(Sgt. I had 33yrs and worked after I was 65 and the place I worked provide health insurance and I could not qualify for TRI-CARE, now i WANT TO RETIRE AND I HAVE TO PAY A PENALTY FOR NOT HAVING PART B. We don't even elect generals as presidents anymore. 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. 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. 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. Retired SGM. Religious Beard Accommodations in the US Military Once you join the military, you no longer for work God, you work for the US governmentbesides, dousn't the bible tell you to follow giverment laws?? I used to shave with cold water in my pot (helmet liner) in the field with a The Pentagon announced Wednesday that beards, turbans, religious body art and other previously off-limits manifestations of spiritual devotion can now be allowed throughout the military. When the first bullet snaps past your ear, ALL style concerns are out the window. Or maybe the government hasn't gotten around to it yet. Air Force allows Sikh airman to wear turban and beard while serving The. I seriously doubt they have a Walmart in the middle of the jungle to pick up that lice cream. 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! For additional Heathen religious support in the US Armed Forces, please consider checking out the Open Halls Project. Mustache/hair regs. And still, stranger things have happened, in the Twilight Zone. 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. 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. If a soldier is following the rules as set by the Army, they should absolutely be free from harassment discrimination. I also wonder about your age a bit (or at least your maturity level) due to the name comment. Just because you like transgender does not mean the rest of us have put up with this asinine stupidity!!! Copyright 1977 - 2023 Universal Life Church Ministries. LOL! 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 . Hed known that much since he was in third grade when he saw the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, unfold on the television in real-time. All of those who insist on wearing beards, should be trained to be medics, so its easier for enemy snipers to identify them in combat. Cadets push to win prize, Former NFLer, Ranger draws comparisons between NFL, military training, All the Light We Cannot See trailer wows without a word, A Call of Duty board game is coming in 2024, FUBAR stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in his first-ever TV show, Committee votes on major defense policy bill expected in May, Military families share workout with first lady Jill Biden, US conducts first evacuation of its citizens from Sudan war, Ukrainian drones strike Crimea oil depot, Russian official says, Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, Understanding the role of artificial intelligence, Mark Kitz keynote speech at the C4ISRNET conference, The latest on software, data and artificial intelligence, Army grounds helicopter fleet for force-wide safety stand down. 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. Got all my benefits without a problem. The Pentagon has allowed military personnel to request religious accommodation to uniforms under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act since 2014. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. "This request is based on . Its part of uniform regs.. You know this if youre retired. There is no more pride of country, Reimplementing the draft is long overdue. Jacob DiPietro, May 2021. cannot have facial hair for these safety reasons you cited. I totally agree get him out of office pronto. When he died in June ,10, 2001. Us Wiccans did that for many centuries, and it works like a charm. Now recruiting is in the toilet just as it was when I joined. Wiccans and pagans in the United States military - Wikipedia Thank GOD I had commanders with your spirit and laser focus to win, no matter what task given. Other facets of the federal government and first-responder organizations could be impacted. I see the R at the end of your USN so no F you Matte. Did cross boarder operations in Cambodia. I will pray for you unless that to might chap your ass, freedom of religion as well. 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. But I couldnt use my Benifits. However, we are not actively promoting a trend in this direction or seeking to normalize it.. If youre trying to fleece the system because you just dont want to shave, or you just want to grow your hair out, Im telling you now: Its not gonna work.. For instance the Military Regs do not allow beards or hairbuns for women if there is a chance they can be sent into combat where gas and chemicals can be used. Who knows? Militaries around the world have varying policies . John Hoskins applied for a beard exemption as part of his proclaimed devotion to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster a faith also known as Pastafarianism., This request is based on my deeply and sincerely held belief in the Pastafarian faith, Hoskins wrote in his request to the Army. Religious beards in the military were allowed in 2017, but the process to be granted that right takes a bit of time. Apparently,you have not met the Taliban, ISIS, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab , or the Proud Boys. The Coast Guard followed suit, banning them in June 1986, according to the service's historical website. are you still in grade school? He then filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department to gain permission to peacefully follow through with his faith requirements. Oh and dark chocolate please. In Afghanistan, meanwhile, Hopper keeps his waiver on him at all times in case any superiors question the facial feature he refers to as a sacred and defining feature of masculine men. Regulations specify a beard can be no longer than 2 inches in length. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. At the time, the Navy and Coast Guard appeared to be the only services to allow beards. I noticed that by praying, I found strength, he explained. BUT YOU DONT AND THEY DONT CARE AT THE COST! The Open Halls Project, an advocacy group for heathens serving in the military, sought to clarify any existing confusion in a 2017 post about beard exemptions. No portion of the mustache will extend below the lip line of the upper lip, the updated policy reads. The psychology of having bearded soldiers might only make the defenders of our nation tougher and more rugged, than the clean shaven soldiers of other nations. They ALL target medics, aid workers, journalists, legislators, police, and women. I found it easier not to have a mustache! VA Has Announced Big Changes for Veterans, Will Overhaul Disability Evaluations, House Passed Major Veteran Bill That Would Automatically Enroll Veterans in VA Health Care, Do Not Sell My Personal Information for California Residents. Jacob DiPietro, a cargo specialist with the Florida Army Reserves 489th Transportation Company (Seaport Operations), was approved for a religious exemption to the Army hair standards this week. How can he avoid lands that are declared unholy and how could a soldier not have anything to do with dead bodies in a military offensive? Army Grants Religious Exemptions For Beards, Turbans, And Hijabs How should we remember? Avoiding militarism on ANZAC Day - ABC Religion DiPietros request, the interviews with chaplains, coordinating agencies, and the chain of command recommendations, it appears that his request is based on a sincerely held religious belief, Rutners memo said. What does religion have to do with it? GROW THE FUCK UP. It might even make them jealous. I served during the Zumwalt days and had a neat, military-style beard as a Navy Airborne Electronic Warfare Officer. Special Forces wear long hair, beards, mustaches, Navy seals the same and these soldiers & sailors are the elite! The first person granted a beard waiver in the U.S. Airforce due to his faith was a Muslim soldier. Jon Simkins is a writer and editor for Military Times, and a USMC veteran. It said hed have to pursue the hair portion of his request separately. Meanwhile, the Navy has announced they are lightening the restrictions on beards and will allow retired sailors to sport them while in dress uniform. The soldiers brigade-level commander will approve a request for a religious accommodation unless the commander determines the request is not based on a sincerely held religious belief, or identifies a specific, concrete hazard that is not specifically addressed in this directive and that cannot be mitigated by reasonable measures, Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning said at the time. 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.. Leaked Emails Cause Alarm. Haley Britzky That seed was planted early in my life, DiPietro said. Gaitan notes that growing a beard is a constant reminder of our faith and who we are as Muslims (The Prophet Muhammad was said to have a beard, and it has come to signify a closeness with Allah). Yearly suicide prevention training, substance abuse prevention training and resilience training must be done face-to-face, with the optional help of chaplains, legal experts, master resilience trainers or other subject matter experts. The military first banned beards during World War I, as beards greatly increased the risk that soldiers wouldnt be able to put on their life-saving gas masks during a chemical attack. Leandros Katsareas, a Petty Officer 3rd Class, was granted an exemption last year to wear a four-inch beard but was informed this year the exemption could be revoked. If you want to improve the moral of the Army & other services, this would be a good start. Well I can tell you this I hope with great hope that you decide to grow up and get educated and expand that lump 3 feet above your ass and use it for more then a hat rack. Thank you for the compliment and the smile this morning. It helps to have a god on our side, no matter who we work for. 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.. The Marines Reluctantly Let a Sikh Officer Wear a Turban. He Says It's But on the same note when you put on any military uniform you are representing the military regardless! Army grants Christian an exemption to grow beard, citing religious But the Army made policy changes in 2017 that made it easier for soldiers to receive religious exemptions to grow out their hair or beards by allowing the soldiers brigade-level commander to approve the request. For you facial hair obsessed supposed professionals you are entirely missing the real issues. Now, though, mums the word from internet commenters. The first such accommodation came in 2017 following years of beard-exemption requests and legal pressure from Sikh soldiers seeking to preserve religious traditions while wearing a U.S. uniform. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The document was originally issued in 2009 and updated this month. The Army Times has since reported that a soldier at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri was granted permission to grow a beard in accordance with heathenry. The army didnt allow it for that reason. Beards are largely banned for military servicemen in the United States, inspiring conversations about dress code among religious members whose religions forbid shaving. I am Army HR and even our civilian guards per regulation ca Odd just sayen. Up and away to the sky . Why should it be any different in the military. