US Military Eases Rules to Allow Turbans & Beards

[Risky Thicket]

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?

New US military guidelines have opened the way for service members to wear religious clothing such as turbans or skullcaps while on duty, the Department of Defense has announced.

The guidelines, published on Wednesday, also allow for facial hair, body art and other expressions of religious belief. It is not a blanket permission, however; requests for dispensation from stated uniform policy are to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

[OrphanSlug]

I think this will become a problem.

 

[Gathomas88]

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?



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Sooo... Can I grow a beard now?

I'll convert to freaking Pastafarianism if it means no more shaving. lol

 

[Reformedfindlay]

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?



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If he has an American flag on his uniform and he is fighting for this country, then I will honor him as I honor every other soldier who fights and dies for this country.

It would be interesting and beautiful to see. No other country in the entire world will look like ours in which every soldier is unique and from different backgrounds and yet they all fight for the same flag.

If one of the freedoms our soldiers fight for is freedom of religion, then why not (within reason) allow them to express their religion while they fight for such freedoms?

 

[Gaius46]

Sooo... Can I grow a beard now?

I'll convert to freaking Pastafarianism if it means no more shaving. lol

Are you a Sikh? Or maybe a Wiccan?

I don't see an issue. People want to serve but also want to be able to respect their religious beliefs. I say accommodate them. Sikhs, specifically, have a warrior heritage and make up a good portion of the Indian army and police forces. The beards and turbans don't seem a problem.

 

[Gathomas88]

Are you a Sikh? Or maybe a Wiccan?

I don't see an issue. People want to serve but also want to be able to respect their religious beliefs. I say accommodate them. Sikhs, specifically, have a warrior heritage and make up a good portion of the Indian army and police forces. The beards and turbans don't seem a problem.

I was always under the impression that the primary justification for the current grooming standard had more to do with the proper wear of gas masks than anything else. Smooth skin creates a better seal.

Well, when was the last time we fought anyone who actually used chemical weapons?

Hell! If we really think someone is liable to do so, how hard is it to just send out a damn memo telling everyone to shave?

Frankly, it'd probably be better for our soldiers to wear beards given the cultural environments we're fighting in these days anyway. In Afghanistan, for example, beardless men are basically regarded as being effeminate and immature at best, and submissively homosexual at worst.

That's a large part of the reason why Spec Ops ignore the grooming standard as is.

 

[Risky Thicket]

Sooo... Can I grow a beard now?

I'll convert to freaking Pastafarianism if it means no more shaving. lol

Once sent down to Saigon to MACV I had a few days to burn some time. In some bar, somewhere, I ran into navy guys with beards. WTF? Turns out they were submarine sailors and said that it was permitted. That was in the old days. Now, probably now.

Also, used to be that guy who had skin infections in Vietnam could often get medical permission not to shave. There was all kinds of unnamed crud guys would get.

To my thinking, Gath, in today's new action army the best course of action for you to take would be to protest your right for fair and equal treatment. If women in the army don't have to shave their faces why should you? Good luck with that. :lamo

 

[Manc Skipper]

The only problem might be making a seal when wearing a gas mask over a beard. The British army was talking about bullet-proof turbans five years ago!

Far from being the only country accepting troops from different backgrounds, the USA isn't even the first.

BBC NEWS | UK | 'Religion does not come into it'

 

[Carjosse]

No other country in the entire world will look like ours in which every soldier is unique and from different backgrounds and yet they all fight for the same flag.

I think the colonial armies of countries like Britain and France were probably the first ones, just an observation.

 

[jet57]

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?



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Well, I think that Scottish Americans should sport Glengarrys and tartan: it's part of our culture. The heads of families wear turbans as seen on the OP picture; fair is fair. Of course now Christian evangelists and Muslims are going have their say as well...

 

[Risky Thicket]

Well, I think that Scottish Americans should sport Glengarrys and tartan: it's part of our culture. The heads of families wear turbans as seen on the OP picture; fair is fair. Of course now Christian evangelists and Muslims are going have their say as well...

Only if you shave your legs.

 

[MadLib]

Frankly, it'd probably be better for our soldiers to wear beards given the cultural environments we're fighting in these days anyway. In Afghanistan, for example, beardless men are basically regarded as being effeminate and immature at best, and submissively homosexual at worst.

That's what I was thinking. If I'm not mistaken, Afghans tend to be more friendly with soldiers who have beards, and although our presence there has diminished, it certainly couldn't hurt for our remaining forces to be able to win the trust of the locals more easily.

 

[clownboy]

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?



