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.
SOUND LIKE BULL$#%&!@* TO ME!
Do you have a problem with a Rabbi (Military Chaplin) not shaving his beard and wearing his headdress?
The first exception was made for a Jew.. Gods choosen people… now that you know that … its ok… right?
OMG !! :-//
You come to America, you keep your beliefs, however you subscribe to her social order.. Period.
Freedom of religion hypocrites. It’s a free country remember.
Yet oslima ordered American Christian Soldiers to refrain from promoting God or discuss their beliefs at all. And to remove any reference to their God, Jesus, etc. from their weapons ,lockers, person,etc. Another show of hypocrisy and double cross of this treason es fraudulent impost er in our White House.
This is so fu&^&n much bull$#%&!@*. This is NOT our uniform . What next, gonna allow pants down past their butts??? WTF is wrong with the pentagon , I thought REAL men & military were there .
Separation of church and state…. Anything?
WTF. !!!! It’s over ! Were done ! Jesus H $#%&!@*ing Christ ! I guess all the Homos can where rainbow colored uniforms too . $#%&!@*. !
Our gov’t is OUT OF CONTROL !!!
WHO IS CHANGING THE REGULATIONS ???
OH – THE EXECUTIVE ORDER GUY ??? :-//