Really? He said maybe, VA will help you ? You are about to delete your comment. 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. They ALL target medics, aid workers, journalists, legislators, police, and women. You could have at least tried to come up with something more unique. In that same vein, these new policies are designed to flatten processes. 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! Unlike the ADA religion is a choice. Furthermore, the arbitrary and capricious forms of creating conformance, even to how one manages their hair, is outdated and doesnt focus on what really matters in public service: performance,he said. It is my personally held belief that growing a beard will bring me closer to my God and bring me into his favor.. A unit Sexual Assault Response Coordinator listens during the kickoff event for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., March 29, 2018. I THOUGHT IT DIDNT MATTER!!!! ( cane, wheelchair ?? "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. If I read the above article correctly, the issue is not about the color of one's skin but the religious affliation of that solideryou seem to believe there are no black christiansIf one religious group does'nt have to shave to honor their god (Muslims) than nobody should have to. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. And still, stranger things have happened, in the Twilight Zone. 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 filed an official request to grow a beard, arguing that shaving is against his personal religious beliefs. Clean shaven men can think they look manly all they want, but that doesn't make it so. For Di Liscia, a practicing Hasidic Jew who had not shaved for more than two years, it was a choice between his loyalty to the U.S. Navy and his religious faith. RELATED: Sikh American soldiers continue to campaign for right to wear beard, turban. The in the early 1980s that all went away.. then in the the mid 1990s gang tattoos, face and hand tattoos kept people out. I see it as a phase very similar to when the Army authorized the wear of black socks during the fitness test. It has absolutely nothing to do with religious beliefs. Meanwhile, the Navy, which has long held on to its ban on beards in uniform despite. No matter the religious requirements, the Army interpreted Hoppers request as genuine. Some people here really seem confused, and equate being in the military to any other "Job". During my 21 year stay, i must have gotten a ton of these write ups. Requests for waivers regarding grooming go all the way up to the Secretary level for approval. Stand by your decision.. The facial hair restrictions have merit!. 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. DiPietro observes the Nazarite vow from the Old Testament, which states that "no razor may be used on their head.". His chaplain then passed it to the company commander and first sergeant, who DiPietro said were amazing and supported the request. Same with firefighters. Abdul Rahman Gaitan in 2018 became the first Muslim. In 2019, Sgt. NOW HAVE A GOOD DAY, AND WIPE UP YOUR TEARS BABY! And his wife is currently a colonel, and a nurse who only works in hospitals. 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.. In the armed forces and police of India, male Sikh servicemen are allowed to wear full beards as their religion expressly requires followers to do so. Why the Bible Could Get Banned in Utah Schools, Church Claims Prayer Regrew Woman's Amputated Toes, Is There an Anti-Trans Holy War Brewing? 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.. It is something new and authorized, and you will always encounter people who do not like change. 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. I assisted in some of the basic research into PEEP AND CPAP, EVEN COCUTHOREDB A PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE. Staff Sgt. Just because you like transgender does not mean the rest of us have put up with this asinine stupidity!!! Now, though, mums the word from internet commenters. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. All Rights Reserved. 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. is not going to cut it. Commanders will incorporate everything into their unit training plans and use assessments to keep track of risk areas, though when, where and how training is done is up to them. RETIRED CMC USNAVY! beard getting caught up in their machine gun? 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. For you facial hair obsessed supposed professionals you are entirely missing the real issues. It would surely make the lives of religious people a lot easier. 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. This is important because, in an emergency, if you grab a gas mask, there is no guarantee it is going to fit. CHOSE YOUR SIDE, BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR ALL YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE HERE IN THE FUTURE. I'm a retired Army female. Now, two years after filing that formal request, hes finally been approved. Jon Simkins is a writer and editor for Military Times, and a USMC veteran. Official Statement Re: Religious Beard Accommodations in the US Military. No employer private or public should be required to accommodate your particular religion. Your last sentence is spot-on. But the next week, he said he received an email from an Army official in the Pentagon telling him that while his beard had been approved, the general who signed off on allowing him to grow his hair out didnt actually have the authority to do so. He joined the Army the same day he turned 18 years old in 2010, about seven years before the service allowed religious exemptions. My husband ,David l. Allen, was a 100% disabled veteran. 