Air Force allows Sikh to wear turban, beard and remain unshaven

[Allen]

Still rag heads. They still have THEIR countries and beliefs. We don't need them here. That's all I need to know about them.

The importance of not having beards in the military remains.

[JohnPeeff]

All the Sikhs I have known from plumbers to bankers have been decent people.

[Mark in Ottawa]

About 20 years ago, the very traditional Royal Canadian Mounted Police (who are officially classed as a regiment of dragoons) went through great agonies over just this question. They eventually allowed Sikh police officers to wear turbans and beards although there were the same concerns about whether or not they interfered with gas masks. I worked for the Force as a civilian for many years and my impression was that the impact on the organization from having turbanned officers was somewhere between minimal and moderately positive. The moderately positive effect derived from the fact that we have a lot of Sikhs in Canada and it brought the Force closer to that community.

I should note that our Minister of Defence is a Sikh who at one time was the first Sikh to command a Canadian regiment. He also served in Afghanistan for some time

My bottom line here is that the wearing of a turban is not as important as the competence of the person wearing it.

[S.A. Boggs]

Bottom line is that the individual wearing such things will be in trouble if a helmet/mask is needed.
Sam

[rayg]

Bottom line is that the individual wearing such things will be in trouble if a helmet/mask is needed.
Sam

Couldn't it be removed for those purposes? Ray

[Allen]

Couldn't it be removed for those purposes? Ray

Not the beard. You never know (at a moments notice) when you will need a mask.

Point being, there are dress codes, OSHA standards for safety and military requirements. We don't need to be giving certain people special accommodations just because their ways and beliefs are different from ours.

[S.A. Boggs]

Couldn't it be removed for those purposes? Ray

The cover yes, a beard takes some time to remove.
Sam

[blackhawknj]

Double and triple and quadruple standards have become the norm, and to a certain extent religious sensibilities should be accommodated. And who would you rather have, a Sikh who mans up when the time comes, or some female who pulls the "female excuse" card ?

[Allen]

who would you rather have, a Sikh who mans up when the time comes, or some female who pulls the "female excuse" card ?

Neither one. I would prefer someone who has been trained by traditional American standards to be "manned up" and ready at any time.

[lyman]

Still rag heads. They still have THEIR countries and beliefs. We don't need them here. That's all I need to know about them.

The importance of not having beards in the military remains.

turbans,, not rags,
they are not Muslim, or Islamic


Sikhs supported the British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.[90] By the beginning of World War I, Sikhs in the British Indian Army totaled over 100,000 (20 per cent of the force). Until 1945 fourteen Victoria Crosses (VC) were awarded to Sikhs, a per-capita regimental record.[72] In 2002 the names of all Sikh VC and George Cross recipients were inscribed on the monument of the Memorial Gates[91] on Constitution Hill, next to Buckingham Palace.[92] Chanan Singh Dhillon was instrumental in campaigning for the memorial.

See caption
Japanese soldiers shooting blindfolded Sikh prisoners
During World War I, Sikh battalions fought in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and France. Six battalions of the Sikh Regiment were raised during World War II, serving in the Second Battle of El Alamein, the Burma and Italian campaigns and in Iraq and receiving 27 battle honours. Around the world, Sikhs are commemorated in Commonwealth cemeteries.[93]

In the last two world wars 83,005 turban wearing Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded fighting for the British Empire. During shell fire, they had no other head protection but the turban, the symbol of their faith.

— General Sir Frank Messervy[94]