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Check this out!!!! He spent months working on his formal request, knowing that the Army would look for any reason at all to deny the request. Joined before the draft got me, decided I wanted to be the best. 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. Agree 100%! 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. The look of the U.S. Army is about to get a facelift. Non-Sikh personnel are allowed to grow whiskers and mustaches, with the only regulation being that they "will be of moderate length". Here, a coalition service member maintains security during a patrol with. 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). Yup, Biden is a frickin idiot! 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. Of course that was 27 years ago, in the real Navy. In 2019, Sgt. This new generation needs some goals and self-discipline. Were the Navy and Marines to allow beards for active service personnel when in uniforms, it could have a wider impact on the issue. Douglas Carver, a Southern Baptist minister who is the former chief chaplain for. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The list goes on. We, as Heathens, have no such religious requirement with regards to hair.. They shouldn't make ITalian female soldiers shave their faces iether. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Now they both work at a hospital at a USAF base in this country, him as a civilian, since he's retired. He is believed to be the first turbaned Sikh to receive such an accommodation, though his lawyers have criticized the strict standards put in place by the Marine Corps. Let it grow: Sailors, Marines disgruntled by beard ban find favorable This includes Islam, Sikhism, and some Orthodox Christian denominations. Get off his back about his beard. 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! You must be related to cousin It, Angel. 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. Beards don't grow over our eyes, and we don't comb them up on our faces. Walmart does very surprising things, Angel. I guess it wouldn't be impossible. 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. A soldier's actions DO affect others and the outcome of the mission. DiPietro, who was a specialist assigned to the 1186th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion at the time, said he felt a need to read the book of Numbers in the Old Testament of the Bible, and in Numbers 6, he found the Nazarite vow. Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. Facial hair in the military | Military Wiki | Fandom 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. Its Airman like you who kept us strong. It used to be honor and resect, proud to wear the uniform. 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! Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. He provided the chaplain with a memo he drafted in which he requested his religious accommodation. 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 have one. Abdul Rahman Gaitan in 2018 became the first Muslim. In the interim, the Becket Fund says the Navy has agreed to allow all four men religious accommodation to wear beards while the case is pending. Six years between the USMC and NatGuard. I see it as a phase very similar to when the Army authorized the wear of black socks during the fitness test. If the only reason is because of the masks fitting and they are willing to take that chance just get rid of the rule completely. 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. I know theres some right here in these comments. A 'defining feature of masculine men' soldier's Norse pagan faith Many Sikhs wear a turban and do not cut their hair or shave their beards as an outward commitment to their faith. Soldiers ought to be carrying RID shampoo with them anyway. My 22 year career, Ive seen this cycle. 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. I thought that it was an easy-to-understand thought process. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: U.S. Army to Allow Christian Soldier to Grow Beard, Dylan Mulvaney: God Didn't Make a Mistake With Me. As we all should be aware of, the mustache and its flashiness gave a chest up presentation when presenting yourself to the civilian community .in full dress. 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. All rights reserved. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith. Religious Beards In The United States Military - gentlemansfoundry In 2021 the Air Force began allowing female service members to wear their hair in a single braid, double braid, or ponytail that can go down to the bottom of their shoulder blades. And his wife is currently a colonel, and a nurse who only works in hospitals. U.S. Military Religious Accommodations: Beards, Tattoos, Piercings Military Branches Have Updated Facial Hair and Uniform Policies All of this concern about facial hair when the concern should be the current effort to enlist people with known mental disorders for inclusivity.. Since April, Esper has released 16 memos to reduce administrative burdens on leaders. What about the Army? Now if he is a rear echelon desk jockey then that might be a different matter. Personally instead of sacrificing our military standards, implement the draft and to hell with any exceptions, because your in college. Equal opportunity training must also be done face to face, but now yearly as opposed to quarterly. The issue has always been related to the use of gas masks. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The Space Force also announced the same expanded mustache policy, along with a more loose tattoo policy. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". He explained that he had . Its makes me sick that the VA has to pay for transgender surgeries. Religious beards in the military were allowed in 2017, but the process to be granted that right takes a bit of time. The flaw in that thinking is that when you do something to endanger yourself, you endanger those around you, especially in firefighting and combat. Simratpal Singh faced many complications when trying to receive a waiver for his beard. He said maybe, VA will help you ? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Some people here really seem confused, and equate being in the military to any other "Job". password. 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. So I'm speaking from what I've seen during my years in the Army. If you have any problems with grooming standards to serve your country, you have some serious issues and concerns!! 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. If you have a problem with that, then move to a country, where you can have better benefits and freedom. Beards are still off-limits for airmen, except under certain medical waivers or religious exemptions. Sailors, Marines seek religious accommodation to wear beards You intimated that if one endangered only himself, go for it. . 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 THOUGHT IT DIDNT MATTER!!!! The first time I went on a recon mission, in Sam Houston National Forest, with U.S. Army J.R.O.T.C. "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," the post read. 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. TRENDING: Bad or No Credit? The Navy allowed beards beginning in 1970, only to reverse the policy in the mid-1980s a directive that was soon followed by the Coast Guard. WHY DO YOU THINK WE ARE BETTER THAN ALL THOSE PEOPLE! Some 100,000 soldiers died due to chemical gas during that conflict. If you want to maul and mutilate your body, have at it! The Army could let soldiers grow beards. No, seriously. RELATED: Sikh American soldiers continue to campaign for right to wear beard, turban. An unlikely boost for the change in the Navys policy came from the Marine Corps. :D. Beards are cool. However, they are specifically required to "dress up their hair and beard properly". You should be ashamed to even respond like that!! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Over the years, military officers have regularly dealt with requests for religious exemptions to various rules. For some pagans, it is seen as a way of honoring the gods and goddesses. The already-growing list of religious exemption requests inflated earlier this year when Spc. This is important because, in an emergency, if you grab a gas mask, there is no guarantee it is going to fit. But the ability to grow it out far enough to stop the bumps. BUT YOU DONT AND THEY DONT CARE AT THE COST! Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. And beadsthey should wear hippie beads too, while holding hands and singing Kumbaya, in between sips of espresso, and bites of biscotti they've dunked into it. Because the 2017 directive is technically applicable to all religions, final judgement is often left to individual leadership to discern authentic exemption request from insincere. Women service members should have had relaxed hair styles long ago. Online training is no longer required. I loathe nothing more then self sold slaves acting as if that action should entitle them to some greater status in society. How about this I dont care if you dont like the fact a fellow vet can now get gender reassigned surgery, really after all we have been through as a nation with all this world pandemic and death of so so many humans and a economic resesion like none before us a yet thats what you choose to bitch about are you fucken kidding me right now? I dont care what they do, or what they say, do not stand down. The only way youll be successful, he said, is if you know the regulations better than the Army itself., If youre serious about your request, do not give up, DiPietro said. I have absolutely no qualms with soldiers growing beards. DiPietro said his request was kicked back down to him from the battalion level because it hadnt been formatted correctly. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. You can see what the new tattoo policy is here. Capt. In some circumstances though, it can be best to keep it to ourselves. DiPietro remembered thinking how he expected it to be more difficult to get approval. Although the Air Force has relaxed their mustache policy, beards are still off limits for airmen. And finally, on July 25, he saw a memo in his email inbox signed by Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, the head of Army personnel, approving his request. There are many religions that allow beards in the military. Islam & The First Religious Beard in The US Military (Air Force) They then passed it up to the battalion level, which is when things got difficult. 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. Published Jul 30, 2021 11:57 AM EDT. 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. Having a beard in the U.S. military can be difficult due to its ban on facial hair while in uniform. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The new standards for the new soldiers will be what they know and respect. 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. Maybe there are too bulky for a soldier to carry. Within two days of the Army's rollout of new hair and grooming standards primarily for female soldiers, a petition calling for the service to allow male soldiers to grow beards has gotten more .