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.
WHY ?
THIS IS $#%&!@*ED UP !!!!
Thank how far our Nation has fallen away from God and how the muslims have got more control sense Odummer was elected;
As ex army soldier I take great offense to this, too many times in today’s society people are doing things because there is no rule against it, if we had to have rule of law for everything to completely define everything all rule/law books would be too big and cluttered.
And they’re not allowed to have Bibles??? WTF!!! We’re not in America anymore. We’re in Obama’s America and I don’t like it.
This Country is a DISGRACE and going straight to HELL. I don’t even want to be considered an AMERICAN anymore. $#%&!@* this Hell Hole.
I think it’s time to have America’s enemy identified– turbans are good!
We are Americans People! Looks Islamic 666~
You all have to aim at all of them now. That way you do not leaave one on the loose.
ever hear of friendly fire?