US Military Relaxes Rules On Religious Beards, Tattoos, And Turbans

Capt. (Dr.) Tejdeep Singh Rattan joins his graduating class in singing "The Army Goes Rolling Along" during the Basic Officer Leadership Course graduation ceremony in 2010, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. If requests “reflect sincerely held beliefs” and don’t harm readiness, unit cohesion or good order and discipline,” beards, turbans and other signs of spiritual devotion will be approved by the military under a new policy the Pentagon. Courtesy U.S. Army

Pentagon To Relax Rules On Personal Religious Wear — Including Beards, Turbans -- NBC

The Pentagon on Wednesday is expected to announce widespread changes to rules governing religious items and religion-based physical attributes that service members can maintain while in uniform — including beards, some religious tattoos, and turbans.

NBC News obtained an early draft of the new Department of Defense instruction which states that the military will make every effort to accommodate “individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs” (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs) of service members.

It goes on to say that unless doing so could have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline, health and safety, or any other military requirement, commanders can grant service members special permission to display their religious articles while in uniform.

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More News On The US Military Relaxing Rules On Religious Beards, Tattoos, And Turbans

Pentagon clarifies rules on beards, turbans for Muslim and Sikh service members -- Washington Post
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U.S. military giving troops more leeway for religious clothing, beards -- Reuters
US military eases rules on religious beards, tattoos -- Global Post/AFP
Pentagon OKs religion-based grooming standards -- Stars and Stripes
Religious exemptions for troops easier to request under new rules -- Marine Times
US military relaxes uniform rules for religious items -- BBC
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