Brown Jr. covered a broad range of topics with his additions to his Leadership Library in February. The Air Forces updated policy sets new grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. Its kind of a big thing, culturally.. 1 0 obj The DAF will remove adverse information from records of those currently serving service members who sought. There is no potential timeline for approval, because it isnt even at that stage, she said. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 36-8001, Participation and Training Procedures. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. Later, every religious trend sought and found the hadiths that justified its principles. Staff Sgt. 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. However, given the most recent research; shaving waivers could play a role in racial disparity in terms of promotions. 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. But on July 18, the amn/nco/snco page posted a March 1 memo granting another Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. We recommend further study of gas mask and respirator fit testing with facial hair in the military population to clarify this.. It must also include a photo or description of the head covering, religious-affiliated item, grooming standard or personal appearance that is being requested. Military Approving Beards for Pagan Worshipers. endobj 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 new religious accommodation rules also cover unshorn beards and unshorn hair such as those worn by members of the Sikh faith under-turbans or patkas, and other indoor or outdoor head coverings. Kesh, or 'uncut hair' is one of the five religious requirements of baptized Sikhs. Many Asatruars and other heathens think it's wrong for heathens to use this exemption because heathens don't have the kind of religion in which our gods require all their followers to follow commandments in order to achieve a proper afterlife. Previously, the only exceptions for active-duty personnel were medical waivers. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. 2 0 obj The U.S. Air Force granted its first religious waivers to the military-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate this week. The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. 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. One civilian study from 2018 showed that 98% of study participants with an eighth-inch of beard passed the fit test with respirators that are similar to the M-50 gas masks used in the military in terms of material and fit. Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. And. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. I have an approved religious accommodation and have gotten pretty knowledgeable on the process. 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. It took Sopchak about 11 months to get his beard approved. We dont have to hire RAND or Booz Allen Hamilton to do it, but the Air Force needs to want it to happen, he said at the time. Thousands of American Muslims and members of other minority faiths serve in our nations military and should be able to practice their faith while serving, CAIRs spokesperson Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement. It marks the sixth and counting religious waiver permitting a beard in service for the Air Force, according to the online military news conglomerate that broke the story. The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. Singh wanted to serve in the U.S. military to defend the country that had taken his family in, according to the Sikh Coalition. 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 . 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. Airmen in the guard with waivers can wear beards in Air Force ceremonies and duties, but not as part of a joint service honor guard with another branch, Military.com reported. Still, it seems the Honor Guard has not completely embraced shaving waivers. The religious accommodation process is designed to accommodate individuals who can cite specific teachings, traditions, or texts that Air Force policies contradict. David Roza Garrett Sopchak mythology, a collection of interesting stories but little more. The facial hair cannot exceed one-quarter of an inch, must be grown out naturally and cannot be shaped or styled. 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 . 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. If youre willing to learn, we are willing to teach.. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. In August, images posted on Air Force amn/nco/snco teased a pilot program for inclusive male grooming standards which would allow service members to grow neatly-kept facial hair up to a quarter-inch in length, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. Rather than delay his enlistment, Comer decided to shave his beard and apply for the accommodation at a later date. Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a religious accommodation beard waiver. %PDF-1.5 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. He hopes to become a Gothi essentially an ordained priest and perhaps become an official Air Force chaplain. For military members, exemptions must also be documented in readiness systems (Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Medical Readiness Reporting System, Army Medical Protection System, or Air Force Aeromedical Services Information Management System). 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 Air Force also granted its first religious accommodation beard waiver, to a Muslim airman, in 2018. When requests are precluded by military necessity, commanders and supervisors should seek reasonable alternatives.. William Bailey, received a waiver to grow a beard in March. This is a volunteers proposal.. In December, the Air Force commissioned its first female Muslim chaplain . The regulation formalizes a waiver process for future airmen seeking to wear turbans, hijab or beards, By 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. 