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I say this is nothing new. Was just talking to my Son in law about it last night. When in basic one of my squad mates was a Sikh. Got to wear the beard, the long hair and the turban all throughout Basic at least.

 

[jet57]

Only if you shave your legs.

Go out and tell that to a guy in a kilt - I dare 'ya...:2razz:

 

[Risky Thicket]

Go out and tell that to a guy in a kilt - I dare 'ya...:2razz:

Other than MMC I don't talk to men in dresses.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

I think the colonial armies of countries like Britain and France were probably the first ones, just an observation.

They had troops of all backgrounds and treated them all the same?

Key phrase: treated them all the same?

 

[Carjosse]

They had troops of all backgrounds and treated them all the same?

Key phrase: treated them all the same?

Well they had troops of all backgrounds, they were not treated as well as White troops but they were treated better than Blacks in the US armed forces during the world wars. That was also not the statement you made you said a multicultural army that fights under one flag.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

Well they had troops of all backgrounds, they were not treated as well as White troops but they were treated better than Blacks in the US armed forces during the world wars. That was also not the statement you made you said a multicultural army that fights under one flag.

Sure it wasn't. And I'll concede that point. However, I'll expand the original point now.

Also, black troops in WWII means nothing.

We're seventy years ahead of that now.

 

[Gaius46]

I was always under the impression that the primary justification for the current grooming standard had more to do with the proper wear of gas masks than anything else. Smooth skin creates a better seal.

Well, when was the last time we fought anyone who actually used chemical weapons?

Hell! If we really think someone is liable to do so, how hard is it to just send out a damn memo telling everyone to shave?

Frankly, it'd probably be better for our soldiers to wear beards given the cultural environments we're fighting in these days anyway. In Afghanistan, for example, beardless men are basically regarded as being effeminate and immature at best, and submissively homosexual at worst.

That's a large part of the reason why Spec Ops ignore the grooming standard as is.

Many of the guys I've seen on TV in Afghanistan and Iraq had beards. I always assumed it was because they were too busy to shave and not to fit in but I see your point.

On your other point about shaving being work. I've had beards. Take my word for it - unless you're going for the ZZ Top look beards are more work than just shaving.

 

[SheWolf]

He looks like a professional American solider to me...

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?



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[SheWolf]

I don't shave my face, but I think it would be hard to do in a war zone. Why should you have to? I think the guy pictured looks well groomed and professional. He doesn't look like a slob, and I don't think anybody wants the soldiers to look sloppy. So let them have beards.

Once sent down to Saigon to MACV I had a few days to burn some time. In some bar, somewhere, I ran into navy guys with beards. WTF? Turns out they were submarine sailors and said that it was permitted. That was in the old days. Now, probably now.

Also, used to be that guy who had skin infections in Vietnam could often get medical permission not to shave. There was all kinds of unnamed crud guys would get.

To my thinking, Gath, in today's new action army the best course of action for you to take would be to protest your right for fair and equal treatment. If women in the army don't have to shave their faces why should you? Good luck with that. :lamo

 

[jet57]

They had troops of all backgrounds and treated them all the same?

Key phrase: treated them all the same?

You are correct, however Scots highlanders - to this day - will not fight with the kilt and bag pipes. So, the easing of uniform restrictions is pretty old and really kind of a tradition for them. I don't like it however for the US military: it opens up can of worms and -in my mind, the traditional WWII uniforms and helmets will serve us better in public relations.

 

[Dittohead not!]

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?



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The people who have a problem with it are likely to be the ones who think anyone who wears a turban is a Muslim, and, therefore, a terrorist.

In other words, ignorant people.

 

[UtahBill]

That's what I was thinking. If I'm not mistaken, Afghans tend to be more friendly with soldiers who have beards, and although our presence there has diminished, it certainly couldn't hurt for our remaining forces to be able to win the trust of the locals more easily.

Win their trust? never happen....

 

[beerftw]

This news will be most difficult to accept for certain groups of Americans. I'd venture to say that most people who have served in the military won't have a problem with it. A few will, but then they likely have problems with any kind of change.

I support the new policy. It actually makes sense. Full story here.

What say you?



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it will be an issue.i can see letting it slide for chaplains,but for the forces itself,lack of uniformity would be a concern,but not a deal breaker.

the dealbreaker is that a beard interferes with gas masks,rendering them useless.it is not just the military that does this.for example alot of oil field workers cant grow a beard either because if a gas leak occurrs,they need to wear a mask and have it effective.


a turban itself though would not interfere with the mission,as it does not interfere with safety gear or nbc gear.it would just suffer from lack of uniformity.