Sailors, Marines seek religious accommodation to wear beards
From left, A02 Joe Probasco, LTC Kamal S. Kalsi and A02 Guldeep Kaur stand for a photo near the World War II memorial in Washington D.C. LTC Kalsi is the first Sikh American soldier to have been given a uniform accomodation allowing a beard and dastar - both observed as requirements for Sikh followers. Beards are largely banned for military servicemen in the United States, inspiring conversations about dress code among religious members whose religions forbid shaving. Photo courtesy of Sikh Americans Veterans Alliance
(RNS) — One Orthodox Jewish sailor and three Muslim sailors joined in a lawsuit alleging the Navy’s beard policy amounts to a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
