Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Powered by GoDaddy This website uses cookies. The Air Force has updated its grooming standards to formally allow Airmen to grow neatly trimmed beards, standardizing the religious or medical exemption process. 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. I will also add, the whole reason I want a beard is to help me with my faith during Ramadan. 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. A1C Rathour is the first Sikh Airman to receive religious accommodation, and may grow his beard and wear his turban while in uniform. Beard News in Air Force Copyright 2022 Beard Waiver - All Rights Reserved. Ou5g(O5b5md8_ -+'.$Dvqx)YDTwXD`m_~G ArVT+`oo Paragraph 1.5.2.3 should be renumbered as 1.5.2.4. Under the new guidelines . 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. During tours of less than 30 days, A ir 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. The Air Force Times reports on Air Force SSgt Garrett Sopchak, who just became the first US Air Force Airman to be allowed to wear a beard because he adheres to Norse Heathen religious beliefs. endobj Asking questions is fine, but how is that even legal? Though some white supremacist groups in recent years have co-opted Norse symbols such as runes, Sopchak rejected that and said his faith is not racist in any way. The Air Force has updated its grooming standards to formally allow Airmen to grow neatly trimmed beards, standardizing the religious or medical exemption process. thx. William Bailey, a beard waiver. A member of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has received the first-ever religious-related waiver, allowing him to wear a turban and keep a beard. USAF photo by Alexander Goad. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. In addition to believing in the old Norse gods, he said, Heathens believe that they are descended from them. 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. 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. The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. 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. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. 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. 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. Still, it seems the Honor Guard has not completely embraced shaving waivers. In December, the Air Force commissioned its first female Muslim chaplain . As we work to build a more inclusive force, we are constantly assessing and evaluating all of the processes and programs that affect our Airmen, she said. The standards for growing a beard for medical reasons remain unchanged, the Air Force said. | Beards can also be seen as symbols of power, strength, and virility. And in June, a Sikh airman received approval to wear a beard and turban. Isnt the whole point of religious freedom that people CANT do that? Part of HuffPost Politics. He also consulted with The Asatru Community, a nonprofit group that advocates for followers of Norse pagan religions. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. Religious Beards In The United States Military - gentlemansfoundry We speculate that these members, irrespective of race/ethnicity, may perceive this bias against shaving waivers and choose to leave the service earlier.. Sikh American airman in U.S. Air Force allowed to serve with turban and Friday's regulation formalizes such waivers into a multi-step review process. Religion - Af David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. Here are some active soldiers who have been allowed to keep their facial hair. The Air Force, citing privacy concerns, declined to identify how many airmen have obtained waivers based on religious exemptions but said the publicity surrounding approvals in recent years has . The United States military continues to bend its strict grooming rules to appease Muslims, most recently allowing an Air Force sergeant to sport a beard for religious reasons. That assessment, and ability to address and adjust, is critical to our force, and our people. Also, do you have to be able to prove that you are that religion or can you just claim that you are a Muslim and thats that. 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. I want to go all out with practing the religion (including reading the Quran like it is recommened during Ramadan. The Hammer of Thor is available to be placed on government headstones and markers in the United States. We recommend further study of gas mask and respirator fit testing with facial hair in the military population to clarify this.. Theres a lot of things that we learn from the past and our ancestry, and its just carrying on the line, really.. 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For example, it took airmen with eight or more years with a waiver about a year longer on average to get promoted to the rank of technical sergeant (E-6) compared to airmen who had a waiver for just a year or two. The research studied the effect of shaving waivers on the careers of active duty male airmen. The DAF will remove adverse information from records of those currently serving service members who sought. 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. Judge Prevents Air Force From Penalizing Airmen Who Refused Vaccine David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. Religious Freedom andBeards : AirForce - reddit.com Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. We are working to take away the stigma attached to airmen who have a medical need or a religious accommodation for facial hair, Bass wrote in a comment on her Facebook page on Tuesday. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright, said in April on a panel discussion on male grooming standards in the Air Force. >_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 Shaving waivers can hold back an airman's career, and since most airmen with waivers are Black, the regulations are effectively discriminatory. beard - God and Country Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. DAFI52-201 23 JUNE 2021 5 Written request for accommodation received by We are working to take away the stigma attached to airmen who have a medical need or a religious accommodation for facial hair. 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 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. Rathour graduated Security Forces technical training on Sept. 26, 2019. Rachel Cohen joined Air Force Times as senior reporter in March 2021. Be aware though, that the belief must be sincere, which means you will likely be interviewed by the chaplain about your beliefs, and they will advise your CC on whether or not your beliefs are sincere, or you're just trying to get a beard. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, wants to reduce the branchs cultural bias against shaving waivers granted for medical or religious reasons. x\[o~d/Sp|A|=hdDPwfvIQuDgg?ydtx.b`1K55'V#wLDP,(Wj Staff Sgt. 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. 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. Beard Religious Waivers in Air Force Norse Pagan, Sikh, Muslim and other Airmen have officially been granted religious waivers to wear beards. 