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

The reason why folks are starting to demand things is because the military has decided allow things. We've started waiving the standards in order to fit in with the civilian way of life. The problem with that is civilians are not going to leave home to go fight wars. When I joined the military was all about being their own culture. We were our own culture due to the unique way we conduct business for the nation. We have always been the group that everyone can join, but only a dedicated few can survive in. Now that we are conforming to the rest of America we are trying to be the group that everyone can join and everyone can thrive in. This affects our readiness due to the fact that not everyone is willing to be discipline and not everyone is willing to fight. We've allowed people to maintain their agendas for joining the military instead of focusing them towards the agenda of the military, which is to defend America and win our nation's wars.

Many folks are going to say "well we allowed this group to do that, so why not allow this other group to do what they want?" And in the new "conformist" military where standards take a backseat to personal preference they will have a totally valid argument and the only answer will be: Change the reg so that everyone is happy

Since we are going to allow folks to grow their hair and beards for religious reasons I'm going to push to allow Rastafarians to grow their locks and beards, and if others get their wish and I can't get mine, then I'm going to scream racism!!! See...this is what happens when the military starts accommodating folks when it comes to uniform standards. IJS

Pandora's box has been opened........

The title of your article is misleading at best.

It gives no indication or proof that Muslims have "demanded" anything. The only supporting evidence of any sort is a statement or two by Sikhs who are not Muslim.

I don't that anyone should join the military with hopes of changing anything already in place. If you don't like the way things are, then get out. Soldiers adapt to the Army, not the other way around. That is ridiculous if anyone even considers making these changes. I mean its already bad enough that we are told to worry that our yelling makes soldiers uncomfortable.

I could be wrong but isn't separation of church and state a thing? I mean changing our rules, regulations and uniform for one specific religion seems to contradict it. I understand the belief system requires it but our military requires something as well, sacrifice of your individuality to a point.

Nothing we can honestly say or do to change this as these regulations are already passed.

This is just getting out of hand.

This is insane NO the uniform standard should not change to meet the standard of any one person or group. They know the standard going in if you do not like it then do not sign up. The military is down sizing now so just down size them out where they can wear what ever they want. Trying to make everyone happy is going to destroy everything that we hold dear. I do not see catholic leadership in the military wearing their traditional clothing around base when they are not at mass nor have I ever heard of them asking to do so and these are college educated men of the cloth so why should we change to appease someone who simply says I am this or that with no formal training.

I say the author is quite misleading with the choice of the title for the article for that the word demand isn't very peaceful approach nor is there a demand merely a petition to modify the dress code to accommodate a religious request. I can already see the extreme bias responses. Good luck keeping it peaceful and open minded!

The Department of Defense wants to apply special rights to a few select but restrict Chaplains. If the few select get special rights, release the restrictions on Chaplains.

Honestly, I think it is a load of nonsense. Don't get me wrong, I support everyones right to worship as they please. On the same token, to allow an infinitesimal percentage of our great organization to bend standards to their liking (while my tattoos are condemned as "unprofessional") is a slap in the face to those of us who ruck up and drive on with the rules and regulations regardless of our complaints. This is the United States Army if you want to fight for your country in OUR ranks, do it as we do. We have countless victories because of the way we conduct warfare. Stop whining, quit trying to rock the boat, and fall in.

The comments on this thread are alarming. There are a few fundamentals people are either overlooking or deliberately disregarding.

1. The Army is "green," the Navy and Air Force are various shades of "blue," the Marine Corps must be "red," and the Coasties must either be "orange" or some other shade of "blue." We are not any race in particular. Neither are we any particular religion. I find SGT Richard H. to be off the mark because Islam and Sikhism are not "special interests," as if Christianity were somehow the norm. Christianity may be the majority, but not being a Christian is not abnormal. What people seem to be forgetting is that we are not a Christian military with "special interest" minority faiths. We are a fighting force composed of American citizens or those who hope to become citizens, and we come from a population that contains and values religious beliefs.

2. The idea that prohibiting people from observing their sincere religious tenets will somehow DECREASE racism is absurd. The "you joined the military, now conform!" line of thinking misses step 1 above. First, xenophobia is distinct from racism, so the connection is beyond me. Many SMs need to take a hard look at their own unquestioned notions on this topic and, in accordance with at least the Army's Values, reexamine their Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. Second, even the idea that prohibition of religious observance will decrease religious intolerance is illogical. We need to start with the knowledge that (a) there is a Christian majority and (b) that majority's religious observances have already been accommodated. Then, we can recognize that, from a minority religion's perspective, refusal to accommodate is xenophobia, or religiophobia or whatever. We cannot be a military that represents the population if we don't reflect our cultural differences. Obviously, reflecting those differences must be done selectively to safeguard military necessity.

3. To end on a positive note, it is great to know that there are several approaching this discussion with tolerance, level heads, and logic. SGM Robin Johnson, MSgt Randy Dines, and CPT Steven Harder, thanks for being the minority.