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.
Don’t give in and impeach our muslim president. He has no respect for American people especially soliders. He has brought more damage to this country than any terrorists.
Disgusting. Is anyone doing anything about these absurdities?????
So can I rejoin and have my religion be Jedi?? Does that mean I can wear a robe everywhere??? 😛
This is totally off the chart rag heads in our military that just not right lets take our military back from those out to change it or even destroy it
NO WAY!!
Un real.
Until now they want to have our soldiers to sign a waiver to where there religious artifacts this is not right don’t get me wrong but a religion is something you take pride in to speak of your god an the savior what is next soldiers fighting in the nude!
this is the united states military not obamas dream of a neutered force
Beyond sickening!
Well…..they can be easily picked out of the group that way…Easy pickings.