Written by Don Byrd
Today the Defense Department announced historic changes in its policy of religious accommodation reflecting a new willingness to make exceptions to military grooming standards when based on a servicemember’s sincere religious beliefs. Requests for such accommodations will now be weighed against the demands of the mission.
Stars and Stripes has more on the new policy:
The policy has its limits, but is designed to allow troops free expression of their religion, as required by Congress in the 2013 National Defense Authorization act, a spokesman said. Jews, Sikhs and Muslims in the military are among those who in recent years have sought greater latitude in order to comply with their religions.
“When requests for accommodation are made, the needs of the requesting servicemember are balanced against the needs of mission accomplishment,” Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen wrote in an email. “Only if it is determined that the needs of mission accomplishment outweigh the needs of the servicemember may the request be denied.”
Previously, accommodations were extremely rare for those who wished to serve in the military, but whose religious beliefs required beards, head coverings, or long hair in violation of military policy. Indeed, when Army Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, a Sikh American, was granted a religious exemption in 2009, it was reported to be the first such accommodation in 30 years.
Countless Americans with a desire to serve their country in the Armed Forces have declined to do so because the terms of service conflicted with mandates of their faith. That may all be about to change.
You can read the amended directive (pdf) here.
