Want to write for Task & Purpose? The Air Forces updated policy sets new grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. In 2020, the department extended shaving waivers for those diagnosed with razor bumps from one year to five years. During tours of less than 30 days, A ir Force Reserve (AFR) and Air National Guard (ANG) chaplains not on extended active duty may request a beard waiver for religious observance when consistent with their faith. Previously, the only exceptions for active-duty personnel were medical waivers. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. Airmen can use styling products on their beards, but petroleum-based products are not allowed while wearing a protective mask. It took Sopchak about 11 months to get his beard approved. A1C Rathour is the first Sikh Airman to receive religious accommodation, and may grow his beard and wear his turban while in uniform. Sopchak said that something about the Heathen religion felt more real to him. This new study looked at a much larger share of data and involved 9,339 valid responses. Click here. I want to go all out with practing the religion (including reading the Quran like it is recommened during Ramadan. The U.S. Air Force granted its first religious waivers to the military-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate this week. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. The female hair changes were not a want, it was very much a need based on health first when I talk with our men in uniform: Is this a need or is this a want?. W2~@R>tA);|6[ +XnDnQi\k`LF. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the Space National Guard Establishment Act on, From Abraham Lincoln to the Tuskegee Airmen to lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. There is no potential timeline for approval, because it isnt even at that stage, she said. Action on Requests for Religious Accommodation that Require the Waiver of Department of the Air Force Regulations or Policies or Directives . Religious exemptions to the rule allow for beards up to 2 inches long. As described in sample memos included in the regulation, safety concerns might include wearing a gas mask or going within 25 feet of an operating aircraft. The advocacy group submitted a religious accommodation request for Singh in April 2019. At first, it appeared Sopchak was the first Heathen to get a beard waiver. 3 0 obj Yes, Navy Seals can grow beards. 4 0 obj Heathens hold religious services rooted in Norse paganism aboard aircraft carrier, Women in the military: Moving beyond firsts, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. dx xE28;eN0ORG*sMhw_2iL!o@/dUKS0sD~-dd!7r.7ucOjP0GH#_&F%)wr-' The authors called for wider research in the area in order to refute or substantiate their findings. In December, Military.com reported that the Air Force Honor Guard changed its policy in April to allow airmen with shaving waivers to apply and join the guard. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the policy change. The Coalition said both changes were influenced by a years-long advocacy and litigation campaign by the Coalition and its pro bono co-counsel at McDermott Will & Emery. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. 3.1.2.3.1. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. 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. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, 821st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, was among the first to be granted a religious accommodation for a shaving waiver based . Hopper,. The Air Force plans to update its Air Force Instruction regulations governing dress and personal appearance and medical care management to reflect this change. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. The NATO allies who allow their service members to grow beards also do not have studies showing the impact of facial hair on gas masks, Ritchie said. Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? Its a little scraggly right now, Sopchak said. 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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. In 2017, the U.S. Army officially updated its dress and appearance standards to accommodate hijabs, turbans and beards. The religious beard exemption in the US army was created for the benefit of Sikhs. The same neat and conservative approach applies to beards, which must not exceed two inches when measured from the bottom of the chin, the regulations states. Military Approving Beards for Pagan Worshipers. 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. I was the typical senior leader chief that didnt think airmen with a shaving waiver belonged in the front office, one of the branchs most beloved former senior leaders, retired Chief Master Sgt. The study, which was published in July 2021, pointed out that many of the airmen who apply for medical shaving waivers are Black, because Black men are more likely to be affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) commonly referred to as razor bumps than White men. 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. It must be free of designs or markings, except an airman wearing the Airman Battle Uniform or Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform can wear a matching camouflage hijab. Wing commanders or other leaders at major commands, numbered air forces or other organizations will then approve or deny such a request. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. Contact the author here. other similar condition s that prohibits regular facial shaving may requ est a waiver to wear a beard . Paragraph 1.5.2.3 added: Members requesting a medical waiver to wear a beard must submit a letter (U.S. Air Force) Airmen will be allowed to wear up to. For a long time, the old Norse mythology of Odin, Thor and Ragnark was just that for Staff Sgt. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Beard News in Air Force Copyright 2022 Beard Waiver - All Rights Reserved. Staff Sgt. 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. 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. 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. Islam & The First Religious Beard in The US Military (Air Force) The first person granted a beard waiver in the U.S. Airforce due to his faith was a Muslim soldier. 