U.S. Military Dress Code To Now Allow Muslim Friendly Beards And Turbans

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

The Obama Administration’s Pentagon is set to alter longstanding military uniform practices in order to allow more Muslim and Sikh friendly rules that would welcome full beards and turbans to be worn as part of official military dress. The new rules are being done under the guise of “religious freedom”.

The Pentagon is expected to announce changes today to rules governing religious items and uniform regulations, NBC News is reporting.

The change would allow beards, some religious tattoos and turbans to be worn by members in uniform.

NBC News obtained a draft of Department of Defense instructions that said the military will make every effort to accommodate “individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs” of service members. The memo said unless the items have an adverse impact on readiness, order or discipline, commanders will be allowed to grant special permission for personnel to wear religious article while in uniform.

…According to the NBC report, there are 3 Sikhs in the U.S. military and about 3,700 Muslims, 6,300 Buddhists and 1,500 Wiccans.

http://theulstermanreport.com/2014/01/22/breaking-u-s-military-dress-code-to-now-allow-muslim-friendly-beards-and-turbans/

Religious freedom may not mean you can discriminate against certain cake customers, but it sure can change 238 years of military tradition.

Edited January 23, 2014 by DavenRoxy

[GandD 5,966]

Religious freedom may not mean you can discriminate against certain cake customers, but it sure can change 238 years of military tradition.

Same thing happened with the Canadian Mounties. People go to far.

[Darnell 8,478]

A True Sikh, competent as a Warrior, IMO, can wear whatever he wants.

I've much respect for Sikhs, all over the world.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

They already have an army-issued camouflage turban.

http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/-images/2010/12/09/94230/

This guy looks cool, he is a doctor, and his family appears to have a history of military service (though I am guessing in India or wherever).

It's not news. It's olds. Silly right-wing blogs, Trix are for kids!

Edited January 23, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Religious freedom may not mean you can discriminate against certain cake customers, but it sure can change 238 years of military tradition.

Please tell me this is a Hoax.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Religious freedom may not mean you can discriminate against certain cake customers, but it sure can change 238 years of military tradition.

Please tell me this is a Hoax.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Please tell me this is a Hoax.

Ah, you can't read? Okay.

So I was mistaken that the camo turban is army-issued. That doctor guy made it himself (with permission).

Here is another Sikh guy in the army. http://www.army.mil/article/47924/

Muslims don't wear turbans, so any plan to make army-issued turbans is for Sikhs.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[Darnell 8,478]

Male Muslims not have restrictions for what to wear.

Female Muslims that follow 'stuff' (an Imam, sharia, whatever) should have the option to remain modest.

Just sayin' ..

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

What it is is... unfuckingbelievable. Hundreds of years of military tradition down the tubes because some religious nuts don't want to conform to military uniformity. I will now get out of the military.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

What it is is... unfuckingbelievable. Hundreds of years of military tradition down the tubes because some religious nuts don't want to conform to military uniformity. I will now get out of the military.

I don't blame you..Where is the line drawn..

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

I don't blame you..Where is the line drawn..

In post #1. I'm done.

Edited January 24, 2014 by DavenRoxy

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

What it is is... unfuckingbelievable. Hundreds of years of military tradition down the tubes because some religious nuts don't want to conform to military uniformity. I will now get out of the military.

Hundreds of years of military history? No no, you are mistaken. This article from the army states that Sikhs were allowed to serve and wear turbans in the army from 1948-1984. When the rule changes, Sikhs who were already in the army were grandfathered in. Two Sikhs were in the army until 2007 and 2009, so in fact, NOTHING has changed.

And you find out about it now, and you say you are in the military, yet this is news to you, and now you will quit? Their units have no problem with it. Why should you?

Not to mention your name-calling. I don't think calling your supposed military brothers nasty names befits behaviors expected by the US armed forces.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (March 25, 2010) -- For the first time in 23 years, the U.S. Army is allowing a pair of Sikh Soldiers to keep their hair and beard intact and wear a turban.

More than 60 years ago, President Harry Truman desegregated the U.S. armed forces, declaring "there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion or national origin."

But during those same six decades, the Army's policy and how it was implemented changed from time to time.

From 1948 to 1984, men of the Sikh religion were permitted to serve while maintaining their articles of faith. In 1984, Gen. John A. Wickham Jr., then Chief of Staff of the Army, eliminated the exception for Sikhs and others who wore "conspicuous" items of faith.

Sikhs who were previously serving on active duty were grandfathered in by the Army. Two Sikhs in the medical field, Col. Arjinderpal Singh Sekhon, a doctor, and Col. G.B. Singh, a dentist, continued to serve until their retirements in 2009 and 2007, respectively, according to the Sikh News Network Web site (

Capt. (Dr.) Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, and Capt. (Dr.) Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, a doctor, were assured by their recruiters at the time of enlistment several years ago that their articles of faith wouldn't pose a problem. But after completing four years of studies, both men were told to remove their turbans and cut their hair and beards for active duty.

