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I will also add, the whole reason I want a beard is to help me with my faith during Ramadan. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Brown Jr. covered a broad range of topics with his additions to his Leadership Library in February. The new religious accommodation rules also cover unshorn beards and unshorn hair such as those worn by members of the Sikh faith under-turbans or patkas, and other indoor or outdoor head coverings. If youre willing to learn, we are willing to teach.. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. Sorry airmen, you're not getting beards without a medical or religious waiver anytime soon, as Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles 'CQ' Brown and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force . Its a little scraggly right now, Sopchak said. 28, beards are generally allowed in the military "provided they are neatly trimmed, present a professional and well-groomed appearance, and are not excessive in bulk or length," with the caveat that beards may have to be removed for medical reasons or under orders from a superior. Press J to jump to the feed. Some of it was because I just ignored it, some of it was because I wanted these young men to do what I did: just suck it up and figure it out and youll be fine.. United States Air Force members who refused to take the COVID vaccine for religious reasons will soon get a reprieve from the punitive actions the military took against them.. 7Ndj% endobj The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the policy change. For example, it took airmen with eight or more years with a waiver about a year longer on average to get promoted to the rank of technical sergeant (E-6) compared to airmen who had a waiver for just a year or two. Previously, these airmen needed to get their waivers updated annually. other similar condition s that prohibits regular facial shaving may requ est a waiver to wear a beard . endobj The wing chaplain or equivalent will then assign a chaplain to interview the requesting airman about what is motivating him or her to ask for it. DAFI 52-201 is the governing regulation for religious accommodation. The Supreme Court today upheld Indian Air Force's denial of permission to two Muslim personnel to grow beard, holding that the two orders were in compliance with Regulation 425(b) which . Isnt the whole point of religious freedom that people CANT do that? The last sentence indicates that Air Force senior leadership wants to be in sync with other services on major changes in facial hair policy. It took Sopchak about 11 months to get his beard approved. Under certain conditions, commanding officers can order the removal of turbans or hijabs to keep service members safe, the regulations state for example, while someone is walking within 25 feet of an operating aircraft. Chaplains typically can tell if you're trying to BS them and it can affect the perceived credibility of real requests in the future. The AFI allows the Air Force to deny a request for a waiver only if it furthers a compelling government interest., Groups such as the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Sikh Coalition, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced their support for the decision, with CAIR saying Feb. 12 it is a step toward religious accommodation and inclusion for military personnel of all faiths., No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, Giselle Klapper, a Sikh Coalition staff attorney, said in a release. It was approved in September, which means Singh will soon head to basic training. % David Roza Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. ak cGeoI0_enzM8_#.Skvv1Nx72!oaBV >q@yN;NG.s;9>/B32:*I=u/x|=3;.m1.DWc(P(mZ XZ Religious exemptions to the rule allow for beards up to 2 inches long. Any links to regs would be appricated. For nearly a year, the Air Force weighed a staff sergeant's request to grow a beard as part of his religious beliefs before granting him a waiver, a decision that balanced personal liberty against military readiness, a Pentagon spokesman said. Beard hair longer than two inches must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Meanwhile, about 76.83% of the no-waiver group was White. The Nevada Army Guard said that Sgt. The Air Force is first in many things, but in this case the branch came in second to the Army, which in 2017 became the first military branch to grant religious exemptions for beards, turbans and hijabs. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. The U.S. Air Force issued new guidelines on Friday giving members who wear religious apparel a way to serve the country without compromising their faith. Editors note: This story has been updated with new comments from Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. Big news today for the many airmen out there who want to grow out their beards: not only is there little evidence showing that beards interfere with a gas mask seal, but the Air Forces ban on beards may also be contributing to racial discrimination and hurting promotion opportunities within the service. 