Sikhs fight Army over bans on turbans, uncut hair

n4zov

n4zov

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Vets, I am sure you just gonna love this one!

For Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, a doctor, and 2nd Lt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, this is a hill worth fighting for.

Tejdeep Singh Rattan and Kamaljit Singh Kalsi are set to report for duty in the U.S. Army in July.
These two U.S. military recruits of the Sikh faith are challenging an Army order that they remove their turbans and cut their unshorn hair and beards when they report for active duty in July.

In Sikhism, which originated in northwestern India, the turban and unshorn hair are articles of faith and can't be removed.

Rest of the story:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/....military/index.html
 
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Vets, I am sure you just gonna love this one!

For Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, a doctor, and 2nd Lt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, this is a hill worth fighting for.

Tejdeep Singh Rattan and Kamaljit Singh Kalsi are set to report for duty in the U.S. Army in July.
These two U.S. military recruits of the Sikh faith are challenging an Army order that they remove their turbans and cut their unshorn hair and beards when they report for active duty in July.

In Sikhism, which originated in northwestern India, the turban and unshorn hair are articles of faith and can't be removed.

Rest of the story:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/....military/index.html
 
They should just let them serve, other nations - Britain and India - let the Sikhs serve "as is" and were never disappointed. The Sikhs are a very warlike and tough bunch of folks. Even the Pakistanis I knew, who'd fought against them and universally hated/loathed Indians as a rule - had a grudging respect for the Sikhs and considered them worthy adversaries. Since the Pakistanis I knew were from the tribal regions and were rough customers themselves, that's quite the compliment.
 
Sikhs are a serious bunch. After Indira Ghandi was killed by a treacherous Sikh guard in the early 1980's, the Sikhs were persecuted in India and many have moved to Houston and become citizens and reproduced. They are actively and systematically using the courts to get every conceivable employer, government and private, to to recognize their religious rights re: wearing turbans and carrying small ceremonial knives. Locally, there is significant mistrust between the Sikh community and LEOs.
 
These guys are not fighters, one is a doctor and one is a dentist.

"Both men were both recruited and commissioned -- with their Sikh articles of faith -- during their respective first years of medical and dental school (2001 and 2006) through the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Program.
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The US taxpayers have now paid for their education. They are both in a position where they can make substantially more money in the civilian sector than they can in the military (most likely).

If they can push this issue through, and the Army is unweilding, they can be seperated from the military for the good of the government.

Not to be overly cynical
icon_wink.gif
, but I am sure their lawyers will insist that they would love to serve, but under their conditions.

In the end, I predict that they will both be given their walking papers and a tax funded education without any obligation to repay.

bob
 
I dont know how we got ourselves into this mess.

There are two things here.

1) were they adequately informed about the dress code under AR670-2 (might be a different reg for commissioned officers but when I was in, that was the reg)? if so and they accepted a commission. game over.

2)If they weren't informed, they're not combatants, they likely wont even wear anything but scrubs, let them serve with their religiosity intact.
 
The U.S. Army used to allow Sikhs to retain their beards/turbans/hair - I retired under VERA/VISA in 1996, but I recall, in the 1980's, Sikhs on active duty wearing turbans, and I think they all had facial hair. They had an exception in the regulation that permitted this. I believe they were supposed to shave, if entering a combat zone, so that the protective mask would seal. As I recall all were commisioned officers, and without exception were excellent leaders, at least the ones I had the pleasure of serving with.
 
well, with the new CIC (clown in charge) now in office, they couldn't pick a better time to whine for the policy changes they want.
 
What will be next? Service women in burkhas, maybe refusing to be photographed for their IDs? It seems to me the army has a dress code if you don't want to comply why volunteer. If the code allows turbans and long hair then carry on.
Steve
 
Obey the rules and orders or you get locked up in the stockade, your choice.

Keep it simple.
 
The US Government will probably excuse them if they continue to fight the issue of military dress codes. And after we have paid their way through the respective medical schools. Pretty good scam. Doesn't really look like they have the Country's Interest at heart.
I served 20+ active years in the USN from 1964 to 1985, and except for the Zumwalt years we had a stringent dress code.
One of the reasons I got fed up with the INS and Department of Homeland Security was the lack of uniformity in the Dress Code. Dress Code only applied to WASP uniformed officers. Beards were authorized for Orthodox sects, and head scarves by others.
It was my understanding that if you took the job you would abide by the rules in force at the time. Just like the military.
But the government has done more to alienate the different ethnic groups and keep them separate than any single force. Ever since the Days of LBJ we have had the separate ethnic Months of Recognition.
Homeland Security came up with the Slogan of "One Face at the Border" which was a farce from the git go.
There is no unity within the government, the powers that be want to keep the forces fractured and in their warped minds keep some measure of control over the entire group
If they don't want to dress like the US Army let them go home to India and dress like Indians.
End of rant for today.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
 
Medical professionals, like lawyers, go in through a different program than most officers. There's no basic training in the Army, it is a direct comm. in these cases.

If you get booted, or fail to complete your service obligation, you have to pay the govt. back for what they spent on you. With interest if I recall correctly, so there's no free ride by "scamming" your way out.

Sikhs take military service seriously. It's a dishonor in many families not to serve.
 
In the end, I predict that they will both be given their walking papers and a tax funded education without any obligation to repay.
Click to expand...

I think you probably nailed it! When I was on active duty in the mid 60's I had a lot of personal contact with medical personnel who were fulfilling their military obligation. Despite being commissioned as captains, they generally had the most negative attitudes about military service of anybody I ever encountered. It all seemed to center around having their plan to make their first million being interrupted by Uncle Sam. The medical service they provided reflected their attitudes.
 
Seems to me the beard problem -- with beards, you simply cannot get a good seal on a gas mask, thus you are putting yourself at serious risk -- trumps everything. At least, it ought to.

Back in the 80s, when I was working for a large gas/electric utility, we had a situation in which a Sikh power plant worker wanted a job (for which he was qualified)that would require him to shave his beard because of the need to get on a gas mask in some circumstances.

The company said no, and the union refused to back his grievance. State health and safety statutes are clear on this one: if you may need to wear a gas mask, then no beard or other element that will hinder its full and safe operation. Period.

Bill
 
I have two comments: how about an all Sikh regiment with a special military dress code for those that want to dress in the manner that their religion dictates.

My second comment; it is a good thing that these two didn't play football on my college team. The head coach and one of the assistant coaches were former Marine DIs and WWII veterans of the Pacific battles like Iwo Jima. They had an appearance code and a dress code for the team. Short hair, short sideburns, clean shaven. Polished shoes, slacks, sports coat, white shirt and tie for football rallies and traveling to away games. No one ever wanted to challenge them on their rules. This was also the time when coaches could motivate the players with a kick in the ass. If these two doctors had to report to my coaches for military service, they would regret saying anything other than "Yes, Sir" when told to shave and get rid of the unauthorized headgear.
 
It also seems to me that when these Gentlemen where being processed, somebody asked them their religious affiliation so it could be stamped on the dog Tags.....This seems about as logical as commissioning a conscientious objector (not one who becomes a CO after receiving training though, dont misunderstand me)
 
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