Yes, Navy Seals can grow beards. x\[o~d/Sp|A|=hdDPwfvIQuDgg?ydtx.b`1K55'V#wLDP,(Wj That assessment, and ability to address and adjust, is critical to our force, and our people. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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 religious accommodation process isn't designed for individuals to play the God/conscience card to get around things they don't like. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. 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.. | Heres how. While the study did not list an exact difference in promotion times between airmen with and without waivers, it did say with mathematical certainty that shaving waivers as a whole were associated with a significantly longer time to promotion compared to the no-waiver group.. However, most airmen who have waivers are Black, because they are more likely to be affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) than White airmen. Any links to regs would be appricated. He also consulted with The Asatru Community, a nonprofit group that advocates for followers of Norse pagan religions. And. 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. Still, she called the policy clarification a great step forward.. 8[/6&ip1~E5\h|#_W7AO2#+S_*wQ2I1jg!zx 6FTUqepk9v i*z]D@s;3c~52YJSR04P_dZgLA-Xh YWX,&"qp6bY ?HD]SL%d9n4%;uwR"d"4X 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.. 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. 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The standards for growing a beard for medical reasons remain unchanged, the Air Force said. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Contact the author here. Its an unsubstantiated claim, dermatologist Lt. Col. Simon Ritchie told Task & Purpose in May. Religious head coverings are also required to be free of designs or markings unless the individuals uniform has a camouflage pattern. That study, which involved 798 airmen responding to emailed surveys, called for more research and data on the subject. However, given the most recent research; shaving waivers could play a role in racial disparity in terms of promotions. 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. 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. 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. safety) or when precluded by a compelling (i.e., especially important) governmental and/or Air Force interest. 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. Airmen in need of a waiver could try laser hair removal or chemical treatment, but many airmen are reluctant to undertake them because it could permanently alter their ability to grow facial hair, the study authors wrote. 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. 3 0 obj William Bailey, received a waiver to grow a beard in March. In 2018, Staff Sgt. Theyre more like family members than they are divine beings, Sopchak said. And in June, a Sikh airman received approval to wear a beard and turban. 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. >_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 Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. 7Ndj% Anecdotal evidence and a July 2021 study in the journal Military Medicine indicate that airmen with shaving waivers are more often passed over for promotions and other professional opportunities because of their appearance. While supporters of current Air Force policy may have anecdotal evidence of one to five people who they see fail the fit test, he said, that cant be extrapolated to hundreds of thousands of airmen.. The religious accommodation process is designed to accommodate individuals who can cite specific teachings, traditions, or texts that Air Force policies contradict. In December, The Air Force released a sweeping review which found that Black service members are disproportionately punished and promoted more slowly when compared to their White peers. The idea would let participating airmen sport well-kept beards no longer than one-quarter inch, Military.com first reported Monday. Previously, the only exceptions for active-duty personnel were medical waivers. 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, he said. Sounds like you might want to talk to your local chaplain team. The Quran, too, was used in a similar manner. Sens. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. "They were well-respected. Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. 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. 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. Air Force Officially OKs Beards, Turbans, Hijabs for Religious Reasons . Rather than delay his enlistment, Comer decided to shave his beard and apply for the accommodation at a later date. Sure, but how about competitive pay and benefits? The airmans unit commander would then decide whether to endorse the request. 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. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 368001, - Participation and Training Procedures. The Air Force separated 610 Airmen for declining the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. 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. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Sopchak said that something about the Heathen religion felt more real to him. DAFI52-201 23 JUNE 2021 5 Written request for accommodation received by Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. So far, the Air Force has banned beards for all except those who have five-year medical waivers for pseudofolliculitis barbae, or chronic razor bumps, or religious waivers for those for whom beards are central to their observance, like Sikhs, Jews, Muslims and Norse Heathens. Later, every religious trend sought and found the hadiths that justified its principles. Guidelines for requesting a religious accommodation for a Heathen beard in the U.S. Air Force | The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the policy change. such as an exemption uniform policy; the from a purchase of suitable, alternative personal protective . 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. 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. Published Feb 12, 2020 2:11 PM EST. Something about what he found resonated, and Sopchak became a Norse Heathen. The DAF will remove adverse information from records of those currently serving service members who sought. The regulation follows years of individual airmen and other service members receiving waivers for religious beards and apparel. 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. 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. 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. The study would require only 100 to 150 service members, he said. Airmen can use styling products on their beards, but petroleum-based products are not allowed while wearing a protective mask. If substantiated, then the benefits of the grooming standards, as defined in Air Force Instruction 36-2903, should be re-evaluated in the context of these findings, they wrote. 