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.
They’ll just decline the waver its that simple
Too politically correct…
Not American !!
I served my country I’m Mexican American and proud with pride
and bans the mention of Jesus, ha ha ha , and you so called bible thumpers just take it, ha ha ha
Bull$#%&!@*!
What a bunch of bull$#%&!@* another liberal idea I’m sure
As a veteran I understand the need to respect the rights of others as it pertains to faith. Soldier are sworn to defend the Constitution, and this does include the First Amendment; however, to be a defender of others sometimes one must set aside ones own beliefs and liberties. If a recruit is now willing to lay down his or her irrational belief in clothing and facial hair for the sake of discipline, then how could I, as a leader, honestly expect that person to lay down his or her life to defend the rights of others?
What in the world happened to separation of church and state? The liberals are screaming this when our children want to say a prayer in school or the Pledge of Allegiance to “One nation under God”. they try to ban this with school children in our public schools and in our courtrooms but then turn around and allow this kind of c**p to take place in our countries military? Unbelievable how the Obamanation is destroying this country!!! Do we really have to deal with 2 more years of this muslim in disguise doing vast damage to our country?
Disgusting
Disgraceful ,wear the uniform of the branch of services you chose and wear it with pride. When you join the service you become part of a unite and that takes presidents over self needs . This is the service of the United States of America not some rag tag bunch of bandits.