The Pentagon has relaxed its policy on religious accommodations, allowing service members to grow beards and wear head covers such as turbans and headscarves as part of their faith. The change was announced Wednesday, and largely affects practicing Muslims and Sikhs religions that require a persons head be covered and men to grow beards.
An essential part of unit cohesion is establishing and maintaining uniform military grooming and appearance standards, the amended policy states. In so far as practicable, a Service members expression of sincerely held beliefs (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs) may not be used as the basis of any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment.
The news comes after years of a standing policy that prohibited service members from growing facial hair or wearing head covers. Members now can request the religious accommodation.
The needs of the requesting Service member are balanced against the needs of mission accomplishment, the policy states. Only if it is determined that the needs of mission accomplishment outweigh the needs of the Service member may the request be denied.
An accommodation does not remain with the service member as he or she moves through their service. The amended policy states that the new requests for the same accommodation are necessary upon new assignment, transfer of duty stations, or other significant change in circumstances, including deployment.
The announcement was welcomed by advocates.
We welcome the important decision to broaden the religious rights of American military personnel and hope this updated policy will allow all those in uniform to practice their faith while serving the nation, said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
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Poster Comment:
More hope and change coming America's way. Fun photo of Dear Leader at the url - not to be missed!