Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. t7be,2/gQ u7|O;(?lKHfm'*g' I{C Guidelines for requesting a religious accommodation for a Heathen beard in the U.S. Air Force The comment, which was also shared on the popular Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco, was made in response to a selfie she posted of herself alongside Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Airman 1st Class Kyle Voss-McReynolds, who was the leadership teams driver during a recent event and who also wears a beard in uniform. Its kind of a big thing, culturally.. I have an approved religious accommodation and have gotten pretty knowledgeable on the process. The Air Force separated 610 Airmen for declining the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. It also specifically looked at the time it took airmen with shaving waivers to get promoted relative to airmen without waivers, and whether that association led to racial bias. 0. The Nevada Army Guard said that Sgt. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. Abdul Rahman Gaitain, an airman with the 821st. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Sopchak said he was originally raised Baptist, but has not been a Christian for a long time. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. But on July 18, the amn/nco/snco page posted a March 1 memo granting another Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. 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 Waiver stigma Air Force Medicine medical beard Al Dhafra . Published Dec 21, 2022 5:12 PM EST. 1st Class Benjamin . The Sikh Coalition represents Airman 1st Class Gurchetan Singh, who is the first Sikh American to secure a religious accommodation to serve in the Air National Guard. Sopchak said that something about the Heathen religion felt more real to him. Paragraph 1.5.2.3 added: Members requesting a medical waiver to wear a beard must submit a letter I can answer the questions, so it is not really a problem but how is that even legal? He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. % such as an exemption uniform policy; the from a purchase of suitable, alternative personal protective . While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who, for medical and religious reasons, are not able to shave in line with regulations. Summary: Secret agent/spy Arthur is part of a private investigation, initiated by Saito, to infiltrate a secret collusion of the world's biggest energy corporations but treacher This is an update to AFI 36-2903, "Dress and personal appearance of Air Force Personnel," and it will allow the headdress to be worn provided it is "neat and conservative" and that the airmen present a professional . Airmens facial hair also cannot interfere with the wear of personal protective equipment such as gas masks, the Air Force said, and airmen must be able to continue to perform their duties. The problem is how to convince the rest of the Air Force to follow suit. <>>> 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. The updated regulation said beards must be no longer than two inches when measured from the bottom of the chin, and must be rolled and/or tied when longer than two inches. Based on the successful examples of Soldiers currently serving with these accommodations, I have determined Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. There currently is no clear evidence showing that is the case, the study said. 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. 1 comment. Accommodations, after all, arent about special treatment they are about ensuring that religiously observant Sikhs and others dont have to choose between staying true to our faith and serving our country.. Editors note: This story has been updated with new comments from Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. is at the same time the history o f the interpretation of the Scriptures.'18 The Sunna embodied an ossified tradition. You will have a meeting with the Chaplain where they ask you questions to determine if you have a sincerely held belief that you shouldn't shave. 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. Published Jul 14, 2021 8:57 AM EDT. So I am not some expert I just watch YouTube videos of the teachings of Islam. 3.1.2.3.1. thx. This is the first time the command has done so. The wing chaplain or equivalent will then assign a chaplain to interview the requesting airman about what is motivating him or her to ask for it. The new version of the service's dress and appearance standards policy allows tattoos up to 1 . Isnt the whole point of Religious Freedom that people CANT question your religious beliefs?? In a Tuesday update of the Department of the Air Force's COVID-19 response, the service announced it had approved nine religious accommodations, including eight through service members' major and field commands and one through a Department of the Air Force appeal. Paragraph 1.5.2 changed to read: Submitting Requests for Religious, Gender , or Medical Waivers. The updated policy requires religious apparel to be neat and conservative and not impede an individuals ability to perform assigned military duties or wear protective equipment. Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. It was approved in September, which means Singh will soon head to basic training. An airmans rank will be displayed on the turban or under-turban when worn in circumstances where military headgear is customarily worn, and removed in circumstances where military headgear is not typically worn, such as indoors or in no-hat or no-salute areas. Meanwhile, about 76.83% of the no-waiver group was White. The waiver group also had a greater rate of disciplinary action compared to the no-waiver group (18.96% versus 11.45%). And in February, the Air Force officially updated its regulations to formally allow airmen to request religious beard waivers. I was the typical senior leader chief that didnt think airmen with a shaving waiver belonged in the front office, one of the branchs most beloved former senior leaders, retired Chief Master Sgt. The Air Force currently prohibits service members from growing beards unless they are granted a religious or medical waiver, a policy that has come under scrutiny lately after military. As of Jan. 21, the Air Force has administratively separated 111 active duty Airmen. However, most airmen who have waivers are Black, because they are more likely to be affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) than White airmen. Religious exemptions to the rule allow for beards up to 2 inches long. Shaving waivers can hold back an airman's career, and since most airmen with waivers are Black, the regulations are effectively discriminatory. William Bailey, a beard waiver. We are working to take away the stigma attached to airmen who have a medical need or a religious accommodation for facial hair. Such a request for an exemption to a military policy can only be denied, the AFI change said, if the policy furthers a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive way of furthering that interest. Seven months later, this reporter could not immediately find any such progress reports. Tim Chacon/Air National Guard. 