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 problem is how to convince the rest of the Air Force to follow suit. Hopper,. Meanwhile, about 76.83% of the no-waiver group was White. The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. endobj Air Force reverses 'adverse actions' against airmen who sought vaccine The U. S. Air Force has published new guidance for religious accommodations that allow airmen to wear beards, turbans and hijabs. 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The Air Force Surgeon General has approved five-year waivers allowing male airmen with a medical condition causing painful ingrown hairs to grow beards, the service said Tuesday. Want to write for Task & Purpose? Published Jul 14, 2021 8:57 AM EDT. Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. One Facebook commenter questioned why the Air Force needs a separate pilot program when it could study those who already have shaving waivers. Air University Airman overcomes barriers to express his faith as a Chief Bass comment demonstrates her commitment to changing the culture, and there seems to be some progress already. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, 821st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, was among the first to be granted a religious accommodation for a shaving waiver based . 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.. The Air Force also granted its first religious accommodation beard waiver, to a Muslim airman, in 2018. Community for current and past members of the US Air Force. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. 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. Coffee or Die Magazine | Beards in Blue? Air Force Uniform Board Will Heres how. Brown Jr. covered a broad range of topics with his additions to his Leadership Library in February. 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. Its a little scraggly right now, Sopchak said. It gradually worked its way up through the bureaucracy before ultimately being approved July 8 by Air Force personnel chief Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly. Beards cant exceed two inches if they do, they must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length, the regulations state. Less of having to work with skeleton crews, he said. Islam & The First Religious Beard in The US Military (Air Force) The first person granted a beard waiver in the U.S. Airforce due to his faith was a Muslim soldier. Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. Singh was born in India and followed his father, an asylee, to the U.S. in 2012. A staff judge advocate must also review the request package. The religious beard exemption in the US army was created for the benefit of Sikhs. ", By Air Force). Some of it was because I just ignored it, some of it was because I wanted these young men to do what I did: just suck it up and figure it out and youll be fine.. Full text of "Planar Handbook" Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. 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. While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who,. If they didnt have one, in some of the stories, they were actually ridiculed. 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. 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. Air Force Special Operations permits the First Sikh Airman to Keep his 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. 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. Air Force and Space Force Consider Testing Out Beards 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. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 36-8001, Participation and Training Procedures. 1 0 obj Sample accommodation request memos included with the regulation said that the Air Force can order an airman to immediately shave or remove their turban or hijab if they need to be ready to wear a gas mask during an emergency. It took Sopchak about 11 months to get his beard approved. There currently is no clear evidence showing that is the case, the study said. The update to AFI 36-2903, Dress and personal appearance of Air Force personnel, allows airmen to request a waiver to wear religious apparel, as long as they are neat and conservative and present a professional and well-groomed appearance. But if the unit commander is going to say no, the regulation said, it must be an unusual situation and based on real (not theoretical) compelling government interest, such as safety. Rather than delay his enlistment, Comer decided to shave his beard and apply for the accommodation at a later date. 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.. 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. According to an Air Force press . Bearded Airmen and Guardians? Leaked Proposal for Air Force Test Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. As described in sample memos included in the regulation, safety concerns might include wearing a gas mask or going within 25 feet of an operating aircraft. 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. Of them, 40 Airmen voluntarily left the service and 14 officers retired, according to Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Feb. 28. 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. Asatru FAQ: Beards - PaganSquare - PaganSquare - Join the conversation! There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Would beards be nice? Sens. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 0 obj By Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United States 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. 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. With regards to promotions, the wait grows longer the more time airmen have shaving waivers. There are also exceptions for Air Force Reservists serving less than 30 days. Contact the author here. The Air Force style authorities have spoken: neck and hand tattoos are in, beards are still out. According to the Department of Defense Instruction 1300. 3 0 obj The facial hair cannot exceed one-quarter of an inch, must be grown out naturally and cannot be shaped or styled. The memo said he can grow a longer beard if he rolls or ties it, but Sopchak said hell likely keep it within two inches to stay safe on the job and keep it simple. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. With the 'modern American in mind,' Air Force OKs neck and hand tattoos Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. 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 . On Monday, Captain Toor and three other Sikhs sued the Marine Corps in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, saying the corps's refusal to grant a religious waiver is arbitrary and. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. Kesh, or 'uncut hair' is one of the five religious requirements of baptized Sikhs. 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. The study would require only 100 to 150 service members, he said. 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 . The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the United States which has helped more than 20 Sikh Americans serve in the military, applauded the changes.