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. I could not agree more General. And don't forget about office workers, most computer technicians and programmers, and administrative personnel. The Army takes pride in sustaining a culture where all personnel are treated with dignity and respect and not discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender and national origin, Cathy Brown Vandermaarel, an Army spokeswoman, told Army Times when asked about the decision to deny Hoskins request. That seed was planted early in my life, DiPietro said. He is a free man to do whatever he wants to, yes. Up and away to the sky . The Coast Guard followed suit, banning them in June 1986, according to the service's historical website. 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. Dominque Braggs, another Muslim sailor of the same rank, was given a health exemption due to pseudofolliculitis barbae, also known as razor burn. For decades, U.S. military leaders have prohibited service members from growing beards, arguing that facial hair not only disrupts a clean, professional appearance, but also interferes with the. Then, in November 2018, Staff Sgt. Leaked Emails Cause Alarm. Studies have shown that as much as 60% of African American men suffer from pseudofolliculitis barbae. GOOD LUCK @. Who knows? Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. Facial hair regulations wont make or break the military but diversity, inclusion and equity (DIE) will break the military because the next step is promotions based on gender, chosen gender, biological gender, race and perceived racial status (oppressed or oppressor) and not ability, attitude, experience and performance. Fashion Police: Egypt Arrests Female Influencers Over 'Immoral' Dress, Dalai Lama Apologizes For Asking Young Boy to "Suck His Tongue", School District Bans Bible Verse From Teacher's Email Signature, Bestiality, Incest, Murder? Over the years, military officers have regularly dealt with requests for religious exemptions to various rules. 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. A cynic might believe that a white Christian male exercising his religious freedom in the military is somehow more acceptable to some than people of other faiths doing the exact same thing. Personally, I don't think any of them should have one. Apparently,you have not met the Taliban, ISIS, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab , or the Proud Boys. The answer came just days later. The request languished in limbo for months at the battalion level, he said, until he received a memo in June from Brig. I guess AFR 35-10 is now ancient history!!!!! I served during the Zumwalt days and had a neat, military-style beard as a Navy Airborne Electronic Warfare Officer. Oh, and ministers as well. For someone who doesn't use their name, I find it a bit telling that instead of trying to make your point first, you needed to try to come up with a put down beforehand. Mustache/hair regs. They're all a bunch of loudmouth, sissified politicians, who would cry bloody murder if they cut themselves shaving. 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. 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. Once I present my memorandum for record and cite all of the applicable regulations and directives, the focus on the beard tends to go away, for the most part, he said in the release. 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. Bad or No Credit? nothing any longer. . At the time, the Navy and Coast Guard appeared to be the only services to allow beards. 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. That isnt exactly the Army way the service has specific rules about hair length and styling, for men and women, including a strict no-beard policy. My best friend is gay and he is one of many I would like to have protecting me in a fox hole when I am asleep. The next move would be exchanging the uniform for robes for some religions or replacing helmets with turbans. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Did cross boarder operations in Cambodia. He was getting tired of waiting, so he contacted his local congressional office and asked for their help. You intimated that if one endangered only himself, go for it. Finally, flugo got my vote. Gen. and in my view beards and mustaches are not military, not 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. CHOSE YOUR SIDE, BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR ALL YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE HERE IN THE FUTURE. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". For DiPietro, observing the Nazarite vow is a way to show his love of God. Published Jul 30, 2021 11:57 AM EDT. From left, A02 Joe Probasco, LTC Kamal S. Kalsi and A02 Guldeep Kaur stand for a photo near the World War II memorial in Washington D.C. LTC Kalsi is the first Sikh American soldier to have been given a uniform accomodation allowing a beard and dastar - both observed as requirements for Sikh followers. Militaries around the world have varying policies regarding beards. Im now 64 and if they called me back today, I would go as long as there were real commanders in charge and not one of these WOKE Generals on TV. I am not gay or whatsoever. 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? Yup, Biden is a frickin idiot! My 22 year career, Ive seen this cycle. I respect it of course that they have the right but I understand that the practice belongs to the Jewish religion. 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? According to his lawyers, he was told to either shave his beard voluntarily or be held down by his bunk mate and forcibly shaved. If you know youre right, the regulations will it may not seem like it but they will protect you. Beards are still off-limits for airmen, except under certain medical waivers or religious exemptions. clean, and can interfere with gas masks if needed. 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. For years, DiPietro followed the Army standard. Since you mentioned it, you ought to buy one for her. Di Liscia had been granted a no-shave chit in 2018 as a morale measure. I mean hell, since before I started school, my nickname was, and still is Mink or Minky. It is my humble opinion, times change and that does not mean that they develop as bad soldiers, I understand perfectly the regulations of the armed forces but if we compare it the people who ask for that special permit are minorities and it is clear that it is for matters of faith. But I don't think that works when you are wearing a military uniform. 