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. Any links to regs would be appricated. In 2017, the U.S. Army officially updated its dress and appearance standards to accommodate hijabs, turbans and beards. Airman becomes the first Muslim to be granted service's beard waiver for observing religion By Jon Simkins Nov 20, 2018 Air Force Staff Sgt. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 368001, - Participation and Training Procedures. 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. 173rd Fighter Wing Airmen may begin taking advantage of new uniform regulations allowing religious exemptions such as beards, hijabs, and turbans while in uniform. In 2018, Staff Sgt. Airmen can use styling products on their beards, but petroleum-based products are not allowed while wearing a protective mask. And in June, a Sikh airman received approval to wear a beard and turban. Copyright 2023. &w\=xi~Wh^iz`b=)!]T;iMC.OXm(+N*uHe{5"@"o$n*uQI'JHyLij%O&Q3 .\nOemNKW2j2ttYK9sll?hyA/fQ/lF\ pVyH0qd~T#o[Bpi*In=mS hU f[6rx~ 8;GO yNb4.A`t`Wj Big news today for the many airmen out there who want to grow out their beards: not only is there little evidence showing that beards interfere with a gas mask seal, but the Air Forces ban on beards may also be contributing to racial discrimination and hurting promotion opportunities within the service. There could be more studies of this topic to come. The Reserve or Guard, before finally denying a request, will first consult with the Air Force personnel directorate and obtain a legal review from the Air Force. No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, said Giselle Klapper, Sikh Coalition Staff Attorney. 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. The Air Force in recent years has begun granting waivers to allow airmen including airmen of the Muslim, Sikh and Norse Heathen or pagan faiths to grow beards for religious reasons. 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. Service spokesperson Ann Stefanek said the proposal is under discussion by the Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, but hasnt been approved. The Air Force encourages religious freedoms of service members as one of four pillars of resiliency to help build and sustain a strong and healthy workplace and community. 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. Religious head coverings are also required to be free of designs or markings unless the individuals uniform has a camouflage pattern. 1 0 obj The religious beard exemption in the US army was created for the benefit of Sikhs. In March 2021, after Comer arrived at Maxwell Air Force Base, he started talking to his first sergeant about applying for a religious accommodation to obtain a beard waiver. For example, hijabs must be closely fitted to the contours of the airman's head and neck, tucked under the uniform top, and cannot cover the airman's eyebrows, eyes, cheeks, nose, mouth or chin. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, 821st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, was among the first to be granted a religious accommodation for a shaving waiver based . I had opportunities to hire all kinds of folks and I was adamant about not hiring somebody with a shaving waiver, just because I fell into that category of this is Air Force policy, its not professional, he said. 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.. In 2018, the Air Force granted its first "religious accommodation beard waiver" to a Muslim airman, allowing him to wear a beard while in uniform. At first, it appeared Sopchak was the first Heathen to get a beard waiver. >_fn7dw)>S#a\7]zdWwgsZMA2!2/af>]]I+ .$sMOr])0`F\>-vxX|K h%&ZG2xI%#}pxg@;%rE*q"TY(kfIeWgh&*$|- F'$_L2;&"bw.%i^XxzS\'Z+gQI,=b6)J|Se{Sl)xog`7^}T# N7 x+|B7 Beard Religious Waivers in Air Force Norse Pagan, Sikh, Muslim and other Airmen have officially been granted religious waivers to wear beards. <>/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>> 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. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. Beard News in Air Force Copyright 2022 Beard Waiver - All Rights Reserved. Those interested in pursuing a shaving waiver at Al Dhafra can attend shaving waiver clinic walk-in hours on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or schedule an appointment at the 380th EMDG clinic during walk-in hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Previously, the only exceptions for active-duty personnel were medical waivers. Action on Requests for Religious Accommodation that Require the Waiver of Department of the Air Force Regulations or Policies or Directives . Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Its an unsubstantiated claim, dermatologist Lt. Col. Simon Ritchie told Task & Purpose in May. 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. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, an aerial porter with the 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, was granted a religious waiver permitting him to keep a beard due to his Muslim faith, according to an Air Force article published Friday. 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. The study could provide ammunition for airmen who really want to grow out their beards, a large number of whom advocate for changing the facial hair regulations on social media platforms like Reddit and Facebook. Press J to jump to the feed. But his community now meets in parks or homes to commemorate holidays such as Yule and the solstices. 