New US military guidelines pave way for turbans and beards

The guidelines also made allowances for facial hair, body art and other expressions of religious belief

New guidelines by the US military have paved way for service members to perform their duties while wearing religious attire including turbans and skullcaps, the Department of Defense announced. 

The guidelines further made allowances for facial hair, body art and other expressions of religious belief.

The ease in the guidelines however, do not apply as blanket permission and requests for dispensation from stated uniform policy are to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

PHOTO: PIXSHARK

Military ranks include thousands of Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Wiccans and members of other religious groups who have protested against the exclusion of religious apparel, claiming that it forced them to choose between their religious beliefs and their desire to serve.

In order for the requests to be approved, changes in apparel or presentation must not impair the operation of weapons, pose as a health or safety hazard or interfere with other military equipment such as helmets, flak jackets or wetsuits according to the guidelines.

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"The new policy states that military departments will accommodate religious requests of service members, unless a request would have an adverse effect on military readiness, mission accomplishment, unit cohesion and good order and discipline," said Pentagon spokesperson Lt Cmdr Nathan J Christensen.

PHOTO: SCG

Despite the ease in the new uniform rules, the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund said the rules did not go far enough.

"This is an expansion of the waiver policy that is decided person by person," its director, Jasjit Singh said, adding that "It does not open doors and say you can apply as a Sikh American and serve your country fully."

It was only in 2009 that Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, a doctor and Afghanistan combat veteran, was granted a religious accommodation by the US army.

This article originally appeared on The Guardian