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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. 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. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. A new mustache policy has arrived for airmen. Jacob DiPietro, May 2021. The look of the U.S. Army is about to get a facelift. The new standards for the new soldiers will be what they know and respect. You should be ashamed to even respond like that!! The lack of the draft has hurt this country. Facial hair did not make or break the military and never will. He married a woman hed been dating for years, but when she was pregnant with their first child, she left. Hair buns? Or should I say a sight for sore eyes. 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. O.K. Jesus has never been depicted as clean shaven. While beards are a part of Heathen tradition and can be a part of personal observance, they are not required to demonstrate the values of Forn Sidr. The Becket Fund says a decision is not likely until next year for the four sailors seeking religious accommodation. In many religions, facial hair is an importanttradition. That decision would seem to undercut the Navys argument that allowing these sailors to wear beards poses some sort of risk, said Baxter. Spouses of Disabled Veterans and those that are survivors of the disabled Veterans DO have certain medical benefits. It was also my dad's nickname, and I am proud to carry it. When in a MOPP environment hair can leak, leaving little choice but to get the antidote as fast as possible. Abdul Rahman Gaitan waited four years for official approval. In some circumstances though, it can be best to keep it to ourselves. 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. That went on for months. rank of Brig. Unfortunately, the U.S. military can make it difficult for many religious groups to continue thepractice while serving their country. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Doesnt make it wrong or right, just difficult to deal with. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. it has come to signify a closeness with Allah, follow through with his faith requirements, After Canadas recent acceptance of facial hair in the military, No, You Dont Need To Shave Your Beard Because of Covid-19, Keeping Your Quarantine Beard When Returning to Work. 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. Haley Britzky They shouldn't make ITalian female soldiers shave their faces iether. Joined before the draft got me, decided I wanted to be the best. MACV SOG. If a soldier is following the rules as set by the Army, they should absolutely be free from harassment discrimination. Based on Spc. 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.. Certain exceptions are made however for those with medical waivers or religion exemptions. These Cards Might Be Right for You, 6 Additional States Give Military Retirees a Break on Their Taxes, New VA Policy to Offer Emergency Mental Health Services for Free, Universal Studios Military Discount: Everything You Need to Know. 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. It used to be honor and resect, proud to wear the uniform. As for women, hair hanging down, braids, any thought to the safety hazards that is going to cost? Religious accommodations. Soldiers ought to be carrying RID shampoo with them anyway. (RNS) Shave or be Shaved. 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. After that women wanting to wear dresses instead of the standard uniform. TRENDING: Bad or No Credit? Airmen will also now have more flexibility to wear specific unit patches while assigned to joint organizations. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. You should contact your local Veterans Representative (usually at the County/Parish Courthouse), Hell no forget it! I said, Oh, this is it, DiPietro recounted. I served as aan Air Force med tex fr 3yrs 4monthe 25days 6bhougrsqd 30 minutes x r p ok roximxately,.. The religious vow he was observing had strict instructions: He was not to cut his hair or beard. US Army grants first ever religious exemption to Christian soldier to allow him to keep beard and grow hair long https://t.co/kts9VO2SSQ. 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. Do we want pretty boys defending us, or manly looking men. Simratpal Singh faced many complications when trying to receive a waiver for his beard. This new generation needs some goals and self-discipline. For additional Heathen religious support in the US Armed Forces, please consider checking out the Open Halls Project. By March 2021, DiPietro still hadnt heard anything from the Army. Beards are largely banned for military servicemen in the United States, inspiring conversations about dress code among religious members whose religions forbid shaving. Stay ALIVE and healthy. However, the rest of my hippie hair is long enough to comb over my bald head, and I could hold it down with a bandana. But I couldnt use my Benifits. Weve been receiving requests for religions beard accommodations for soldiers serving in the Armed Forces. 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. DiPietro, who observes the Nazarite vow from the Old Testament in the Bible, first applied for the religious exemption in November 2019. 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. As a veteran with 17 years in the army with multiple deployments, yes he should be required to shave if he is in any line position. I was out for 88 days and decided to return to the Navy, Now, nothing changed, It does not store any personal data. If there is a wounded soldier on the battlefield, it takes at least two soldiers to get him to safety and treat him. And a box of Godiva chocolates would perfectly complement it.

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