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 review directed Air Force commanders to conduct a root cause analysis of racial disparities within their commands, develop an action plan for reporting them, then release a progress report within six months. The 2021 study found that airmen with shaving waivers faced significantly longer wait times for promotions and were often barred from sought-after jobs such as Honor Guard, recruiting, military training instructors, or the Thunderbirds demonstration team. The Air Force has updated its grooming standards to formally allow Airmen to grow neatly trimmed beards, standardizing the religious or medical exemption process. DAFI 52-201 is the governing regulation for religious accommodation. 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. 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 . 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The push to create a new Space National Guard got a major boost last week as a bipartisan team of Senators offered new legislationeven as the Pentagon works to craft details on a competing plan. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. That assessment, and ability to address and adjust, is critical to our force, and our people. According to the memo, which was first posted on the unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco July 12, Sopchak can wear a neat, conservative beard that presents a professional, well-groomed military appearance and stays no more than two inches from the bottom of his chin. 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. Editors note: This story has been updated with new comments from Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. Staff Sgt. Beards cant exceed two inches if they do, they must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length, the regulations state. David Roza Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. Requests should normally be recommended for approval unless approval would have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards or discipline, the regulation said. A religious accommodation request must include information including the airmans job, what the airman is asking for and the religious reason for the request, and a comment on the sincerity of the request. The Reserve or Guard, before finally denying a request, will first consult with the Air Force personnel directorate and obtain a legal review from the Air Force. I cant tell you how many hundreds of times, probably thousands, that weve gotten [that] question. Staff Sgt. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. 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. The military branch said it will remove "adverse information" from the records of those who sought an exemption on "religious, administrative, or medical grounds and who received adverse actions solely due to their . 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. In 2018, Staff Sgt. 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. The regulation formalizes a waiver process for future airmen seeking to wear turbans, hijab or beards, By 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.. safety) or when precluded by a compelling (i.e., especially important) governmental and/or Air Force interest. The updated regulations mandate that faith-based religious apparel requests can only be denied for a compelling government interest and the denial must be the least restrictive way the Air Force has of achieving that government interest. The US Air Force has updated its dress code policy to outline a clear approval process for Sikhs and Muslims who want to serve while wearing their articles of faith. One Facebook commenter questioned why the Air Force needs a separate pilot program when it could study those who already have shaving waivers. It must also include a photo or description of the head covering, religious-affiliated item, grooming standard or personal appearance that is being requested. Imagine the man-hours saved when men dont have to go to the doctor to get approved for a shaving waiver, and then periodically renewed., Daniel Walker, another Facebook user, added: They keep relaxing grooming standards instead of giving us things that would actually increase our quality of life.. William Bailey, received a waiver to grow a beard in March. I will also add, the whole reason I want a beard is to help me with my faith during Ramadan. The Air Force separated 610 Airmen for declining the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. Abdul Rahman Gaitain, an airman with the 821st. The religious accommodation process isn't designed for individuals to play the God/conscience card to get around things they don't like. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. Still, Ritchie called for a study to come up with a conclusive answer. This means that even though the study measured only about 4% of all male airmen, the findings would likely be similar if extended to the entire branch. | | Published Jul 14, 2021 8:57 AM EDT. 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 . <>/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>> Many airmens dearest wish may soon come true if the Air Force greenlights a pilot program allowing some men to grow beards. Later, every religious trend sought and found the hadiths that justified its principles. Now, updated Air Force regulations make clearer and smoother the path for personnel to request and obtain a similar religious waiver. What happens when patients disagree with an exemption decision? Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. 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. 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. Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. 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. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. But advocates argue that more sweeping changes are needed, in part because shaving waivers are often misunderstood and hurt Airmen's careers. The Air Force Times reports on Air Force SSgt Garrett Sopchak, who just became the first US Air Force Airman to be allowed to wear a beard because he adheres to Norse Heathen religious beliefs. And if that airman is assigned to a unit that wears a beret of a particular color, the unit commander can order him to wear a turban of the same color. Others mused that more people would enlist if beards were allowed. Below are current coronavirus disease 2019 statistics for Department of Air Force personnel: *These numbers include all of the cases that were reported since our last update on Jan. 18.
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