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.
Kinda hard to get a helmet on over a turban
I guess the leaders of this country are absolutely nuts!
Well, maybe this will help designate the terrorist sympathizers and/or traitors. Talk about profiling! This is great! Know you enemy!
Berry’s army.
$#%&!@* that!
Anyone who wears a turban in our military should be shot and killed.
lisahawks says:
“really?? then how come one American soldier got fired (eventually) cuz he was doing prayers and reading the bible?”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/us-military-allow-religious-clothing-observances/comment-page-12/#comment-418015
really?? then how come one American soldier got fired (eventually) cuz he was doing prayers and reading the bible?
Look at $#%&!@*ty $#%&!@*ong uniform. The military is about being “one” not individualism you $#%&!@*s
Ook, just make sure those turbans are also the only head gear worn by those religious groups during battle !!!! Also make sure that the Christians are allowed to practice their religion as well.