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The religious accommodation process is designed to accommodate individuals who can cite specific teachings, traditions, or texts that Air Force policies contradict. +BEeB5JiTx The Air Force has updated its grooming standards to formally allow Airmen to grow neatly trimmed beards, standardizing the religious or medical exemption process. Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. He also hopes to grow the Heathen community in the area around Hill. The real challenge is how do you change the culture, not just in the Air Force but in the services period.. Less of having to work with skeleton crews, he said. And at least two airmen who follow the Norse Heathen, or pagan, faiths have been granted permission to wear a beard. The study also called for re-examining the Air Forces most-cited reason for having a beard regulation, which is the concern that a beard would interfere with a gas masks seal around an airmans face. 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 . Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United States Gurchetan Singh, the first Sikh American to secure a religious accommodation to serve in the Air National Guard, said Wednesday that hes grateful for the Air Forces policy change. Theyre more like family members than they are divine beings, Sopchak said. The same was true for airmen trying to hit the rank of staff sergeant (E-5). He received a beard waiver on July 8, 2019. Religious exemptions to the rule allow for beards up to 2 inches long. 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. Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. According to the Nevada Army Guard's and Air Guard's personnel offices, the state has eight Guardsmen - four Soldiers and four Airmen - who declare Pagan as their religious preference. ), the Washington Post, and others. By approaching recruiting centrally as a Total Force, Air Force Recruiting, The Air Force last week announced an expansive new ROTC scholarship available to older Cadets committed to commissioning, with the goal of recruiting and retaining more future Airmen in the program. This new study looked at a much larger share of data and involved 9,339 valid responses. The hammer of Thor, also known as Mjlnir, in 2013 was added to the list of religious symbols authorized to be engraved on gravestones at military cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery. 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. However, most airmen who have waivers are Black, because they are more likely to be affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) than White airmen. [T]he promotion system is not necessarily inherently racially biased, but instead biased against the presence of facial hair which will likely always affect the promotions of Blacks/African-Americans disproportionately because of the relatively higher need for shaving waivers in this population, wrote the authors of the study, a team of eight led by Air Force Lt. Col. Simon Ritchie. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 368001, - Participation and Training Procedures. Something about what he found resonated, and Sopchak became a Norse Heathen. Theres a lot of comparables where Hey if females and women in the military just got their hair changed, how about beards? said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass in April. 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. Rathour graduated Security Forces technical training on Sept. 26, 2019. The airmans unit commander would then decide whether to endorse the request. 3.1.2.3.1. Sopchak said that something about the Heathen religion felt more real to him. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, 821st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, was among the first to be granted a religious accommodation for a shaving waiver based . The review directed Air Force commanders to conduct a root cause analysis of racial disparities within their commands, develop an action plan for reporting them, then release a progress report within six months. I want to go all out with practing the religion (including reading the Quran like it is recommened during Ramadan. DAF COVID-19 Statistics - January 2022. Another example of neat and conservative is color. 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 Air Force is committed to continuing to remove barriers that prevent airmen from applying for, and being accepted into, career broadening opportunities, Bass said in a statement sent to Task & Purpose. Last week the United States Air Force announced that it had updated its regulations, and will allow airmen to seek a waiver to wear turbans, hijabs or beards for religious reasons. The facial hair cannot exceed one-quarter of an inch, must be grown out naturally and cannot be shaped or styled. 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.. Given the racial distribution of waivers, this may have an unintended discriminatory effect by limiting the opportunities that these members are offered, the study authors wrote. William Bailey, a beard waiver. This causes inflammation and a foreign body reaction, and over time, can result in scarring. 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. endobj He joined Task & Purpose in 2019, after covering local news in Maine and FDA policy in Washington D.C. David loves hearing the stories of individual airmen and their families and sharing the human side of Americas most tech-heavy military branch. 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. 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.. Maysaa Ouza became the first Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps officer to wear hijab. The move came as a result of the Army authorizing beards for religious soldiers in January 2017 as part of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a move specifically enacted for Sikh soldiers. This condition, which the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology says affects up to 60 percent of Black men, occurs when curved facial hairs grow back into the skin. Based on the successful examples of Soldiers currently serving with these accommodations, I have determined Last year, Capt. 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. The religious beard exemption in the US army was created for the benefit of Sikhs. The Air Force's updated dress and personal appearance policy clarifies the gr ooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. He is now about two weeks into growing his beard, and is waiting for it to come in a little more before he can start shaping it. Sopchak said hes recently had some airmen, who were interested in exploring his religion, email him with questions, and hes helping other Air Force Heathens get their beards approved. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Beards should have been approved years ago, Facebook commenter Heather Britten wrote. In 2020, the department extended shaving waivers for those diagnosed with razor bumps from one year to five years. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. The studys findings are particularly significant because they come at a time when the Air Force is reckoning with racial disparities in the service overall. Service spokesperson Ann Stefanek said the proposal is under discussion by the Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, but hasnt been approved. Sure, but how about competitive pay and benefits? (U.S. Air Force) Airmen will be allowed to wear up to. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. 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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 . The hot towels help stimulate the skin to bring out any oils and sweat that can be used for a lubrication layer between the skin and the razor. The problem is how to convince the rest of the Air Force to follow suit. Action on Requests for Religious Accommodation that Require the Waiver of Department of the Air Force Regulations or Policies or Directives . Singh wanted to serve in the U.S. military to defend the country that had taken his family in, according to the Sikh Coalition. The new version of the service's dress and appearance standards policy allows tattoos up to 1 . Thanks for attaching this, it seems like a simple enough process to get the accommodation. 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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Ou5g(O5b5md8_ -+'.$Dvqx)YDTwXD`m_~G ArVT+`oo No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, said Giselle Klapper, Sikh Coalition Staff Attorney. "They were well-respected. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. 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. When requests are precluded by military necessity, commanders and supervisors should seek reasonable alternatives.. The interviewing chaplain will then send the wing chaplain a memo on whether the airman has a sincerely-held belief, whether the accommodation is related to that belief, and how the Air Force policy places a burden on that belief. Staff Sgt. Contact the author here. In an email to Task & Purpose, Bass said the Air Force is continually reevaluating its policies. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. According to a statement from the Air Force, Senior Airman Dominic Varriale was granted the turban waiver in 2020. I know Islam is iffy on if Beard are actually required but it is apart of the religion that I want to practice. 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 . Staff Sgt. 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. Turbans and under-turbans have similar color and material requirements as the hijab. (Garrett Sopchak) For nearly a year, the Air Force weighed a staff sergeant's request to grow a beard as part of his religious beliefs before. In the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive threat, commanding officers could also ask someone wearing a hijab to remove it to ensure a proper gas mask fit. are divided over that study showing beard waivers hurt careers. It is is up to the wing commander (or the unit's equivalent of such a commander) to make the final decision. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. 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. 0. The Quran, too, was used in a similar manner. ooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright, said in April on a panel discussion on male grooming standards in the Air Force. In addition to promoting one's own well-being and four pillars, respecting others whose viewpoints differ from them is expected from the total force. So I am not some expert I just watch YouTube videos of the teachings of Islam. Tell me youre an A1C without telling me youre an A1C. Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. The Air Force on Friday became the second branch of the U.S. military to approve the wearing of beards, turbans, hijabs, under-turbans/patkas, unshorn hair and other indoor/outdoor head coverings for religious reasons. In December, the Air Force commissioned its first female Muslim chaplain . Giselle Klapper, a Sikh Coalition staff attorney, said her group has long been seeking a blanket proclamation that all Sikh Americans who wear turbans and beards as part of their faith can serve in every branch of the military without seeking individual accommodations. The Air Forces updated dress and personal appearance policy clarifies the grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 36-8001, Participation and Training Procedures. Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa in June 2019 became the first active-duty Sikh airman allowed to wear a turban, beard and long hair, which Sikhs tie in a bun and then cover with the turban. The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. This article has been updated to reflect the fact that another Norse Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. Air Force Global Strike Command is launching a new study of cancer risks among Airmen and Guardians who worked near intercontinental ballistic missiles and is developing new resources for current and former service members and their families. purifying respirators and controlled air purifying respirators or beard-bands: 3. work just as well as N95s, but may cost more, and thus may be found to impose . Shaving sharpens the edges of facial hair and makes the condition worse, the college said, and shaving less frequently or allowing the beard to grow helps. The study authors found that the long wait for promotions applied to airmen of all races who had waivers. In a June 18 memo, Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg authorized the longer shaving waivers for airmen with pseudofolliculitis barbae, or razor bumps, effective immediately. The Brig. Yes, Navy Seals can grow beards. The idea would let participating airmen sport well-kept beards no longer than one-quarter inch, Military.com first reported Monday. | One Facebook commenter questioned why the Air Force needs a separate pilot program when it could study those who already have shaving waivers. Wright, who is Black, said he resolved his own shaving irritation by learning how to shave in a way that would not irritate his skin, so he assumed other airmen would be able to resolve their irritation the same way. Those encounters, along with studies like the one published last year, convinced Wright to change his position. . Still, she called the policy clarification a great step forward.. It took Sopchak about 11 months to get his beard approved. According to the Department of Defense Instruction 1300. According to the memo, which was first posted on the unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco July 12, Sopchak can wear a neat, conservative beard that presents a professional, well-groomed military appearance and stays no more than two inches from the bottom of his chin. In addition to believing in the old Norse gods, he said, Heathens believe that they are descended from them. What happens when patients disagree with an exemption decision? Last August, he went to his units chaplain an evangelical Christian who Sopchak said was very supportive and curious about his Heathen religion who helped him put together the paperwork for his religious accommodation request. Requests should normally be recommended for approval unless approval would have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards, or discipline, the Air Force wrote. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Hopper,. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The Air Force on Friday updated its regulations to formally allow airmen to ask for a waiver to wear religious apparel such as turbans or hijabs, or beards worn for religious reasons. 28, beards are generally allowed in the military "provided they are neatly trimmed, present a professional and well-groomed appearance, and are not excessive in bulk or length," with the caveat that beards may have to be removed for medical reasons or under orders from a superior. Kuzminski said it makes the Air Force and Space Force the first branches to look at a facial hair pilot program not tied to a religious or medical waiver, which would help normalize facial hair . Staff Sgt. There could be more studies of this topic to come. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jackson Manske. The 2021 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. But on July 18, the amn/nco/snco page posted a March 1 memo granting another Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. 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. For some pagans, it is seen as a way of honoring the gods and goddesses. It was only after becoming the top enlisted airman that Wright met fellow airmen for whom being clean-shaven was impossible without immense pain and skin damage. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. Airman raises his head as flight surgeon chief of medical staff inspects his neck and face during a shaving waiver course at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., March 15, 2018. But advocates argue that more sweeping changes are needed, in part because shaving waivers are often misunderstood and hurt Airmen's careers. The new AFI formally allows requests for waivers, and for neat and conservative beards that present a professional appearance. Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? thx. 1 comment. He hopes to become a Gothi essentially an ordained priest and perhaps become an official Air Force chaplain. Meanwhile, about 76.83% of the no-waiver group was White. 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. Though. *!+zu[XAoC_:X/0{ v8iAU}JqQ.u`6fE_GJTBh$Wx)Vpw#7~rDeI0r\!H(NW|/bcPRHBe0tEyXYD q{ The study, which was published in July 2021, pointed out that many of the airmen who apply for medical shaving waivers are Black, because Black men are more likely to be affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) commonly referred to as razor bumps than White men. 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. The updated regulations mandate that faith-based religious apparel requests can only be denied for a compelling government interest and the denial must be the least restrictive way the Air Force has of achieving that government interest. The research studied the effect of shaving waivers on the careers of active duty male airmen. The religious accommodation process isn't designed for individuals to play the God/conscience card to get around things they don't like. addresses the Air Force grooming standard for beards: "[b]eards are not authorizedunless for medical reasons, when authorized by a commander on the advice of a medical official." An Airmen who requests an accommodation waiver to grow a beard for religious reasons must follow 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?. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. Start with the chaplain, and work with them to route the request through your chain. 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. Rachel Cohen joined Air Force Times as senior reporter in March 2021. Published Dec 21, 2022 5:12 PM EST. William Bailey received a waiver to grow a beard March 1, according to an Air Force memo posted in July to the amn/nco/snco Facebook page. Rather than delay his enlistment, Comer decided to shave his beard and apply for the accommodation at a later date. The U.S. Air Force issued new guidelines on Friday giving members who wear religious apparel a way to serve the country without compromising their faith. The AFI allows the Air Force to deny a request for a waiver only if it furthers a compelling government interest., Groups such as the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Sikh Coalition, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced their support for the decision, with CAIR saying Feb. 12 it is a step toward religious accommodation and inclusion for military personnel of all faiths., No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, Giselle Klapper, a Sikh Coalition staff attorney, said in a release. Shaving waivers can hold back an airman's career, and since most airmen with waivers are Black, the regulations are effectively discriminatory. Imagine the man-hours saved when men dont have to go to the doctor to get approved for a shaving waiver, and then periodically renewed., Daniel Walker, another Facebook user, added: They keep relaxing grooming standards instead of giving us things that would actually increase our quality of life.. If they didnt have one, in some of the stories, they were actually ridiculed. is at the same time the history o f the interpretation of the Scriptures.'18 The Sunna embodied an ossified tradition. The Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group that has pushed for changes to the Air Forces dress and appearance policy, commended the move. 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. The Air Force style authorities have spoken: neck and hand tattoos are in, beards are still out. <>/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>> The new findings build off a preliminary study published in December which said that shaving waivers had negatively affected the careers of many airmen, especially those of color.