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.
rag HEADS DON’T BELONG IN OUR MILITARY
WTF!!! Kick out anyone who doesn’t wear the Uniform of the Day, only after an indefinite amount of time in Guantanamo. WTF!!!
Has Chuck Hagle lost his friggin’ mind?
They don’t allow chaplains to pray in Jesus’ Name, but let these rag-heads practice their religion!! Surely not the America I’ve known my whole life. We used to have an armed services to be proud of, but they’ve been infiltrated by all kinds of scum, no soldier, sailor or marine can know if their ‘buddies’ will really have their back when the sh## flies, or if it’s a traitor next to them.
that way our enemies won’t accidentally kill their allys among our solders.
Can rednecks an cowboys wear cowboy hats
A VERY BAD IDEA! BRING BACK THE OLD AND DECENT MILITARY DISCIPLINE. ACTUALLY, DISCIPLINE IS GONE!
This is unacceptable!
$#%&!@* that.
It’s called friendly fire…open up