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. Shaving waivers can hold back an airman's career, and since most airmen with waivers are Black, the regulations are effectively discriminatory. David Roza 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.. There are also exceptions for Air Force Reservists serving less than 30 days. We speculate that these members, irrespective of race/ethnicity, may perceive this bias against shaving waivers and choose to leave the service earlier.. I want to go all out with practing the religion (including reading the Quran like it is recommened during Ramadan. Personnel Division," to all sign off . It was approved in September, which means Singh will soon head to basic training. Its a little scraggly right now, Sopchak 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. ak cGeoI0_enzM8_#.Skvv1Nx72!oaBV >q@yN;NG.s;9>/B32:*I=u/x|=3;.m1.DWc(P(mZ XZ At first, it appeared Sopchak was the first Heathen to get a beard waiver. Paragraph 1.5.2 changed to read: Submitting Requests for Religious, Gender , or Medical Waivers. 173rd Fighter Wing Airmen may begin taking advantage of new uniform regulations allowing religious exemptions such as beards, hijabs, and turbans while in uniform. The waiver group also had a greater rate of disciplinary action compared to the no-waiver group (18.96% versus 11.45%). The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. The new version of the service's dress and appearance standards policy allows tattoos up to 1 . 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. In an email to Task & Purpose, Bass said the Air Force is continually reevaluating its policies. 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. In addition to believing in the old Norse gods, he said, Heathens believe that they are descended from them. Shaving Waiver stigma Air Force Medicine medical beard Al Dhafra . See Beard News in Air Force for more information. 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. Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. The push to create a new Space National Guard got a major boost last week as a bipartisan team of Senators offered new legislationeven as the Pentagon works to craft details on a competing plan. *!+zu[XAoC_:X/0{ v8iAU}JqQ.u`6fE_GJTBh$Wx)Vpw#7~rDeI0r\!H(NW|/bcPRHBe0tEyXYD q{ Published Dec 21, 2022 5:12 PM EST. Guidelines for requesting a religious accommodation for a Heathen beard in the U.S. Air Force The religious accommodation process isn't designed for individuals to play the God/conscience card to get around things they don't like. The U. S. Air Force has published new guidance for religious accommodations that allow airmen to wear beards, turbans and hijabs. The Air Force in recent years has begun granting waivers to allow airmen including airmen of the Muslim, Sikh and Norse Heathen or pagan faiths to grow beards for religious reasons. The Air Force's updated dress and personal appearance policy clarifies the gr ooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. Chaplains typically can tell if you're trying to BS them and it can affect the perceived credibility of real requests in the future. And if that airman is assigned to a unit that wears a beret of a particular color, the unit commander can order him to wear a turban of the same color. The U.S. Air Force issued new guidelines on Friday giving members who wear religious apparel a way to serve the country without compromising their faith. Sens. The Air Force has updated its grooming standards to formally allow Airmen to grow neatly trimmed beards, standardizing the religious or medical exemption process. In the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive threat, commanding officers could also ask someone wearing a hijab to remove it to ensure a proper gas mask fit. The same was true for airmen trying to hit the rank of staff sergeant (E-5). He also hopes to grow the Heathen community in the area around Hill. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 368001, - Participation and Training Procedures. &w\=xi~Wh^iz`b=)!]T;iMC.OXm(+N*uHe{5"@"o$n*uQI'JHyLij%O&Q3 .\nOemNKW2j2ttYK9sll?hyA/fQ/lF\ pVyH0qd~T#o[Bpi*In=mS hU f[6rx~ 8;GO yNb4.A`t`Wj In 2020, the department extended shaving waivers for those diagnosed with razor bumps from one year to five years. 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. 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 idea would let participating airmen sport well-kept beards no longer than one-quarter inch, Military.com first reported Monday. The same neat and conservative approach applies to beards, which must not exceed two inches when measured from the bottom of the chin, the regulations states. 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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. 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. Sure, but how about competitive pay and benefits? That was followed up by more leaked slides in October which promised that an updated facial hair standard would be considered at a November meeting of the Air Force Uniform Board, Coffee or Die Magazine reported. There currently is no clear evidence showing that is the case, the study said. That assessment, and ability to address and adjust, is critical to our force, and our people. . It gradually worked its way up through the bureaucracy before ultimately being approved July 8 by Air Force personnel chief Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly. Don't lie about your belief. Based on the successful examples of Soldiers currently serving with these accommodations, I have determined Tim Chacon/Air National Guard. . Part of HuffPost Politics. The advocacy group submitted a religious accommodation request for Singh in April 2019. 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. The studys findings are particularly significant because they come at a time when the Air Force is reckoning with racial disparities in the service overall. The hijab, or head scarf, can be made of a subdued material in a color that resembles the airmans assigned uniform, such as black, brown, green, tan or navy blue, the regulation said. Staff Sgt. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. 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. Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? 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. What happens when patients disagree with an exemption decision? There are many religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard. 