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. Beards can also be seen as symbols of power, strength, and virility. Hijabs, turbans and under-turbans (also known as patkas) should be free of designs and made of a subdued material in a color that closely resembles ones uniform. David Roza ak cGeoI0_enzM8_#.Skvv1Nx72!oaBV >q@yN;NG.s;9>/B32:*I=u/x|=3;.m1.DWc(P(mZ XZ With regards to promotions, the wait grows longer the more time airmen have shaving waivers. 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. David Roza Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. safety) or when precluded by a compelling (i.e., especially important) governmental and/or Air Force interest. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. . The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Rachel Cohen joined Air Force Times as senior reporter in March 2021. Sorry airmen, you're not getting beards without a medical or religious waiver anytime soon, as Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles 'CQ' Brown and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force . 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. It interfaces with DAFPD 52-1, Chaplain Corps; Air Force Instruction (AFI) . DAF COVID-19 Statistics - January 2022. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. The Quran, too, was used in a similar manner. Rather than delay his enlistment, Comer decided to shave his beard and apply for the accommodation at a later date. There are conflicting published reports from the civilian sector with regard to the impact of facial hair on P2/N95 [face masks] fit testing, and none that we are aware of evaluating facial hair impact on military gas mask fit. the authors wrote. United States Air Force members who refused to take the COVID vaccine for religious reasons will soon get a reprieve from the punitive actions the military took against them.. 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. 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. It gradually worked its way up through the bureaucracy before ultimately being approved July 8 by Air Force personnel chief Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly. The Sikh Coalition said the Air Force regulation closely resembles the Army's. But a little more than two years ago, Sopchak was seized by an overwhelming feeling that he needed to look further into these legends and the religion surrounding them. . | The Air Force currently prohibits service members from growing beards unless they are granted a religious or medical waiver, a policy that has come under scrutiny lately after military doctors studied its discriminatory effect on Black airmen. ooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. other similar condition s that prohibits regular facial shaving may requ est a waiver to wear a beard . During tours of less than 30 days, Air Force Reserve (AFR) and Air National Guard (ANG) chaplains not on extended active duty may request a beard waiver for religious observance when consistent with their faith. 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. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade use hot towels to warm their faces during a shaving clinic May 22 at the brigade's organizational classroom. Part of HuffPost Politics. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. According to the updated regulation, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, the Air Force allows all such apparel and beards as long as the airmen wearing them make it through a religious accommodation waiver process, that they appear neat and conservative, and that the apparel and beards don't interfere with personal safety. USAF photo by Alexander Goad. The U.S. Air Force granted its first religious waivers to the military-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate this week. See Beard News in Air Force for more information. For nearly a year, the Air Force weighed a staff sergeant's request to grow a beard as part of his religious beliefs before granting him a waiver, a decision that balanced personal liberty against military readiness, a Pentagon spokesman said. Below are current coronavirus disease 2019 statistics for Department of Air Force personnel: *These numbers include all of the cases that were reported since our last update on Jan. 18. Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa. Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. Turbans and under-turbans have similar color and material requirements as the hijab. The study authors found that the long wait for promotions applied to airmen of all races who had waivers. They also make offerings anything from food to drinks to physical objects to their gods during a ceremony called a blot, he said. 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. Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. Sounds like you might want to talk to your local chaplain team. Maysaa Ouza, the first Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps officer to wear the hijab, was also featured in a short NBC documentary last year. 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 . Comer wore a beard with a religious accommodation waiver, but beards in the Air Force may become far more common after a uniform board considers facial hair in November. The Army granted a similar waiver last year, and beard exemptions have been granted for a growing number of Sikhs and Muslims . The new 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. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 2 0 obj And if that airman is assigned to a unit that wears a beret of a particular color, the unit commander can order him to wear a turban of the same color. Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a religious accommodation beard waiver. <> DAFI 52-201 is the governing regulation for religious accommodation. 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. All are welcome. But if they deny a religious accommodation request, it will go up to the Air Force headquarters manpower, personnel and services directorate, Air Force reserve or the Air National Guard for a final review and decision. Also in 2019, Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa became the first Sikh airman to receive an accommodation for a turban, beard and unshorn hair, and two Norse Heathen airmen were also allowed to grow beards. The idea would let participating airmen sport well-kept beards no longer than one-quarter inch, Military.com first reported Monday.

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