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.
No. They need to keep religion out of it. They are a soldier first n foremost n need to be treated all the same n wear the same camos as others as long as they r in the service doing their job. Now if they r on leave or have days off then they can do whatever they want to an extent that it doesn’t tarnish the uniform or branch of service in any way.
Wrong
That’s a bad thing, be a lot a friendly fire. I see a towl, that follows up with a bullet.
Very sad
no diaper heads in our military!
Let the Taliban join the ranks..
Wrong
that looks ridiculous
Seems like a perfect way to sow dissension and affect negatively unit cohesion . Why have a uniform in the 1st place ?
why????????????