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. By The Air Force Times reports that applications for waivers can now be made by airmen who wish to wear religious apparel or are requesting exemptions from rules prohibiting beards and long hair. Since then, 21 Honor Guard airmen now have a pass to grow neatly-trimmed beards, according to Military.com. Staff Sgt. 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. Currently serving Airmen and Guardians who sought exemptions from the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate will see those actions reversed and records erased, a new memo from Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall states. For those wondering, the regulation says that a mustache worn with a beard may extend sideways beyond the corners of the mouth to connect with the beard, but must be trimmed or groomed to not cover the upper lip.. Turbans and under-turbans have similar color and material requirements as the hijab. 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. t7be,2/gQ u7|O;(?lKHfm'*g' I{C Any links to regs would be appricated. 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. 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. In an email to Task & Purpose, Bass said the Air Force is continually reevaluating its policies. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. 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 . In such cases, an airman's command could order an immediate removal of the turban, hijab or facial hair (although it's not clear how much time an airman would have to shave). Another example of neat and conservative is color. 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. William Bailey, a beard waiver. 0. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. 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. But on July 18, the amn/nco/snco page posted a March 1 memo granting another Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. At first, it appeared Sopchak was the first Heathen to get a beard waiver. Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. There is no potential timeline for approval, because it isnt even at that stage, she said. requests requiring a waiver for uniform wear and grooming have largely fallen into one of three faith practices: the wear of a hijab; the wear of a beard; and the wear of a turban or under-turban/patka, with uncut beard and uncut hair. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," the post read. 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 Washington Post, and others. It is a sincerely held belief, but I have not been a Muslim for long, only a couple weeks. 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. The majority of the waiver group was Black (64.18%), despite that group making up only 12.85% of the cohort. ak cGeoI0_enzM8_#.Skvv1Nx72!oaBV >q@yN;NG.s;9>/B32:*I=u/x|=3;.m1.DWc(P(mZ XZ "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith that they do so. A religious accommodation request must include information including the airmans job, what the airman is asking for and the religious reason for the request, and a comment on the sincerity of the request. 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. 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. Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? Under certain conditions, commanding officers can order the removal of turbans or hijabs to keep service members safe, the regulations state for example, while someone is walking within 25 feet of an operating aircraft. The Air Forces updated policy sets new grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. Beards should have been approved years ago, Facebook commenter Heather Britten wrote. 4 0 obj 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Press J to jump to the feed. According to the Department of Defense Instruction 1300. 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. Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. Isnt the whole point of religious freedom that people CANT do that? Master Sgt. This is the first time the command has done so. . It is is up to the wing commander (or the unit's equivalent of such a commander) to make the final decision. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. There currently is no clear evidence showing that is the case, the study said. 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. The conventional view of facial hair is that it looks unprofessional in uniform. 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. Kesh, or 'uncut hair' is one of the five religious requirements of baptized Sikhs. 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. 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. I have an approved religious accommodation and have gotten pretty knowledgeable on the process. Save Page Now. (U.S. Air Force) Airmen will be allowed to wear up to. 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. We are working to take away the stigma attached to airmen who have a medical need or a religious accommodation for facial hair. 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. 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 military branch said it will remove "adverse information" from the records of those who sought an exemption on "religious, administrative, or medical grounds and who received adverse actions solely due to their . I am grateful to hear of this policy change, because it codifies in writing what I already know: The U.S. Air Force values the service and contribution of religious minorities like me, Singh said in a statement provided by the group. 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. (In heathen lore . Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United States All are welcome. Rather than delay his enlistment, Comer decided to shave his beard and apply for the accommodation at a later date. %PDF-1.5 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. 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. 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. Those calls accelerated earlier this year, when the Air Force changed its regulations to allow for women to wear braids, ponytails and bangs in order to prevent irreversible hair loss and migraines stemming from the old hair regulations. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the Space National Guard Establishment Act on, From Abraham Lincoln to the Tuskegee Airmen to lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Gen. Charles A. McGee Leadership Award, named after the legendary Tuskegee Airman, will give either $18,000 per year, The Space Forces new leader has definedthree lines of effort he wants the young service to pursue, focusing on combat-ready forces, personnel management, and partnerships with other Pentagon organizations and allies.