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.
This country is going down the toilet and we all have front row seats.
Damn shame what this country has become…
Divide and conquer!!!
its war not church!!!
THAT IS F==KING BULL $#%&!@*. WE ARE CHANGING OUR COUNTRY TO THE WAY OF THERE LIFE. IT TIME TO GET THE GUNS OUT.
NO!
My brother had to fight his drill Sargent who was trying to remove a religious adornment. Hawaiian ankle bracelet not even visible in uniform. It was not removed!
WTF
He wants to fight for his country… 1 man stronger
Get all the ragheads out of our military, and get the muslim SOB out of our WH.