It took action by several Sikh organizations and a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, signed by 43 members of the House of Representatives and six U.S. senators, to change the Army's mind. A pair of special exceptions to Army Regulation 600-20 were allowed so Rattan and Kalsi could wear their dastaars (turbans) and keep their unshorn hair and beards as part of their uniform, and also retain their other articles of faith.

"Based on a review of these standards and the specific facts of your case, I am granting your appeal to wear a beard, uncut hair and turban in keeping with the tenets of your faith," wrote Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee, acting deputy chief of staff for Army personnel, in a Dec. 1 letter to Rattan. "Your beard, uncut hair and turban will be neat and well maintained at all times."

The Army does allow personnel to request waivers for practices that may conflict with current Army regulations and policies and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Considerations include the impact on the health, safety and welfare of all Soldiers; and impact on order and discipline of the force. The Army decided in these two cases that the Sikh articles of faith would not affect "unit readiness, individual readiness, unit cohesion, morale, discipline, safety and/or health," according to Farrisee's letter.

http://www.army.mil/article/36339/

Edited January 24, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

In post #1. I'm done.

It was pretty much all downhill after the issued Ranger Lids to the whole freaking Army

Can you imagine..You have to shave, I don't . One hat for you another for the man standing next to you. Let's give the Jews a Camo Beanie, all by all means let's let the Christian wear his camo Tebow jersey in support.

Let's stop a live fire exercise for mid day prayers.

The Army has a purpose Individual expression is not it

Hundreds of years of military history? No no, you are mistaken. This article from the army states that Sikhs were allowed to serve and wear turbans in the army from 1948-1984. When the rule changes, Sikhs who were already in the army were grandfathered in. Two Sikhs were in the army until 2007 and 2009, so in fact, NOTHING has changed.

And you find out about it now, and you say you are in the military, yet this is news to you, and now you will quit? Their units have no problem with it. Why should you?

Not to mention your name-calling. I don't think calling your supposed military brothers nasty names befits behaviors expected by the US armed forces.

More than 60 years ago, President Harry Truman desegregated the U.S. armed forces, declaring "there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion or national origin."

But during those same six decades, the Army's policy and how it was implemented changed from time to time.

From 1948 to 1984, men of the Sikh religion were permitted to serve while maintaining their articles of faith. In 1984, Gen. John A. Wickham Jr., then Chief of Staff of the Army, eliminated the exception for Sikhs and others who wore "conspicuous" items of faith.

Sikhs who were previously serving on active duty were grandfathered in by the Army. Two Sikhs in the medical field, Col. Arjinderpal Singh Sekhon, a doctor, and Col. G.B. Singh, a dentist, continued to serve until their retirements in 2009 and 2007, respectively, according to the Sikh News Network Web site (

Capt. (Dr.) Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, and Capt. (Dr.) Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, a doctor, were assured by their recruiters at the time of enlistment several years ago that their articles of faith wouldn't pose a problem. But after completing four years of studies, both men were told to remove their turbans and cut their hair and beards for active duty.

It took action by several Sikh organizations and a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, signed by 43 members of the House of Representatives and six U.S. senators, to change the Army's mind. A pair of special exceptions to Army Regulation 600-20 were allowed so Rattan and Kalsi could wear their dastaars (turbans) and keep their unshorn hair and beards as part of their uniform, and also retain their other articles of faith.

"Based on a review of these standards and the specific facts of your case, I am granting your appeal to wear a beard, uncut hair and turban in keeping with the tenets of your faith," wrote Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee, acting deputy chief of staff for Army personnel, in a Dec. 1 letter to Rattan. "Your beard, uncut hair and turban will be neat and well maintained at all times."

The Army does allow personnel to request waivers for practices that may conflict with current Army regulations and policies and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Considerations include the impact on the health, safety and welfare of all Soldiers; and impact on order and discipline of the force. The Army decided in these two cases that the Sikh articles of faith would not affect "unit readiness, individual readiness, unit cohesion, morale, discipline, safety and/or health," according to Farrisee's letter.

http://www.army.mil/article/36339/

What was your branch of service.?

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Not to mention your name-calling. I don't think calling your supposed military brothers nasty names befits behaviors expected by the US armed forces.

Honey, you obviously don't know Jack nor shite about what we call each other in the military. But nice try.

What I have an issue with is that if someone claims a "strong religious belief", they can get around military regulations and wear alternative headgear, grow long hair, wear beards, and wear tattoos that the rest of the military are not allowed to. It's just not right, but I don't expect you to have one iota of understanding.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Please tell me this is a Hoax.

It's a hoax.