# Religious exemptions for military uniform rules **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549 "2014-01-23T19:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/1 "2014-01-23T19:31:37Z")
[Recent news](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25853546). Basically, it goes into how Sikh US servicemen have more leeway to keep their beards and turbans without running afoul of dress rules. [ul] [li]Are they allowed to carry kirpan, and are there any current requirements to carry a knife (not bayonet)?[/li][li]More specifically, the quote: “Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Wiccan soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen can now request exemptions to strict military uniform and grooming policies.” They do not go into anything beyond that. Perhaps yarmulke/kippah. I think they’ve had those allowed for awhile, though. But what Muslim and Wiccan dress/grooming are they referring to? All I can think of is things _associated_ with those religions, but nothing as fundamental to the religion (vs. culture) as the 5 Ks.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/2 "2014-01-23T19:34:31Z")
Muslim hijab? (BTW: what are the 5 Ks?) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/3 "2014-01-23T19:38:17Z")
Kesh - uncut long hair Kangha - small wooden comb Kara - steel or iron bracelet Kacchera - piece of undergarment Kirpan - short dagger ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/4 "2014-01-23T19:51:04Z")
Really orthodox Jewish woman often wear wigs, but I’m having a hard time imagining a situation where a really orthodox Jewish woman would be in the military… Interesting that Rastafarians are not mentioned. They sometimes get leeway in prisons or schools for their hair, but again, Rastas are not really the sort to join up with the military. There’s a Pakistani (?) female police chief who nicely illustrates the balancing of uniform with haircovering. She still looks effective and official, but is complying with her culture/religious requirements. [http://samaa.tv/SpotLights/201411616532\_samaa\_tv.jpg](http://samaa.tv/SpotLights/201411616532_samaa_tv.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/5 "2014-01-24T16:58:08Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Really orthodox Jewish woman often wear wigs, but I’m having a hard time imagining a situation where a really orthodox Jewish woman would be in the military… > > Interesting that Rastafarians are not mentioned. They sometimes get leeway in prisons or schools for their hair, but again, Rastas are not really the sort to join up with the military. > > There’s a Pakistani (?) female police chief who nicely illustrates the balancing of uniform with haircovering. She still looks effective and official, but is complying with her culture/religious requirements. > > [http://samaa.tv/SpotLights/201411616532\_samaa\_tv.jpg](http://samaa.tv/SpotLights/201411616532_samaa_tv.jpg) Thats an Afghani policewoman as the flag suggests. A Pakistan Airforce f[emale fighter pilot](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80_ApbpE4rY/TkkM3BIWrdI/AAAAAAAABeY/0-ntd1BXBtg/s1600/Flying%2BOfficer%2BNida%2BF7%2Bcrash.jpg) wearing a uniform standard hijab. Incidentally, it was only about 10 years ago that female officers and enlisted were permitted to wear a hijab as part of the uniform, earlier it was expressly forbidden and my retired army officer Dad still fumes everytime he sees one, something about not having the proper pride. Re the topic at hand. I don’t think that the issue is the same as what it is compared with; eg India or the UK. In India the Sikh regiments have a long and distinguished combat history and Indian regiments (and British regiments) have long recruited on ethnic and geographical lines, which AFAIK the US Army does not. In such cases, having a bit of “ethnic flair” to the uniform is a good idea. I don’t see how the regulations should be relaxed to accomodate certain individuals and not others. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/6 "2014-01-24T17:23:05Z")
Lt. Worf always [wore](http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/9400000/Lieutenant-Worf-star-trek-the-next-generation-9406780-1659-2560.jpg) that Klingon [baldric](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Baldric). ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/7 "2014-01-24T17:30:18Z")
The Phillippine Constabulatory was modeled and overseen by the US Army, and its Moslem recruits were issued fezzes since the standard Smokey the Bear campaign hat would violate their rule against sheilding the eyes. This was 112 years ago. Let’s just bring back the zouaves. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/8 "2014-01-24T17:31:15Z")
Nah…that’s not a baldric. [That’s](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ad/Baldrick.jpg) a Baldrick! ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/9 "2014-01-24T17:42:23Z")