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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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Any links to regs would be appricated. Beards can also be seen as symbols of power, strength, and virility. In 2018, Staff Sgt. 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. 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. Religious exemptions to the rule allow for beards up to 2 inches long. Giselle Klapper, a Sikh Coalition staff attorney, said her group has long been seeking a blanket proclamation that all Sikh Americans who wear turbans and beards as part of their faith can serve in every branch of the military without seeking individual accommodations. 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Ou5g(O5b5md8_ -+'.$Dvqx)YDTwXD`m_~G ArVT+`oo 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 research studied the effect of shaving waivers on the careers of active duty male airmen. 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. The Air Force separated 610 Airmen for declining the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. For ANG Hopper,. Contact the author here. It was more relatable.. I was willfully ignorant about the impact it was having on young Black men, he said. Airmen can use styling products on their beards, but petroleum-based products are not allowed while wearing a protective mask. 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. There are plenty of smaller regulations detailing how religious beards and apparel should look in order to appear neat and conservative, the Air Force writes. The Air Force has cited razor bumps in the past when making changes to its grooming policy. Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa. Air Force). The study authors found that the long wait for promotions applied to airmen of all races who had waivers. Contact the author here. 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. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith that they do so. 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.. It is is up to the wing commander (or the unit's equivalent of such a commander) to make the final decision. such as an exemption uniform policy; the from a purchase of suitable, alternative personal protective . Chance Saltzman outlined the three lines in a series of commanders notes published Jan., Thousands of Airmen and Guardians who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 no longer have to get the shotsand those whofaced disciplinary action for failing to get vaccinated will have their records wiped clean. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. ooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. Paragraph 1.5.2.3 should be renumbered as 1.5.2.4. Service spokesperson Ann Stefanek said the proposal is under discussion by the Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, but hasnt been approved. 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. Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? Still, she called the policy clarification a great step forward.. 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. 3.1.2.3.1. The study would require only 100 to 150 service members, he said. 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. The last sentence indicates that Air Force senior leadership wants to be in sync with other services on major changes in facial hair policy. The majority of the waiver group was Black (64.18%), despite that group making up only 12.85% of the cohort. Get the latest military news, entertainment, and gear in your inbox daily. Wright said he was opposed to facial hair in the Air Force for 29 of his 32 years in service. It interfaces with DAFPD 52-1, Chaplain Corps; Air Force Instruction (AFI) . <>>> By 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. 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. The Quran, too, was used in a similar manner. Legacy sites goang.com and afreserve.com will now direct users to the central airforce.com site. That matches the length allowed for people who are medically exempt from the requirement to be clean-shaven. Air Force Officially OKs Beards, Turbans, Hijabs for Religious Reasons . 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. Wing commanders or other leaders at major commands, numbered air forces or other organizations will then approve or deny such a request. 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. 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. 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. Theres a lot of things that we learn from the past and our ancestry, and its just carrying on the line, really.. The female hair changes were not a want, it was very much a need based on health first when I talk with our men in uniform: Is this a need or is this a want?. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 19 July 2019. Sounds like you might want to talk to your local chaplain team. This new study looked at a much larger share of data and involved 9,339 valid responses. 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 . This causes inflammation and a foreign body reaction, and over time, can result in scarring. But so far, the call for beards seems to fall on deaf ears. 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 . The standards for growing a beard for medical reasons remain unchanged, the Air Force said. +BEeB5JiTx In the stories, you could see even the gods themselves have flaws, Sopchak said. The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. This is the first time the command has done so. 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. DAFI52-201 23 JUNE 2021 5 Written request for accommodation received by Despite being in line with regulations, airmen with waivers reported feeling stigmatized for wearing facial hair. 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. [T]he promotion system is not necessarily inherently racially biased, but instead biased against the presence of facial hair which will likely always affect the promotions of Blacks/African-Americans disproportionately because of the relatively higher need for shaving waivers in this population, wrote the authors of the study, a team of eight led by Air Force Lt. Col. Simon Ritchie. Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. 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.
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