In two memos signed on Nov. 8, Army Secretary Mark Esper laid out new processes for allowing religious soldiers to wear distinguishing symbols, as well as refined guidelines for completing mandatory Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, Equal Opportunity, suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention and resilience training. Hair buns? Leaked Emails Cause Alarm. KEEP VOTING FOR IDIOTS LIKE BIDEN. Capt. REALLY!!!!. There are plenty of images of firefighter with thick mustaches, but no beards. It was hanging down seven inches below my chin, then shaved it off in April, but regretted it, so have since been growing it back. Your last sentence is spot-on. This includes Islam, Sikhism, and some Orthodox Christian denominations. Mustache/hair regs. Rank, Time in grade, Time in service and paid for 21 yrs of service It was like I took a LONG vacation.. Just let the men grow beards or don't. Best words Ive heard in a long time. And still, stranger things have happened, in the Twilight Zone. "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," the post read. Maybe there are too bulky for a soldier to carry. It is something new and authorized, and you will always encounter people who do not like change. I've since spoken with my mother who informed me that my first cousin, retired USAF Colonel Mark Pistone met his Airforce colonel wife when they were both stationed at something like a MASH unit, in Afghanistan. Now, though, mums the word from internet commenters. This time I'll probably let it keep growing for the rest of my life. In Old Norse practice, having a beard isnt exactly a requirement, but rather a beloved tradition. This new exception will inspire new recruits to join our military because it ties them a bit closer to the sleek and sharpness of the uniform. I agree that they are allowed to have a beard, and by the way Nazarite Christians or Nazarite Jews, don't get me wrong, they can certainly be Christians and want to practice the Nazarite Jewish system? I was out for 88 days and decided to return to the Navy, Now, nothing changed, Sgt. The current uniform regs and styles also do not inspire neatness or cleanliness, You know there always something next. Militaries around the world have varying policies . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Simratpal Singh faced many complications when trying to receive a waiver for his beard. I am not gay or whatsoever. The uniformed service is the place to get both and more to be successful in life. Religious minorities need not be placed in a position of choosing between their faith and public service. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I seriously doubt they have a Walmart in the middle of the jungle to pick up that lice cream. Finally, flugo got my vote. INCLUDING HI RISK PEDIATRIC FC AND NEONATAL NURSERY Oh well, I guess people will pick and choose to suit what they like to justify their worldly desires. Good grief! Mybe he's gotten a little better. Or should I say a sight for sore eyes. Six years between the USMC and NatGuard. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. MILITARY.NET is a privately owned website and is NOT AFFILIATED (or endorsed)with the U.S. GOVERNMENT, U.S. ARMED FORCES, or DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. NOW HAVE A GOOD DAY, AND WIPE UP YOUR TEARS BABY! While Muslims, Sikhs, and even Pagans have received individual exemptions in the past to grow their facial hair, DiPietro is the first known case of a Christian receiving such an exemption in the U.S. Armed Forces. It doesn't have to be long and cave-man-like, as the white guys WILL grow. Staff Sgt. Its makes me sick that the VA has to pay for transgender surgeries. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I cannot find an UNSUBSCRIBE within this item. Now if he is a rear echelon desk jockey then that might be a different matter. Since April, Esper has released 16 memos to reduce administrative burdens on leaders. Despite the OCCHs position that this accommodation lacks a religious basis and is not a required tenet of the soldiers faith, there is every indication that this moral decision to adhere to the Nazarite vow is a large and important pillar to his spiritual health and well-being.. Di Liscia had been granted a no-shave chit in 2018 as a morale measure. An unlikely boost for the change in the Navys policy came from the Marine Corps. If youre trying to fleece the system because you just dont want to shave, or you just want to grow your hair out, he says, its not gonna work.. The answer came just days later. No portion of the mustache will extend below the lip line of the upper lip, the updated policy reads. He is retired, already done his time, he earned the right to his uniform. The U.S. Army has reportedly acquiesced to the power of Thor, granting a soldier permission to grow a beard in keeping with his Norse pagan faith. But after years of the request being stuck in limbo, the Army found the request was made in good faith and on a sincerely held religious belief. No, go with the new and improved give me, give of the now military. The Military has already told Sikhs this and they have already told orthodox jews this and they have even told Rastafarians the same thing. You should have shaved this morning." Unlike the religions this exemption was created for, Forn Sidr is not a doctrinal religion and therefore doesnt have any religious laws or requirements regarding the dress, grooming, diet, relationships, or lifestyle of its followers. Special Forces wear long hair, beards, mustaches, Navy