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.
Pure B/S
So WRONG. American Soldiers can not mention religion, but Muslims and others can flaunt theirs.
The whole ball of wax is extremely sad…it seems that comments about it are our only outlet…and arguing amongst ourselves doesn’t help either…so nothing is getting settled…they walk in and take us while we have our hands around each others throats….
WTH!
They should all wear the same uniform. If they don’t like it, don’t enlist.
It’s OUR military NOT theirs. CONFORM OR GET OUT! WE DO NOT NEED FOREIGNERS IN OUR MILITARY ANYWAY. Go back where you were born ! SIMPLE AS THAT. HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT JUSTIFY GIVING CURRENT MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN “PINK SLIPS ” AND THEN RECRUIT ILLEGALS INTO OUR MILITARY ???????????? WTF ?????????????
This is so wrong. Obama is being stupid.
I disagree with it too. This is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and we should stick by our high held standards. Does this mean Americans can wear their Bible on their person? This is America and we do no need foreign people wearing muslim turbines in our military. There is a uniform code and they should have to abide by it.
The us Military personal would die for your freedom of religion ur right to vote you freedom to choose. but yet here u guys sit denying them there right to do the same thing come on now people
This is America they need to respect our borders, language, and culture.