<> 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. x\[o~d/Sp|A|=hdDPwfvIQuDgg?ydtx.b`1K55'V#wLDP,(Wj As of Jan. 21, the Air Force has administratively separated 111 active duty Airmen. 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. United States Air Force members who refused to take the COVID vaccine for religious reasons will soon get a reprieve from the punitive actions the military took against them. Want to write for Task & Purpose? Copyright 2023. Of them, 40 Airmen voluntarily left the service and 14 officers retired, according to Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Feb. 28. other similar condition s that prohibits regular facial shaving may requ est a waiver to wear a beard . Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. Turbans and under-turbans have similar color and material requirements as the hijab. 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. The facial hair cannot exceed one-quarter of an inch, must be grown out naturally and cannot be shaped or styled. 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. But advocates argue that more sweeping changes are needed, in part because shaving waivers are often misunderstood and hurt Airmen's careers. Staff Sgt. 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. If they didnt have one, in some of the stories, they were actually ridiculed. endobj David Roza This causes inflammation and a foreign body reaction, and over time, can result in scarring. "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," the post read. The Sikh Coalition said the Air Force regulation closely resembles the Army's. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. Big news today for the many airmen out there who want to grow out their beards: not only is there little evidence showing that beards interfere with a gas mask seal, but the Air Forces ban on beards may also be contributing to racial discrimination and hurting promotion opportunities within the service. The Air Force style authorities have spoken: neck and hand tattoos are in, beards are still out. ", By In the words of the Hungarian scholar Goldziher, 'The history of religion . The study would require only 100 to 150 service members, he said. A highly visible sign of changing Air Force policy may soon be evident here at Kingsley Field, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Abdul Rahman Gaitan in 2018 became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. such as an exemption uniform policy; the from a purchase of suitable, alternative personal protective . 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This condition can appear in a person of any ethnicity but is predominantly seen in Blacks/African Americans, study authors wrote. Thanks for attaching this, it seems like a simple enough process to get the accommodation. As we work to build a more inclusive force, we are constantly assessing and evaluating all of the processes and programs that affect our Airmen, she said. And in June, a Sikh airman received approval to wear a beard and turban. thx. At the end of the day, while we are continually out in front with initiatives that provide more opportunities for our airmen to serve to their full potential, we are cognizant that we are part of a broader military force.. Beard hair longer than two inches must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length. Something about what he found resonated, and Sopchak became a Norse Heathen. The Air Force separated 610 Airmen for declining the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. Muslim, Sikh and pagan members of the Air Force have individually requested and received waivers for religious apparel and beards in recent years, but this is the first time the guidelines and the accompanying approval process are being standardized. When asked about specific efforts for removing the stigma regarding waivers, an Air Force spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the Air Force changed AFI 36-2903, its regulation governing dress and appearance standards., earlier this spring to allow airmen with a shaving profile to trim and shape their facial hair, and to allow airmen with profiles to apply for more positions in the service. It interfaces with DAFPD 52-1, Chaplain Corps; Air Force Instruction (AFI) . That assessment, and ability to address and adjust, is critical to our force, and our people. Wing commanders or other leaders at major commands, numbered air forces or other organizations will then approve or deny such a request. DAFI52-201 23 JUNE 2021 5 Written request for accommodation received by This is an update to AFI 36-2903, "Dress and personal appearance of Air Force Personnel," and it will allow the headdress to be worn provided it is "neat and conservative" and that the airmen present a professional . 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.. The problem is how to convince the rest of the Air Force to follow suit. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright, said in April on a panel discussion on male grooming standards in the Air Force. The Army granted a similar waiver last year, and beard exemptions have been granted for a growing number of Sikhs and Muslims though not atheists. There currently is no clear evidence showing that is the case, the study said. Those encounters, along with studies like the one published last year, convinced Wright to change his position. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. The religious accommodation process is designed to accommodate individuals who can cite specific teachings, traditions, or texts that Air Force policies contradict. Such a request for an exemption to a military policy can only be denied, the AFI change said, if the policy furthers a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive way of furthering that interest. Click here. The Air Force encourages religious freedoms of service members as one of four pillars of resiliency to help build and sustain a strong and healthy workplace and community. I can assure you that we are focused on our Airmen; they are the most competitive advantage we haveand we must get the people piece right.. Action on Requests for Religious Accommodation that Require the Waiver of Department of the Air Force Regulations or Policies or Directives . Those interested in pursuing a shaving waiver at Al Dhafra can attend shaving waiver clinic walk-in hours on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or schedule an appointment at the 380th EMDG clinic during walk-in hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 2 0 obj 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 . Be aware though, that the belief must be sincere, which means you will likely be interviewed by the chaplain about your beliefs, and they will advise your CC on whether or not your beliefs are sincere, or you're just trying to get a beard. Last year, Capt. Singh said that he believes the Air Forces policy update will make it easier for Sikh Americans to serve while maintaining their articles of faith. Sopchak, a 28-year-old aerospace ground equipment craftsman at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, on July 8 received approval to get approval to wear a beard in accordance with his Heathen faith. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. 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The idea would let participating airmen sport well-kept beards no longer than one-quarter inch, Military.com first reported Monday. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. David Roza 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. Accommodations, after all, arent about special treatment they are about ensuring that religiously observant Sikhs and others dont have to choose between staying true to our faith and serving our country, he said. <>/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>> U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Isaac John, 423d Security Forces Squadron flight member, holds his position during a field training exercise at Stanford Training Area, England, Aug. 17, 2022. Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. He also hopes to grow the Heathen community in the area around Hill. That was followed up by more leaked slides in October which promised that an updated facial hair standard would be considered at a November meeting of the Air Force Uniform Board, Coffee or Die Magazine reported. The Army granted a similar waiver last year, and beard exemptions have been granted for a growing number of Sikhs and Muslims . In March 2021, after Comer arrived at Maxwell Air Force Base, he started talking to his first sergeant about applying for a religious accommodation to obtain a beard waiver. Previously, these airmen needed to get their waivers updated annually. Air Force Officially OKs Beards, Turbans, Hijabs for Religious Reasons . of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, wants to reduce the branchs cultural bias against shaving waivers granted for medical or religious reasons. I cant tell you how many hundreds of times, probably thousands, that weve gotten [that] question. For some pagans, it is seen as a way of honoring the gods and goddesses. Beards are generally frowned upon because of the U.S. militarys longstanding tradition of uniformity and attention to detail as well as concerns that certain gear, like gas masks, wouldnt tightly seal with hair in the way. While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who, for medical and religious reasons, are not able to shave in line with regulations. With regards to promotions, the wait grows longer the more time airmen have shaving waivers. Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Community for current and past members of the US Air Force. While these issues affected airmen of all races who had shaving waivers equally, Black or African-American airmen made up the majority of the waiver holders and thus bore a disproportionate share of the consequences. The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. The research studied the effect of shaving waivers on the careers of active duty male airmen. Though. Beards cant exceed two inches if they do, they must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length, the regulations state. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. Its a little scraggly right now, Sopchak said. Religious beards in the military were allowed in 2017. Beards should have been approved years ago, Facebook commenter Heather Britten wrote. