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.
Yup FAILURE Pentagon!
no f in way
I disagree 100% with this policy. You are joining the military, not some other organization. If you want to join you have to abide by the uniform regulations.
this is one big fuking mistake. doesnt belong in our military. we went by the rules way back when and dammit they can now too.
The dumbing down of our country……………. This is total BS !!!
Aliens have been joining our military for a long time.
They have to swear allegiance to our country. Serve X amounts of years and them they can apply for US Citizenship.
Sadness. The military I served for 25 years is gone. Sewpt up in political and religious BS.
the military will adapt and over come just as it has through out the Years it was created. The US military as long as it maintains a constant readiness and capability to defend our country in times of need. which is has never failed to do in our entire history as a nation, shouldn’t be mocked for letting its service members who would die for your freedom be allowed a little of there own.
Yea & this Rag Head will turn around & kill our Troops.
I can’t help but see tragic results from allowing muslims into our services!
eric says:
“the military will adapt and over come just as it has through out the Years it was created. The US military as long as it maintains a constant readiness and capability to defend our country in times of need. which is has never failed to do in our entire history as a nation, shouldn’t be mocked for letting its service members who would die for your freedom be allowed a little of there own.”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/us-military-allow-religious-clothing-observances/comment-page-50/#comment-633636