In a landmark decision, the US military has granted a decorated Sikh-American officer a long-term religious accommodation, allowing him to continue serving while maintaining his articles of faith – keeping a beard and wearing a turban.
The move makes Captain Simratpal Singh, a 28-year-old decorated combat veteran, the first active duty Sikh soldier to receive approval to maintain his articles of faith while actively serving in the US Army.
He had sued the Defence Department last month in a first of its kind lawsuit, saying he was being subjected to “discriminatory” testing because of his turban and beard. He said he was being asked to undergo additional testing for his helmet and gas mask.
The Army granted the permanent accommodation, saying in a court document that it would only be revoked if the beard and turban affected “unit cohesion and morale, good order and discipline, health and safety”.
My military service continues to fulfil a lifelong dream. My faith, like many of the soldiers I work with, is an integral part of who I am. I am thankful that I no longer have to make the choice between faith and service to our nationCaptain Singh after receiving the decision
Capt Singh will now continue in his battalion operations staff position at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.
According to the The New York Times, Debra S Wada, the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, wrote in a memo to the captain,
Because of the Army’s strong interest in maintaining good order and discipline, the Army intends to develop clear, uniform standards applicable to soldiers who have received religious accommodation.
Until those standards are in place, Singh will be expected to appear in a “neat and conservative manner with a black or camouflage turban”, she said.
The Sikh Coalition said Singh, who had graduated from West Point with honours in 2006, was forced to make the “untenable choice” between his religion and his career and had to cut his hair and shave his beard following failed attempts to obtain an accommodation.
Singh, who successfully completed a Bronze Star tour in Afghanistan and received numerous other military accolades in various military positions, filed a religious accommodation request in October 2015.
The development has been welcomed by the Sikh-American community.
Captain Singh again proves to our military that the religiously mandated turban and beard do not hinder the ability to successfully serve. This decision gives hope that our nation’s largest employer is making progress towards ending a policy of religious discrimination.Harsimran Kaur, Legal Director, Sikh Coalition
The Sikh Coalition filed another federal court lawsuit on 29 March, which demands that the Army accommodate three Sikhs’ articles of faith, including turbans, unshorn hair and beards, so that each can begin Basic Combat Training with their respective units in May 2016.
The lawsuit was filed after the US Department of Defence ignored a demand letter that was sent on 23 March, and failed to provide decisions on their pending requests for accommodations. That litigation remains ongoing.
Captain Singh’s case is a painful study in the onerous hurdles for observant Sikh Americans who want to serve their country. With this historic accommodation, we hope that the US military will finally move past protracted, case-by-case religious accommodations and recognise that the time for permanent policy change is now.Amandeep Sidhu, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery
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