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The majority of the waiver group was Black (64.18%), despite that group making up only 12.85% of the cohort. Such a request for an exemption to a military policy can only be denied, the AFI change said, if the policy furthers a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive way of furthering that interest. Master Sgt. We dont have to hire RAND or Booz Allen Hamilton to do it, but the Air Force needs to want it to happen, he said at the time. Theyre more like family members than they are divine beings, Sopchak said. A chaplain must then interview the requesting airman and submit a recommendation to the wing chaplain (or the unit's equivalent of a wing chaplain). The religious accommodation process is designed to accommodate individuals who can cite specific teachings, traditions, or texts that Air Force policies contradict. In a June 18 memo, Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg authorized the longer shaving waivers for airmen with pseudofolliculitis barbae, or razor bumps, effective immediately. According to an Air Force press . Powered by GoDaddy This website uses cookies. A federal judge Thursday temporarily blocked the Air Force from penalizing a group of service members who are seeking a religious exemption to otherwise mandatory Covid-19 vaccination, in. "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," the post read. He joined Task & Purpose in 2019, after covering local news in Maine and FDA policy in Washington D.C. David loves hearing the stories of individual airmen and their families and sharing the human side of Americas most tech-heavy military branch. [T]he promotion system is not necessarily inherently racially biased, but instead biased against the presence of facial hair which will likely always affect the promotions of Blacks/African-Americans disproportionately because of the relatively higher need for shaving waivers in this population, wrote the authors of the study, a team of eight led by Air Force Lt. Col. Simon Ritchie. For ANG Those encounters, along with studies like the one published last year, convinced Wright to change his position. Any links to regs would be appricated. ~pkgEsHh,1%l|hJ ", By Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? Paragraph 1.5.2 changed to read: Submitting Requests for Religious, Gender , or Medical Waivers. No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, Klapper said in a statement Wednesday. A federal appeals court on Friday granted a preliminary injunction allowing two Sikh men to immediately begin basic training with the U.S. Marine Corps without shaving their beards . He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. 2 0 obj Also, do you have to be able to prove that you are that religion or can you just claim that you are a Muslim and thats that. I can assure you that we are focused on our Airmen; they are the most competitive advantage we haveand we must get the people piece right.. The standards for growing a beard for medical reasons remain unchanged, the Air Force said. On Monday, Captain Toor and three other Sikhs sued the Marine Corps in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, saying the corps's refusal to grant a religious waiver is arbitrary and. David Roza The Army granted a similar waiver last year, and beard exemptions have been granted for a growing number of Sikhs and Muslims though not atheists. &w\=xi~Wh^iz`b=)!]T;iMC.OXm(+N*uHe{5"@"o$n*uQI'JHyLij%O&Q3 .\nOemNKW2j2ttYK9sll?hyA/fQ/lF\ pVyH0qd~T#o[Bpi*In=mS hU f[6rx~ 8;GO yNb4.A`t`Wj Giselle Klapper, a Sikh Coalition staff attorney, said her group has long been seeking a blanket proclamation that all Sikh Americans who wear turbans and beards as part of their faith can serve in every branch of the military without seeking individual accommodations. Singh said that he believes the Air Forces policy update will make it easier for Sikh Americans to serve while maintaining their articles of faith. The updated regulation said beards must be no longer than two inches when measured from the bottom of the chin, and must be rolled and/or tied when longer than two inches. Part of HuffPost Politics. The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the United States which has helped more than 20 Sikh Americans serve in the military, applauded the changes. Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa in June 2019 became the first active-duty Sikh airman allowed to wear a turban, beard and long hair, which Sikhs tie in a bun and then cover with the turban. It is a sincerely held belief, but I have not been a Muslim for long, only a couple weeks. This new study shows that changing beard regulations may actually be a need, rather than a want, because the current policy essentially discriminates against Black airmen. Sample accommodation request memos included with the regulation said that the Air Force can order an airman to immediately shave or remove their turban or hijab if they need to be ready to wear a gas mask during an emergency. Gen. Charles A. McGee Leadership Award, named after the legendary Tuskegee Airman, will give either $18,000 per year, The Space Forces new leader has definedthree lines of effort he wants the young service to pursue, focusing on combat-ready forces, personnel management, and partnerships with other Pentagon organizations and allies. HbMc#!6d~\@sQfe_Mp X_T1ew,`CC _O3b eTBo~&aM(AL?z[vEIYf~;LI>*H~BL 3v3!2/)mC*f3d]UL!'7*^LtPNl2"8}Vo=N@&.&|Ye. Be aware though, that the belief must be sincere, which means you will likely be interviewed by the chaplain about your beliefs, and they will advise your CC on whether or not your beliefs are sincere, or you're just trying to get a beard. