US Army Allows Soldiers to Wear Turbans, Beards and Hijabs

The new set of rules issued by the US Army allows religious accommodations to be approved at the brigade-level.

This move has been welcomed by Sikh-Americans and US lawmakers who have been on the forefront of a national campaign in this regard. (Photo: iStock)

The US Army has issued a new regulation under which servicemen who wear turbans, hijabs or beards can now be enrolled in the military, making the force more inclusive of minority religions and cultures.

The new set of rules, issued by Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, allows religious accommodations to be approved at the brigade-level. Previously, it was at the level of Secretary.

Once that approval occurs, the change will ensure that religious accommodation is enduring and applies to most positions within the US Army.

The move has been welcomed by Sikh-Americans and US lawmakers who have been on the forefront of a national campaign in this regard for the past several years.

This is a major progress, not just for the Sikh-American community but for our nation’s military. Sikh-Americans love this country and want a fair chance to serve in our country on equal footing. Today’s announcement will help do just that. We are a stronger nation, with a stronger military because of our respect for religious and personal freedom.

Joe Crowley, Congressman

Before this new law within the US Army, Sikh-Americans and others had to be granted a limited accommodation or permission to serve in the army while maintaining their articles of faith.

Such accommodations were neither permanent nor guaranteed, and had to be renewed after virtually every assignment.

Service members had also been required to remove their articles of faith while their accommodation request is pending, once again subjecting them to the difficult position of choosing between their faith and job.

Under the new policy, Brigade commanders must grant religious accommodations for unshorn beards, unshorn hair, turbans and Muslim hijabs unless the individual’s religious belief is not sincere or the army identifies a specific, concrete hazard.