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.
Ok, if the military can let some wear turbans and carry prayer mats, then these schools have no right at all to tell a child the can’t read their bible in free time. That’s fine that the military took a stand, but let’s make it across the board. Quit taking it out on the kids.
BS, once in the military, you have to conform to their standards, not yours…
One of the main tenets of military is UNIFORMITY. It is that way for a very good purpose.
Oh hell no they can have turbins but our soldiers can’t pray !!!!!! WTF OBAMA YOU ARE A FN TRAITOR!!!
No !
This is a big mistake!
no way OBAMA MUST BE STOPPED
THIS IS WRONG GET THEM AND THIER TURBINS OUT OF OUR MILITARY, LEAVE OR DIE
But they can’t have a bible or pray; military has gone to $#%&!@*
atless you know who to shoot there