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Beards should have been approved years ago, Facebook commenter Heather Britten wrote. It was only after becoming the top enlisted airman that Wright met fellow airmen for whom being clean-shaven was impossible without immense pain and skin damage. <> Staff Sgt. Sopchak said that something about the Heathen religion felt more real to him. Another example of neat and conservative is color. This is a volunteers proposal.. The Air Forces updated policy sets new grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. I had opportunities to hire all kinds of folks and I was adamant about not hiring somebody with a shaving waiver, just because I fell into that category of this is Air Force policy, its not professional, he said. Black men disproportionately suffer from the ingrown hairs that cause painful razor bumps, either precluding them from shaving more regularly or forcing them to suffer and, in some cases, endure scarring. The study would require only 100 to 150 service members, he said. | That assessment, and ability to address and adjust, is critical to our force, and our people. A staff judge advocate must also review the request package. He is now about two weeks into growing his beard, and is waiting for it to come in a little more before he can start shaping it. As of Jan. 21, the Air Force has administratively separated 111 active duty Airmen. It is unclear how many Norse pagans, Heathen, or Asatru followers are in the military, but they have become increasingly visible in recent years. endobj Sikhs have served honorably and capably in the U.S. Armed Forces and other militaries around the world, and while we are eager for a blanket proclamation that all observant Sikh Americans can serve in every branch of the military without seeking accommodations, this policy clarification is a great step forward towards ensuring equality of opportunity and religious freedom in the Air Force.. Air Force Special Operations Command has made history by granting a religious accommodation waiver to a Sikh service member. Hijabs, turbans and under-turbans (also known as patkas) should be free of designs and made of a subdued material in a color that closely resembles ones uniform. And in June, a Sikh airman received approval to wear a beard and turban. Airmens facial hair also cannot interfere with the wear of personal protective equipment such as gas masks, the Air Force said, and airmen must be able to continue to perform their duties. The U.S. Air Force granted its first religious waivers to the military-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate this week. The Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group which works on behalf of Sikhs and other religious minorities in the military, praised the new regulation. Published Jul 14, 2021 8:57 AM EDT. Previously, the only exceptions for active-duty personnel were medical waivers. While these issues affected airmen of all races who had shaving waivers equally, Black or African-American airmen made up the majority of the waiver holders and thus bore a disproportionate share of the consequences. Rathour graduated Security Forces technical training on Sept. 26, 2019. If you saw a man that had a beard, you could almost guarantee that they were a good person, that you could go to them for help," Sopchak said. Hopper,. ;NNB6 j~X3E]4]euu((m#/S>c9K71,E304a;97la@Ejrf-o eP9_$)'"?#EO!orCi=5P@C5TmJY;^qzU/nWXvvRH~]/C >K)a2MuOzZ.VsDNOr%rZR[TINcCPBi!U;$TXA9%9;?&>k37{X]sa`p3Wc1^CKtjBrx\5uI3 Abdul Rahman Gaitan in 2018 became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. However, most airmen who have waivers are Black, because they are more likely to be affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) than White airmen. Last year, Capt. No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, said Giselle Klapper, Sikh Coalition Staff Attorney. Airmen in need of a waiver could try laser hair removal or chemical treatment, but many airmen are reluctant to undertake them because it could permanently alter their ability to grow facial hair, the study authors wrote. Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. The Hammer of Thor is available to be placed on government headstones and markers in the United States. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. A sample memo also said that an airman wearing a turban could be ordered to remove it if he goes within 25 feet of an operating aircraft. But if they deny a religious accommodation request, it will go up to the Air Force headquarters manpower, personnel and services directorate, Air Force reserve or the Air National Guard for a final review and decision. Contact the author here. Personnel Division," to all sign off . It marks the sixth and counting religious waiver permitting a beard in service for the Air Force, according to the online military news conglomerate that broke the story. We recommend further study of gas mask and respirator fit testing with facial hair in the military population to clarify this.. . Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. Wing commanders or other leaders at major commands, numbered air forces or other organizations will then approve or deny such a request. One civilian study from 2018 showed that 98% of study participants with an eighth-inch of beard passed the fit test with respirators that are similar to the M-50 gas masks used in the military in terms of material and fit. is at the same time the history o f the interpretation of the Scriptures.'18 The Sunna embodied an ossified tradition. All told, Brown added two books, two podcasts, and a documentary, The Air Force now has a single website to manage all its recruiting needs, covering Active Duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve recruiting. In an email to Task & Purpose, Bass said the Air Force is continually reevaluating its policies. A California-based airman has become the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver after a 2014 policy. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 13 0 R 16 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Accommodation of Religious Practices in the Air Force. The comment, which was also shared on the popular Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco, was made in response to a selfie she posted of herself alongside Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Airman 1st Class Kyle Voss-McReynolds, who was the leadership teams driver during a recent event and who also wears a beard in uniform. Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United States | Despite being in line with regulations, airmen with waivers reported feeling stigmatized for wearing facial hair. The Air Force currently prohibits service members from growing beards unless they are granted a religious or medical waiver, a policy that has come under scrutiny lately after military. Staff Sgt. So far, the Air Force has banned beards for all except those who have five-year medical waivers for pseudofolliculitis barbae, or chronic razor bumps, or religious waivers for those for whom beards are central to their observance, like Sikhs, Jews, Muslims and Norse Heathens. The Air Force separated 610 Airmen for declining the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. The DAF will remove adverse information from records of those currently serving service members who sought. There are also exceptions for Air Force Reservists serving less than 30 days. It also outlines the process to request these exemptions, sets timelines for management to respond, and ensures that the approvals will follow someone throughout his or her career in the Air Force. Sopchak said he was originally raised Baptist, but has not been a Christian for a long time. Accommodations, after all, arent about special treatment they are about ensuring that religiously observant Sikhs and others dont have to choose between staying true to our faith and serving our country.. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. Still, Ritchie called for a study to come up with a conclusive answer. The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. A U.S. soldier who is serving in Afghanistan has received a uniform religious exception to sport a beard based upon his Norse pagan beliefs. Ou5g(O5b5md8_ -+'.$Dvqx)YDTwXD`m_~G ArVT+`oo Beards can also be seen as symbols of power, strength, and virility. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith that they do so. safety) or when precluded by a compelling (i.e., especially important) governmental and/or Air Force interest. In 2018, Staff Sgt. Airman becomes the first Muslim to be granted service's beard waiver for observing religion By Jon Simkins Nov 20, 2018 Air Force Staff Sgt. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The U. S. Air Force has published new guidance for religious accommodations that allow airmen to wear beards, turbans and hijabs. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. 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The Air Force also granted its first religious accommodation beard waiver, to a Muslim airman, in 2018. . Thousands of American Muslims and members of other minority faiths serve in our nations military and should be able to practice their faith while serving, CAIRs spokesperson Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement. It also outlines the process to request these exemptions, sets timelines for management to respond, and ensures that the approvals will follow someone throughout his or her career in the Air Force. There are many religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard. The Air Force in recent years has begun granting waivers to allow airmen including airmen of the Muslim, Sikh and Norse Heathen or pagan faiths to grow beards for religious reasons. And at least two airmen who follow the Norse Heathen, or pagan, faiths have been granted permission to wear a beard. It must also include a photo or description of the head covering, religious-affiliated item, grooming standard or personal appearance that is being requested. Sopchak, an aerospace ground equipment craftsman at Hill Air Force Base in Utah,said other airmen have been emailing him with questions about his faith. But his community now meets in parks or homes to commemorate holidays such as Yule and the solstices. In March 2021, after Comer arrived at Maxwell Air Force Base, he started talking to his first sergeant about applying for a religious accommodation to obtain a beard waiver. Something about what he found resonated, and Sopchak became a Norse Heathen. Heres how. While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who, for medical and religious reasons, are not able to shave in line with regulations. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. 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This causes inflammation and a foreign body reaction, and over time, can result in scarring. Many airmens dearest wish may soon come true if the Air Force greenlights a pilot program allowing some men to grow beards. Beard News in Air Force Copyright 2022 Beard Waiver - All Rights Reserved. Air Force Global Strike Command is launching a new study of cancer risks among Airmen and Guardians who worked near intercontinental ballistic missiles and is developing new resources for current and former service members and their families. And in June, a Sikh airman received approval to wear a beard and turban. This new study looked at a much larger share of data and involved 9,339 valid responses. In August, images posted on Air Force amn/nco/snco teased a pilot program for inclusive male grooming standards which would allow service members to grow neatly-kept facial hair up to a quarter-inch in length, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. 1 comment. 1 0 obj Sikhs have served honorably and capably in the U.S. Armed Forces and other militaries around the world, and while we are eager for a blanket proclamation that all observant Sikh Americans can serve in every branch of the military without seeking accommodations, this policy clarification is a great step forward towards ensuring equality of opportunity and religious freedom in the Air Force.. Currently serving Airmen and Guardians who sought exemptions from the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate will see those actions reversed and records erased, a new memo from Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall states.