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.
wrong U S uniform only
THIS IS WRONG FOR THE US ???!!!!
Our Muslim POTUS is ruining our once PROUD Military !!!
TIME-BOOM!
You took the words right out of my fingers David Pegues. Can a Christian wear a cross? Perhaps on their uniform or a pin on their caps? I truly doubt it.
Soooo the fact that they’re in the UNITED STATES MILITARY, which is more patriotic than what most of you mouth breathers are doing, but their not Christian they’re not good enough and should be shot/killed/kicked out/sent back to their own country (bc all tea americans are born white and christian duhhhh)? ! Makes sense!!! Feel free to take their place since your religious superiority is so much more worth while in fighting to protect your country. 🙂 religious freedom for all (unless your brown… then go $#%&!@* yourself amiright!) Yeehaw guns! Murica! Toby Keith! NASCAR! Fox News!!!There now you’re all distracted… carry on!
This is TOTAL BULL $#%&!@*! Can you say “Uniform?” But, yet Christians can’t pray or practice their religion.
NO NO NO NO NO NO LET HIM GO TO HIS HOME LAND
No stop it if you like it go home
THAT’S COMPLETE BULL$#%&!@*!