New Army policy OKs soldiers to wear hijabs, turbans and religious beards

It always has been. Nothing new here, drive on.

LTC (Join to see) - That may be so, but what about regular training, a protective mask is not going to seal if you have a beard. I would not want to take a lung full of CS any time and we use it for training even though it can't be used in combat. I respect their warrior tradition but I don't think they would want to go through a training exercise with a protective mask that didn't seal. I thought we trained like we fight and we fight like we trained, or has that changed since I got out in 86'.

SPC Miles Blackman - True, I was just working a compromise since when they are in the SRP/mobilized they will have plenty of time to train up to standard. I guess the Sec of Defense and those puzzle-palace flag officers will discuss this and decide if this is going to far?

LTC (Join to see) - With all due respect I was taught that an Officers and NCO'S job in combat was to get the mission done and bring all their people home alive. If the chair polishers in the Pentagon have forgotten this it is, then they should have been retired a long time ago, and have no business being there now.

I've spoken with multiple Special Operators and they say they don't have an issue with this. It doesn't seem to be a problem for the Dutch or Germans either (who are allowed to grow beards).