Army to Sikh Officers: Shave Beard, Take off Turbans

Two members of the United States Army are fighting Army policy. The Sikh Religion holds uncut hair as an important article of faith, and the Army asked two officers of the Sikh Faith to shave their beards, cut their hair and remove their turbans.

Captain Kamaljeet Kalsi has said, of this order, "I don’t think it’s fair for anybody to ask me to choose between my religion and my country."

He should have thought about that before joining the Army.

The two Sikhs were recruited as part of the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Program. One is a doctor, the other a dentist. They claim they were assured that wearing the beard and turban would not be a problem. However, now that school is over, and active duty fast approaches, and the religious accomodations are no longer being offered.

When it comes to the U.S. Military, this has nothing to do with religious freedom. I remember when, while I was in the Navy, beards became disallowed. It came down to the fact that with a beard, servicemen were unable to get a proper seal with their Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (OBA) mask, which would, if the seal is proper, save the person's life in the case of a fire, or toxic gas weapon. In short, the religious requests by these two men interfere with the wearing of proper military equipment, which could pose a danger to their lives - which in turn, puts unites as a whole at risk.

The military, if such a concession was made for school, allowing these men to keep their beards, long hair, and turbans, was in the wrong. They should have been upfront, and ensured that these men understood that when it comes to the military, short hair, the wearing of the proper military issue headgear, and clean shaven faces (a mustache that does not extend beyond the edge of the mouth is usually allowed) is the required policy.

Diversity, or not - military history in the family, or not - it must be understood that military requirements are what they are for a reason. . . and in the end, the regulations are what they are for the protection of the servicemember, and for the best opportunity to accomplish a task for the mission.

When in the U.S. Military, military regs come first. For the protection of the servicemember, and the personnel in their unit, the Sikh religious requirements need to either go on the back burner, or these men need to say goodbye to their military careers. Allowing a particular group to "break" the rules, will open up a can of worms that would, in the long run, compromise the effectiveness of military operations.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Army tells Sikh officers to change appearance - Military Times, Tony Lombardo