One issue with beards is that they are supposed to prevent a proper gas mask seal. I read a story about this recently and in it, a Sikh US Army officer was saying that hey can seal his mask even with a beard. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/10 "2014-01-24T17:46:51Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > The Phillippine Constabulatory was modeled and overseen by the US Army, and its Moslem recruits were issued fezzes since the standard Smokey the Bear campaign hat would violate their rule against sheilding the eyes. This was 112 years ago. > > Let’s just bring back the zouaves. Muslims consider shielding eyes haram? That surprises me considering they started in such a sunny place. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/11 "2014-01-24T17:49:24Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Re the topic at hand. I don’t think that the issue is the same as what it is compared with; eg India or the UK. In India the Sikh regiments have a long and distinguished combat history and Indian regiments (and British regiments) have long recruited on ethnic and geographical lines, which AFAIK the US Army does not. In such cases, having a bit of “ethnic flair” to the uniform is a good idea. I don’t see how the regulations should be relaxed to accomodate certain individuals and not others. The US military has been integrated since 1948. We don’t have geographic units (except for the national guard, which is a bit like the Territorial Army), and there is no equivalent to Gurkha regiments and such. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/12 "2014-01-24T17:51:49Z")
As a Pastafarian I will wear a colander for a hat the next time I’m in my uniform. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/13 "2014-01-24T17:58:44Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Lt. Worf always [wore](http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/9400000/Lieutenant-Worf-star-trek-the-next-generation-9406780-1659-2560.jpg) that Klingon [baldric](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Baldric). :eek: I thought he just won Ms. Klingon! > [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > One issue with beards is that they are supposed to prevent a proper gas mask seal. I read a story about this recently and in it, a Sikh US Army officer was saying that hey can seal his mask even with a beard. Globs of Vaseline, as I understand it. Does the military allow hijab? (It’s less of a political issue here than say, France, but not insignificant). I’m still puzzled of what Wiccans need to wear, even a minor part of the religion, except maybe a pendant or something. But again a lot of these aren’t religious _necessities_. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/14 "2014-01-24T19:09:16Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > As a Pastafarian I will wear a colander for a hat the next time I’m in my uniform. Or the next time you join the conflict in the Ukraine. [![](http://www.poynter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kiev.jpg) ](http://www.poynter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kiev.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/15 "2014-01-24T22:21:19Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Or the next time you join the conflict in the Ukraine. Hijacking myself, but some more uniform pics from what I am told is Ukraine. Here’s a [knight](http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ukraine012014/s_u25_95230265.jpg). But also, I think the New California Republic Rangers are involved, and I guess their [uniform regs](http://i.imgur.com/ARtFrSk.jpg) don’t matter as long as the [Super Mutants are dead](http://i.imgur.com/443kaiq.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/16 "2014-01-24T22:42:40Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > … > Re the topic at hand. I don’t think that the issue is the same as what it is compared with; eg India or the UK. In India the Sikh regiments have a long and distinguished combat history and Indian regiments (and British regiments) have long recruited on ethnic and geographical lines, which AFAIK the US Army does not. In such cases, having a bit of “ethnic flair” to the uniform is a good idea. I don’t see how the regulations should be relaxed to accomodate certain individuals and not others. Good point. One of my ancestors was in the (British) 42nd Highland Regiment, aka the “Black Watch”. They were historically distinguished by always wearing kilts, even in battle, and marching to the tune of bagpipes. Of course, the regiment mostly recruited bonnie Scots laddies rather than, say, Welshmen, but afaik there were no laws that specifically banned non-Scots from joining. I.e. it was a cultural thing, and the regiment specifically