The United States Air Force has updated its official dress code policy recently, in adherence to religious practices.
Under the new guidelines, the Sikh and Muslim minorities in the force can wear hijabs, unshorn hair, beards, and turbans, as long as they look neat and conservative.
The military personnel can now seek religious accommodations, except under particularly limited circumstances.
On February 7, the US Air Force released an update to its “Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel” code, permitting the airmen and women to wear religious apparel while in uniform.
A final review for the new code of conduct must take place within 30 days for the US, and 60 days for other cases. This means that the air force personnel can expect religious accommodation to continue throughout their career.
Previously, Muslim and Sikh minorities serving in the US Air Force exclusively appealed for religious accommodations that were approved on a case-by-case basis, which often took months for approval.
Under the latest guidelines, the new accommodation will officially regulate the approval of wearing articles of faith when on duty.
Although the news of the US Air Force coming up with new religious accommodations will welcome many Muslim and Sikh communities, many advocates believe that the military has to go even further.
The advocacy organizations for Sikhs and Muslims say that the move is a significant step towards inclusion; however, some say that more needs to be done.
Both the Sikh American Veterans Alliance (SAVA) and the Sikh Coalition have requested the US military to permit religious minorities to serve without exception.
A staff attorney for the Sikh Coalition, Giselle Klapper, said that Sikhs have served capably and honorably in the United States Armed Forces. This policy is a significant step forward towards safeguarding equality of religious freedom and equality in the US Air Force.
However, some believe that the Department of Defense should establish a more extensive policy that applies across different branches of the military.
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