before he retired. Both moves were SO great for morale ...

[Guylee]

Nah, he just felt like knocking on a certain unit that already wore black berets, which subsequently switched to tan berets

[speedysst]

The slippery slope continues...

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...army_160412.nl