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.
Do not agree. Continuity and esprit d’corp is mandatory for a well maintained military. Either follow protocol or do not enlist. Simple as that. That is nonsense about a turban and a beard, etc. And they are miniscule, in numbers.
This is completely wrong
New England DRS says:
“I always thought that the military was volunteer and that you accepted that code of dress due to the fact that no one was forcing you into the military. If you join yu must accept what ever rules there happen to be.”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/us-military-allow-religious-clothing-observances/comment-page-20/#comment-418745
I always thought that the military was volunteer and that you accepted that code of dress due to the fact that no one was forcing you into the military. If you join yu must accept what ever rules there happen to be.
ANother UN encroachment!
Do You Dumb asses see this happening in Russia!?
And yet they want soldiers to erase scripture from bulletin boards? What a mess.
Oh! This is Obama’s way of indoctrinating the American public to a Muslim uprising in this country.
Good, I need a Copper turbine, and a golden Harley, and a blackened sterling silver sniper rifle, one of the 10 deadliest, please… I’ll save the details, and sell them on the NWO Black Market.
Does this mean female soldiers can wear a burka?