appealed to Scottish pride and customs with recruiters that encouraged one to “Get a feather tae your bonnet, and a kilt aboon your knee. Enlist, bonnie laddie, and come awa’ wi’ me”. However, this isn’t _exactly_ the same thing because afaik very little of the “Scottish” trappings that we’re talking about were, or are, specifically religious. E.g. I’m not aware of any religion that teaches that wearing (or not wearing) kilts has any bearing on one’s status before God, etc. I do recall reading that the traditions of the 42nd were supposed to serve as a way to placate the “barbarian” Highlanders and give them a “productive” way of channeling their ferocity in a socially acceptable way. I.e. give them a place where their culture is honored and they will be too busy to have family feuds, raid towns, and ravish bonnie lassies. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/17 "2014-01-25T16:04:38Z")
Re: In such cases, having a bit of “ethnic flair” to the uniform is a good idea. I don’t see how the regulations should be relaxed to accomodate certain individuals and not others. Indian soldiers actually mutinied before largely over clothing requirements, and came close to wiping out the British garrison, believe it or not. I’m sure the Brits were happy to make allowances for ‘ethnic flair’ in the uniforms after that. "The reasons for the mutiny revolved mainly around resentment against changes in the sepoy dress code in November 1805. Hindus were prohibited from wearing religious marks on their foreheads and Muslims were required to shave their beard and trim their moustache. In addition General Sir John Craddock, Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army ordered the wearing of a round hat (resembling that associated with both Europeans and Indian Christians) with a leather cockade in place of the existing turban, a measure which offended both Hindu and Muslim sepoys and went contrary to an earlier warning by a Military Board that sepoy uniform changes should be “given every consideration which a subject of that delicate and important nature required”.[1] “These apparently minor changes, intended to improve the “soldierly appearance” of the men, created strong resentment among the Indian soldiers. In May 1806 some sepoys who protested the new rules were sent to Fort Saint George (Madras then, now Chennai). Two of them — a Hindu and a Muslim — were given 90 lashes each and dismissed from the army. Nineteen sepoys were punished with 50 lashes each and forced to seek pardon from the East India Company.[2][3]” > **[Vellore Mutiny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vellore_Mutiny)** > > The Vellore mutiny, or Vellore Revolution, occurred on 10 July 1806 and was the first instance of a large-scale and violent mutiny by Indian sepoys against the East India Company, predating the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by half a century. The revolt, which took place in the Indian city of Vellore, lasted one full day, during which mutineers seized the Vellore Fort and killed or wounded 200 British troops. The mutiny was subdued by cavalry and artillery from Arcot. Total deaths amongst the mutin... ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/18 "2014-01-26T02:00:54Z")
ISTR that the Orthodox Jewish chaplain at one of my duty stations simply wore his yarmulke under his Navy-issued service cap; if he wore his garrison cap, he just changed to his yarmulke indoors. The law says you have to have your head covered; it doesn’t specify with what. Since he couldn’t wear his Navy-issued cap indoors, he wore a yarmulke. Outdoors, the hat was sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/19 "2014-01-26T03:43:39Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Hijacking myself, but some more uniform pics from what I am told is Ukraine. Here’s a [knight](http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ukraine012014/s_u25_95230265.jpg). But also, I think the New California Republic Rangers are involved, and I guess their [uniform regs](http://i.imgur.com/ARtFrSk.jpg) don’t matter as long as the [Super Mutants are dead](http://i.imgur.com/443kaiq.jpg). We’re are here to fight ignorance, not spread it. The two latter photographs are of _New Vegas_ rangers, not NRC. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549/20 "2014-01-26T09:38:48Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > We’re are here to fight ignorance, not spread it. The two latter photographs are of _New Vegas_ rangers, not NRC. You sure of that? They _were_ called the Desert Rangers, but got absorbed by the NCR, hence those giant statues shaking hands. Or even if they still exist, they’re a subset. I’m sure they have exemptions for tribal recruits having bone noses and such. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-exemptions-for-military-uniform-rules/679549.md?page=2)