Sikhs Challenge US Army’s Ban on Turbans, Beards.
OK, being a great fan of all things military Raj, I think the Sikh sepoy or sowar is the very apex of martial appearance.
This link, though the original post is somewhat harsh, has some good pics and comments. Indeed, the first comment states that there were “a bunch of them” in Special Forces. That is correct– I met one in 1992, during Exercise Keen Edge in Hokkaido. (That was back in the Old Corps.) Fascinating guy, he had instead of a green beret a turban of the same material, with the flash affixed.
If they want to serve, I say, let ‘em serve. And the more the merrier. Shabash!
If my memory serves me right,here in Canada
the RCMP Police went through this in the 90′s
and I believe,through the political correctness,they got their way!!
And,our Legion branch put up quite a stink
about it as well!!
I believe I have seen a medical officer in the National Guard wearing a Sikh turban that matched his ACUs (or was it so long ago it was BDUs) – in any event the combo worked well.
Since we seem to annually get a memo reminding us that the beret is the authorized garrison cover (and not anything else!) I can only imagine the memos on tap if they get to wear turbans.
1,000% support anything that will get rid of those horrible unflattering half-stashes that military regs require….
Bring Back Beards for all the guys!
There is no Old Corps, just old Marines.
I’m not quite feeling it on this one. The grooming standards are there to prevent tics, fleas and lice from catching rides in long hair. The beards and goatees interfere with gas masks and other assorted PPE masks.
Finally, how many darn exceptions are we going to make to policy in order to let people serve? This ain’t no social work program we’re manning. We got to draw the line somewhere.
They say its a sin for them to cut their hair or go without their turbans. Well the good book says “Thou shall not kill,” but I’m willing to bend the rules a bit if I get ordered to.
Crap I’m turning into a grouchy old NCO, and I’m barely a quarter century old.
Where To Buy A Turbin