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. One civilian study from 2018 showed that 98% of study participants with an eighth-inch of beard passed the fit test with respirators that are similar to the M-50 gas masks used in the military in terms of material and fit. 1 comment. Accommodation of Religious Practices in the Air Force. The regulation formalizes a waiver process for future airmen seeking to wear turbans, hijab or beards, By On Monday, Captain Toor and three other Sikhs sued the Marine Corps in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, saying the corps's refusal to grant a religious waiver is arbitrary and. Also, do you have to be able to prove that you are that religion or can you just claim that you are a Muslim and thats that. Religious head coverings are also required to be free of designs or markings unless the individuals uniform has a camouflage pattern. Military Approving Beards for Pagan Worshipers. It is is up to the wing commander (or the unit's equivalent of such a commander) to make the final decision. The waivers remain in effect even when the airman is deployed or has a permanent change-of-station move, the Air Force said in the release. The Air Force is first in many things, but in this case the branch came in second to the Army, which in 2017 became the first military branch to grant religious exemptions for beards, turbans. The demographics of the respondents closely match those of the Air Force in general, the study authors wrote. The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. There could be more studies of this topic to come. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith that they do so. The Supreme Court today upheld Indian Air Force's denial of permission to two Muslim personnel to grow beard, holding that the two orders were in compliance with Regulation 425(b) which . The new religious accommodation rules also cover unshorn beards and unshorn hair such as those worn by members of the Sikh faith under-turbans or patkas, and other indoor or outdoor head coverings. Service spokesperson Ann Stefanek said the proposal is under discussion by the Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, but hasnt been approved. Abdul Rahman Gaitain, an airman with the 821st. During tours of less than 30 days, Air 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. If youre willing to learn, we are willing to teach.. Correction: This story was updated at 6:53 p.m. to reflect correct information about religious waivers for beards. I want to go all out with practing the religion (including reading the Quran like it is recommened during Ramadan. endobj 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. But so far, the call for beards seems to fall on deaf ears. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. % The Air Force also granted its first religious accommodation beard waiver, to a Muslim airman, in 2018. 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 . W2~@R>tA);|6[ +XnDnQi\k`LF. Black men disproportionately suffer from the ingrown hairs that cause painful razor bumps, either precluding them from shaving more regularly or forcing them to suffer and, in some cases, endure scarring. Its kind of a big thing, culturally.. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 368001, - Participation and Training Procedures. The updated policy requires religious apparel to be neat and conservative and not impede an individuals ability to perform assigned military duties or wear protective equipment. The U. S. Air Force has published new guidance for religious accommodations that allow airmen to wear beards, turbans and hijabs. There are plenty of smaller regulations detailing how religious beards and apparel should look in order to appear neat and conservative, the Air Force writes. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. They also make offerings anything from food to drinks to physical objects to their gods during a ceremony called a blot, he said. (In heathen lore . Sopchak said he was originally raised Baptist, but has not been a Christian for a long time. 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?. This article has been updated to reflect the fact that another Norse Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United States Based on the successful examples of Soldiers currently serving with these accommodations, I have determined Abdul Rahman Gaitan, 821st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, was among the first to be granted a religious accommodation for a shaving waiver based . But if the unit commander is going to say no, the regulation said, it must be an unusual situation and based on real (not theoretical) compelling government interest, such as safety. Chance Saltzman outlined the three lines in a series of commanders notes published Jan., Thousands of Airmen and Guardians who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 no longer have to get the shotsand those whofaced disciplinary action for failing to get vaccinated will have their records wiped clean. >_fn7dw)>S#a\7]zdWwgsZMA2!2/af>]]I+ .$sMOr])0`F\>-vxX|K h%&ZG2xI%#}pxg@;%rE*q"TY(kfIeWgh&*$|- F'$_L2;&"bw.%i^XxzS\'Z+gQI,=b6)J|Se{Sl)xog`7^}T# N7 x+|B7 So I am not some expert I just watch YouTube videos of the teachings of Islam. Also in 2019, Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa became the first Sikh airman to receive an accommodation for a turban, beard and unshorn hair, and two Norse Heathen airmen were also allowed to grow beards. 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. Theres a lot of things that we learn from the past and our ancestry, and its just carrying on the line, really.. But a little more than two years ago, Sopchak was seized by an overwhelming feeling that he needed to look further into these legends and the religion surrounding them. Sure, but how about competitive pay and benefits? Commonly referred to as razor bumps, PFB is a skin condition that makes shaving painful and can lead to permanent scarring if the skin is not allowed to heal, which makes it a common reason for receiving a shaving waiver. Master Sgt. While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who,. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. 