"Muslims Demand Army Change Its Dress Code To Include Turbans And Beards"

Regs change. I served with a Sikh CSM with a full beard and turbin. Discipline didn't suffer and his protective mask worked fine. He had served a couple tours in Viet Nam, presumably with his beard etc, as I heard him say he had never shaved. The rules changed before he retired but he was grandfathered a couple of years until then. In early 70's beards and expansive mustaches were popular with Navy folk, officer and enlisted ... Waves never wore them that I am aware. My squad leader and I were written up (unfavorable) in 1967 during an in ranks inspection for an IG. The LTC inspecting stated we were mocking the army by wearing our hair so short. Go figure, the career NCO (Korea and Viet Nam) had no hair and I, then an SP5, had so much it stuck out like a hedgehog's unless trimmed way short. Dont get excited about small stuff like this, it will change again someday. "The Army isn't like it used to be. It never was."

For the safety of the soldier, how does it interfer with the ProMask, do they have to take the turbans off inside? is it considered head gear? I really do not have an issue with it per say, but they are going to open a can of worms. Do you know how many sunday services I gave up for duty? How many of my religious observances that I did not attend because of duty. It is part of the sacrifice we make for GOD and Country. So if I am of a religious/ethinic heritage and I want to serve, then I should be willing to sacrifice.

I understand that there are religions reasons for the Islamic population to wear their hair and appropriate headgear.
I also served with Muslims (before Muslims were cool) who not once complained about facial hair, nor wearing of any special headgear.

On that note, I am currently going to college with Muslims (at a Lutheran college) who do not wear beards nor special headgear. If this was such an important part of the religion, would they not have ironed this out prior to enlisting?

The headgear is usually associated only with those from the middle east anyway - so, not somebody serving within the U.S. Military.

So I would say that my opinion is to not allow it. If I were the Pope serving in the Army as a high ranking chaplain, I could not wear the Papal Tiara with my ACU's...

Whoever put this post should show your face! Are you insane? I have nothing wrong with whatever you want to wear as a civilian. If the Sikh religion requires you to wear a beard and wear a turban, you won't fit the military mould. One of the concepts of looking the same is that it creates a feeling of teamwork, because nobody could win a war alone. If you stand out, you'll be the first to die.

Accually the picture shows a Sikh not aa muslim. I know that there were a few in the WRAIR as inlisted reaserch assistants in the early '80's.

one word: Retarded!

While it would be nice if everyone could practice their religion in the Army, Beyond uniformity there are concerns about the ability to complete ones duties. This is most often in reference to wearing equipment, think of helmets, body armor, the Pro Mask, amount other things. If the exception would interfer with the performance of one's duties then there can not be an exception it is about safety as much as uniformityif not more.

Hell No! ! ! ! !

The Army has had a dress code since forever and why should they change it now? Didn't the Army know of theses people's religion before they entered the Army? Yea I know you can not discriminate against a person because of his/her religion. But I think I would have red flagged
their file. And besides that how the hell do they get into such high ranking positions Like this
CW2? Look at what happened at that hospital when a Muslim doctor flipped his cookie and
started shooting troops that were getting ready to deploy. And now the Twin Towers aren't
these the very people we are fighting against???? You know they study the Koran which is
their Holy Bible and preaches jihad against the western ideas. If you don't believe in Allay
then you are dead. I say get rid of all the Islams and Muslims that are in our United States
Military. What are we going to do then they ( their all mightiest Muslim or Islamist ) calls
for an all out jihad against all of the western countries and their ideas? Just something to think
about.

you know...i was going to answer in a really really angry manner about this post...but then i got here to write and really i just dont have the mental energy to burn about how this is ridiculous in so many ways...yes i understand about people and their freedoms...but you dont go into something that has been around for more years than you have been alive and demand changes because your feeling are hurt..someone said in a previous post if you dont like it dont join it and its as simple as that

Do they want burkas for the women? This sounds like some sort of special ops possibility