Army grants Sikh enlistees waiver to its beard policy
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This photo provided by the Sikh Coalition shows Army Capt. Simratpal Singh. When Singh entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point back in 2006, he did something he thought he would never have to: shave his beard. "One of the hardest things I had to do was look in the mirror every day and shave," said Singh, whose Sikh religion requires men to grow beards as an article of faith. Now Singh and three Army enlistees have won permission to wear beards and turbans after filing federal lawsuits that seek to force the Pentagon to accommodate those who wear beards for religious reasons. Singh, won an administrative exception under an Army policy that allows exemptions to the no-beard policy on a case-by-case basis. (Jovelle Tamayo/Sikh Coalition via AP) (The Associated Press)
The Army has ruled that three Sikh enlistees will be allowed to serve while keeping their distinctive beards and turbans.
The three Sikhs filed a lawsuit seeking to end a military policy that generally bans beards. The Sikh religion requires men to grow beards as an article of their faith.
On Friday, the Army granted exceptions to its policy to the three enlistees, Kanwar Singh, Harpal Singh and Arjan Singh Ghotra. They will now be allowed to wear beards and turbans when they begin basic training next month.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A fourth soldier, Capt. Simratpal Singh, also won an accommodation earlier this month.
The Sikh Coalition had sued on the soldiers' behalf. The coalition said it will still pursue its lawsuit in hopes of winning a permanent policy change for all Sikhs.