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. One Facebook commenter questioned why the Air Force needs a separate pilot program when it could study those who already have shaving waivers. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. Chapter IV - Four Eyes Were Reading the Passage I was running the head of my pencil-case along the line as I read it, and something caused me to raise my eyes. And. I am grateful to hear of this policy change, because it codifies in writing what I already know: The U.S. Air Force values the service and contribution of religious minorities like me, Singh said in a statement provided by the group. Published Feb 12, 2020 2:11 PM EST. Directly before me was one of the mirrors I have mentioned, in which I saw reflected the tall shape of my friend, Mr. Jennings, leaning over my shoulder, and reading the page at which I was busy, and with a face so dark and wild that I . Any links to regs would be appricated. I had opportunities to hire all kinds of folks and I was adamant about not hiring somebody with a shaving waiver, just because I fell into that category of this is Air Force policy, its not professional, he said. Get the latest military news, entertainment, and gear in your inbox daily. In 2018, Staff Sgt. As part of the process, an airman must describe the religious basis for and include a comment on the sincerity of the request. He also consulted with The Asatru Community, a nonprofit group that advocates for followers of Norse pagan religions. Sopchak said in a Tuesday interview that in the old sagas, a beard was a sign someone was a respected member of the community who could be trusted to help others. ooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. Paragraph 1.5.2.3 added: Members requesting a medical waiver to wear a beard must submit a letter Maysaa Ouza, the first Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps officer to wear the hijab, was also featured in a short NBC documentary last year. DAFI 52-201 is the governing regulation for religious accommodation. 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. The research studied the effect of shaving waivers on the careers of active duty male airmen. The group is one of the Air Forces volunteer teams that considers ways to make policies more equitable for all airmen. For those wondering, the regulation says that a mustache worn with a beard may extend sideways beyond the corners of the mouth to connect with the beard, but must be trimmed or groomed to not cover the upper lip.. If the idea moves forward, participating airmen and guardians would become the subject of a research project whose data could convince high-level Pentagon officials to allow more flexibility on facial hair. The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. Start with the chaplain, and work with them to route the request through your chain. The Air Force is first in many things, but in this case the branch came in second to the Army, which in 2017 became the first military branch to grant religious exemptions for beards, turbans and hijabs. 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. 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. 3.1.2.3.1. &w\=xi~Wh^iz`b=)!]T;iMC.OXm(+N*uHe{5"@"o$n*uQI'JHyLij%O&Q3 .\nOemNKW2j2ttYK9sll?hyA/fQ/lF\ pVyH0qd~T#o[Bpi*In=mS hU f[6rx~ 8;GO yNb4.A`t`Wj There are also exceptions for Air Force Reservists serving less than 30 days. We speculate that these members, irrespective of race/ethnicity, may perceive this bias against shaving waivers and choose to leave the service earlier.. 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. Anecdotal evidence and a July 2021 study in the journal Military Medicine indicate that airmen with shaving waivers are more often passed over for promotions and other professional opportunities because of their appearance. What happens when patients disagree with an exemption decision? Thousands of American Muslims and members of other minority faiths serve in our nations military and should be able to practice their faith while serving, CAIRs spokesperson Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement. This new study looked at a much larger share of data and involved 9,339 valid responses. A U.S. soldier who is serving in Afghanistan has received a uniform religious exception to sport a beard based upon his Norse pagan beliefs. For example, it took airmen with eight or more years with a waiver about a year longer on average to get promoted to the rank of technical sergeant (E-6) compared to airmen who had a waiver for just a year or two. Brown Jr. covered a broad range of topics with his additions to his Leadership Library in February. There is no potential timeline for approval, because it isnt even at that stage, she said. HbMc#!6d~\@sQfe_Mp X_T1ew,`CC _O3b eTBo~&aM(AL?z[vEIYf~;LI>*H~BL 3v3!2/)mC*f3d]UL!'7*^LtPNl2"8}Vo=N@&.&|Ye. And at least two airmen who follow the Norse Heathen, or pagan, faiths have been granted permission to wear a beard. The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the United States which has helped more than 20 Sikh Americans serve in the military, applauded the changes. Less of having to work with skeleton crews, he said. Eugene Oliver/U.S. The new 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. 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. endobj dx xE28;eN0ORG*sMhw_2iL!o@/dUKS0sD~-dd!7r.7ucOjP0GH#_&F%)wr-' The religious beard exemption in the US army was created for the benefit of Sikhs. . Isnt the whole point of Religious Freedom that people CANT question your religious beliefs??

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