seals the same and these soldiers & sailors are the elite! Requests for waivers regarding grooming go all the way up to the Secretary level for approval. I also wonder about your age a bit (or at least your maturity level) due to the name comment. Hoppers exemption is the latest example of the militarys effort most notably the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force to acknowledge the diverse religious practices represented in its ranks. That was in June 2020. I Retired with 21 years!!! Petty Officer 2nd Class Mohammed Shoyeb previously requested and was denied a religious exemption, a situation his lawyer describes as particularly frustrating given that three sailors on his vessel had been granted medical exemptions from shaving due to razor burn. Requiring the unit commander, base chaplain, installation commander up to the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel Division, to all sign off on the beard waiver. I knew what I was going to do.. Weve been receiving requests for religions beard accommodations for soldiers serving in the Armed Forces. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. AMERICA IS NOW WEAK, LAUGHED AT, AND EVERYONE WANTS TO TRY THEIR LUCK AT THE FENCE OF ALL REAL AMERICANS. then. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I assisted in some of the basic research into PEEP AND CPAP, EVEN COCUTHOREDB A PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE. I thought that it was an easy-to-understand thought process. After that women wanting to wear dresses instead of the standard uniform. "Hey, sorry man. No matter the religious requirements, the Army interpreted Hoppers request as genuine. We don't even elect generals as presidents anymore. Unlike the ADA religion is a choice. In 2017, grooming standards in the military were updated to better accommodate the faith practices of religious soldiers, primarily Muslims and Sikhs, whose faith requires they keep facial hair. If so, should the military allow all soldiers to keep beards, regardless of religious affiliation? I bet all the men who were written about in the Bible had beards. Up and away to the sky . 1st Class Benjamin Hopper, a 34-year-old Alabama native and member of the Nevada Army Guards 3665th Ordnance Company, was granted the waiver following a lengthy review process that concluded with the Armys acknowledgement of his sincerity as a heathen. I took care of him at home. In some circumstances though, it can be best to keep it to ourselves. Its a bittersweet decision since DiPietro says he knows he wouldnt be where I am in life were it not for the Army, and even after everything, he knows he wouldnt change anything., But there are things that I see and I dont like like the way soldiers are treated when they seek an exception to policy while following Army regulation, he explained. Having a beard in the U.S. military can be difficult due to its ban on facial hair while in uniform. Religious accommodations. Sikh soldiers seeking to preserve religious traditions, Heathens hold religious services rooted in Norse paganism aboard aircraft carrier, Army denies soldiers request to grow beard in observance of Flying Spaghetti Monster religion, Interior designers remodel Jack Teixeiras camo bedroom monstrosity, Drop and give me a Guinness World Record! Beards were common in the U.S. military until World War I when concerns about the seal of period gas masks were an issue. CHOSE YOUR SIDE, BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR ALL YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE HERE IN THE FUTURE. Should Christian Postal Workers Be Required to Deliver on Sundays? I believe the disability for a surviving spouse if is called DIC. Here, a coalition service member maintains security during a patrol with. nothing any longer. I MISS THE SERVICE AND WOULD GO BACK IN TOMORROW if allowed W, but I amnodw 73 and mmy useful nd ess to the military iscgon I did spend almost 20 years as a criterial care Tiscali car Respiratory therapist. If prescribed medications are needed to alleviate that problem, then it SHOULD be included as a DISABILITY percentage, and freely given at discharge or retirement, PERIOD! A soldier's actions DO affect others and the outcome of the mission. Grab a book or poster board and instead of gripping do something for someone other then your self and try and be an inspiration or a light or a be on and do good for this globe. If you want to improve the moral of the Army & other services, this would be a good start. The request languished in limbo for months at the battalion level, he said, until he received a memo in June from Brig. Haley Britzky Odd just sayen. Jesus has never been depicted as clean shaven. Based on Spc. It used to be honor and resect, proud to wear the uniform. There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry, the post read. Do you want to continue? no sorry, a soldier MUST use US Government approved equipment. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. You could have at least tried to come up with something more unique. Among the virtues beautifully etched in stained-glass in the Australian War Memorial's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are courage, loyalty, patriotism, common sense, and highest of all self . Due to this and out of support for soldiers observing requirements by often-marginalized doctrinal religions we cannot offer accommodation letters to Heathen soldiers for beards. When those changes were made, internet commenters far and wide were quick to point out that the facial hair ban serves a legitimate safety purpose. The lack of the draft has hurt this country. Caste discrimination laws remain fraught. Further blurring the beard waiver criteria is that while Norse paganism encourages the growth of a beard, or skegg, the religion doesnt require it. The face needs to be clean shaven so that the mask can make an air-tight seal and prevent smoke, dust, poison gas and radioactive particles from being inhaled. It has absolutely nothing to do with religious beliefs. Effective immediately, the Air Force will allow airmen to grow their mustaches past the width of their lips, but not longer than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth.. That killed the live and chiggers, Angel. It is my personally held belief that growing a beard will bring me closer to my God and bring me into his favor.. Although the Air Force has relaxed their mustache policy, beards are still off limits for airmen. If your religion requires you to dress in a manor that restricts your ability to do a particular job or work on certain days, etc. That decision would seem to undercut the Navys argument that allowing these sailors to wear beards poses some sort of risk, said Baxter. Now they both work at a hospital at a USAF base in this country, him as a civilian, since he's retired. I was a draftee who rose to (Photo via Sgt. It was also my dad's nickname, and I am proud to carry it. Air Force allows Sikh airman to wear turban and beard while serving The. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Only UK Officers are allowed to grow facial hair and SAS in the field on ops are also non shaven This helps them blend into the background in Arabic countries, Having a beard to blend is sounds like a good idea. He was getting tired of waiting, so he contacted his local congressional office and asked for their help. As long as they aren't the ones who are getting hurt they won't care if they send a million troops into combat, to do their dirty work for them. People should stop worrying about others. Or maybe the government hasn't gotten around to it yet. Abdul Rahman Gaitan waited four years for official approval. The United States Navy removed a permanent exemption in 2019 from shaving for those who suffer from razor burn. Too many other people at risk for a religious belief or a fashion statement. I made a mistake in my above comment. Amy Minckler made the comment that as long as it doesn't endanger anyone but themselves, they should be allowed to have facial hair. He said he researched for six months because he knew if he was wrong on anything, down to the periods at the ends of the sentences, the Army was going to use that as a reason to deny my request. He finally spoke to his unit chaplain about his decision in November 2019. That would really confuse the enemy. RETIRED CMC USNAVY! All Rights Reserved. So if it wasn't a problem for them, why should it be for others as long as it did not endanger those around them. Mandatory SHARP training must be conducted face-to-face using Army Training Network materials and with the help of a credentialed SHARP expert. I guess AFR 35-10 is now ancient history!!!!! At the time, he wasnt observing the Nazarite vow like he is today; he just knew he wanted to be a soldier. What I do find completely offensive is that this soldiers defense of growing a beard is to claim taking a vow before God and providing no evidence that they are fulfilling all the requirements of that vow. The military has granted a few troops the ability to keep their facial hair in accordance with their religious beliefs. It is not. We served with fellow service members we KNEW were gay, but as long as they maintained proper military bearing and did their jobs NO ONE CARED. Some people here really seem confused, and equate being in the military to any other "Job". I so look forward to the day human soldiers are obsolete and we use weapons like those in sci fi films such as the iconic terminator. I have Medicare and Tricare for my prescription that my doctor prescribed.. The already-growing list of religious exemption requests inflated earlier this year when Spc. They shouldn't make ITalian female soldiers shave their faces iether. DiPietro). Qat one point became the evening shift supervisor at the U OF I MED CENTER WITH 13ICU UNITS TO LOOK AFTER. "This request is based on . The Space Force also announced the same expanded mustache policy, along with a more loose tattoo policy. Soldiers ought to be carrying RID shampoo with them anyway. Should the military allow religious soldiers the unique privilege of keeping a beard? password. So they either accept the fact that hair buns and beards (with a religious exemption) can be worn but they will not be deployed and if you cant be deployed then you are of no use to the Military and out you go. So in real-life situations, there is going to be less than a perfect seal, said Eric Baxter, a lawyer with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Hi Im a 30 year veteran can my wife file for hearing aids threw the va thanks htcm, Its about time our Air Force Family be freed from the Adolf Hitler style mustache grooming practice. Published Jul 30, 2021 11:57 AM EDT. A religious practice may be an action, behavior, or course of conduct constituting an individual expression of religious beliefs, regardless of whether the practice is compelled by, or central to, the religion concerned.. Started where you can have beards, foo man chu mustache, turbins. And his wife is currently a colonel, and a nurse who only works in hospitals. Thats fine but his career is over. Militaries around the world have varying policies regarding beards. When evaluating the sincerity of a soldiers articulated belief, the GCMCA will consider the credibility of the application and the circumstances of the request, Esper wrote. If you have a problem with that, then move to a country, where you can have better benefits and freedom. Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, sailor Edmund Di Liscia faced a stark choice. Sikh soldiers, who are bound by their religion. The Armys top leadership has been going through pretty much the entire organization with a fine-toothed comb this year, from a new fitness test to a non-deployable policy, and now theyre rolling out some tweaks to the services religious accommodation rules and mandatory training for sexual assault and substance abuse prevention, among others. Hed originally planned to stay in for a full 20 years, but the difficulty he had in getting an exemption for a religious vow he takes very seriously, and the harassment he experienced from other soldiers about his beard, have motivated him to leave the service at the end of his contract next year. are you still in grade school? 20 years ago, Switchfoot unleashed the riff that changed Christian rock, LAs Atheist Street Pirates go national in efforts to remove illegal religious signs, 60 years on, Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail relevant as ever, say faith leaders, Yes, Virginia, the Constitution does separate church and state. DiPietro is one of the first known U.S. service members to receive a religious exemption from hair standards due to their Christian faith, although in recent years the various service branches. Check out your local wounded warriors. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In 2019, Sgt. This new generation needs some goals and self-discipline. Almost two years after making his first request for a religious accommodation to grow his hair and beard out while in uniform, an Army sergeant has officially receivedthe green light. Appeal! These new children going into the military today are more than likely being sent right back home. According to his lawyers, he was told to either shave his beard voluntarily or be held down by his bunk mate and forcibly shaved. Uriah Walker/Army). The flaw in that thinking is that when you do something to endanger yourself, you endanger those around you, especially in firefighting and combat. They might even call it the cavalry. The army didnt allow it for that reason. I found it easier not to have a mustache! Studies have shown that as much as 60% of African American men suffer from pseudofolliculitis barbae. Your not going to let a fellow firefighter die in a burning building because he tried to use his mask with a beard and it failed. Religious beards in the military were allowed in 2017, but the process to be granted that right takes a bit of time. We commend their motion to include people from all religions in their grooming standards. You know what is required, if you can't do what is required, then you shouldn't be there, I don't care what color you! That is why the acceptance of gays in the military scarcely caused a murmur, but the effort to believe that a biological male or female should be able to serve while suffering from gender dysphoria, which is defined in the mental health guide DSM 5 as a MENTAL DISORDER just doesnt make any sense. Abdul Rahman Gaitan in 2018 became the first Muslim. You may see someone promoted who cannot do their existing job and may not even be able to read or write coherently. So while they cant stop you from wearing a beard or hair buns, they can refuse to deploy you and if you cant be deployed, then your military career is over. Maybe they don't meet minimum standards for protection. In 2018, The United States military updated its restrictions to accommodate soldiers who follow religious doctrinal guidelines on dress and grooming. Religious beards in the military were allowed in 2017, but the process to be granted that right takes a bit of time. As for women, hair hanging down, braids, any thought to the safety hazards that is going to cost? I FEEL SORRY THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE to have a issue with God i feel for you. I bet Amy would look good in a mink, flugo. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Beards don't grow over our eyes, and we don't comb them up on our faces. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The list goes on. The answer might be, allowed if Soldier 'pays' for a new type of 'secure' over gas mask for people with beards (who knows what the future will bring). The . That seed was planted early in my life, DiPietro said. As long as it doesn't endanger anyone but themselves go for it. Thanks for giving me a Vietnam Vet something to think about. Chaplains cannot officially approve or deny requests, but recommendations based on perceived sincerity can be made on the service members behalf. For the first time, the Army will allow a Christian soldier to break their long-standing dress code and grooming standards and grow facial hair while serving. When I tried to use my Educational benefits, I was DISAPROVED!!!!! Equal opportunity training must also be done face to face, but now yearly as opposed to quarterly. They then passed it up to the battalion level, which is when things got difficult. Get off his back about his beard. Sikhs dont cut their hair and beards out of respect for the God-given form. | While that battle was won, and DiPietro said he was sincerely thankful for everyone who helped me and counseled me throughout this process. The experience has made him rethink his future in the Army. Not to mention the Mexican drug cartel armies. All rights reserved. Try that on for size and see how much better you might feel at the end of the day then the way you currently feel. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Personally instead of sacrificing our military standards, implement the draft and to hell with any exceptions, because your in college. Personally, I don't think any of them should have one. DiPietro, who observes the Nazarite vow from the Old Testament in the Bible, first applied for the religious exemption in November 2019. By finding strength, I was able to keep fighting these personal battles of mine., He said his quality of life was improving; he enrolled in school to get a degree in business administration and is planning to finish his bachelors degree this week. I could not agree more General. My husband ,David l. Allen, was a 100% disabled veteran. There are many religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard. They're all a bunch of loudmouth, sissified politicians, who would cry bloody murder if they cut themselves shaving. This is important because, in an emergency, if you grab a gas mask, there is no guarantee it is going to fit. In many religions, facial hair is an importanttradition. Religions That Allow Beards In The Military. Hair buns for Men, sounds like just what they will do. The sense of special privilege they come to feel based entirely on the might makes right attitude they are indocrinated into makes every one of them, no matter if they see actua combat or not, a mentally damaged threat to actual society and citizens. Joined before the draft got me, decided I wanted to be the best. Strip them of all that makes them think, or feel, and turn them into the mindless meat machines they should be. All excuses and no drive/no focus. Islam & The First Religious Beard in The US Military (Air Force) forgot Additionally, the mustache will not go beyond a horizontal line extending across the corners of the mouth and no more than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth.. Those who claim a medical exemption for razor bumps must now shave periodically to prove they still suffer from the condition, which can in some instances lead to permanent scars. If you need a longer mustache or Beard to build your moral so you can feel better about your sissy self then you have more problems than your prissy hair will fix. Finally, in 400 years when they dig your sorry carcass up.guess what? Black men have always had shaving and facial bumping problems. he cannot be deployed if the safety equipment he may need cannot be safely used. The emphasis on leaders delivering quality training to soldiers on the topics contained in this directive must be on building readiness, not compliance, Esper wrote. What can I do to do that?. Wounded in 68. He is forced to remove his turban and beard whenever assigned to a ceremonial unit, and to shave his beard when deployed and receiving Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay. Enjoyed your very 'insiteful' post. To sign that contract with the U.S. gov is fo forever surrender your citizenship, from that moment on you are property of the U.S. and every actual citzen who makes their own way in society rather then selling themselves into slavery for security in the form of food,shelter, medical,dental, and the fraternity of the most well armed militant cult on the Earth. I feel like theres still a culture that is, truthfully, fearful and hating towards that which is different., As for other soldiers who are serious about their religious obligations but are scared to ask for an exception to policy, DiPietro urged them to do their research beforehand. And don't forget about office workers, most computer technicians and programmers, and administrative personnel. Here is there reason. The changes are written in red and the original policy in black. Notably the navies of the United Kingdom and Australia allow sailors to wear beards. And if its ok with you; Id like to add to the end of it. Conservative Christians arent the only ones asking for accommodation in mailman case, White House appoints new Muslim community liaison, Secular organizers say interfaith spaces should include atheists, nonbelievers, US soccer leagues add game breaks for players fasting during Ramadan, Prayer rug design project aims to highlight Islams diversity in US and Latin America, Copyright 2020, Religion News Service. All of this concern about facial hair when the concern should be the current effort to enlist people with known mental disorders for inclusivity.. Over the years, military officers have regularly dealt with requests for religious exemptions to various rules. Both are highly justifiable, but if a white man's issues are going to be more important than the uncomfortable problem black men have, then NEITHER should be approved. I see the R at the end of your USN so no F you Matte. The gas masks are made to fit tightly against your face, and they can do that if there is a beard blocking it from a complete seal or a hairbun that does not allow the straps to be pulled tightly. Went to jump school, then off to Special Forces training and became a Green Beret in 67. Many things in the air of a burning building can cause cancer, so breathing that in because you can't or won't shave doesn't make a lot of sense. We commend their motion to include people from all religions in their grooming standards.

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