Isnt the whole point of religious freedom that people CANT do that? 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. <> Air Force reverses 'adverse actions' against airmen who sought vaccine Caitlyn Smoyer). Chaplains typically can tell if you're trying to BS them and it can affect the perceived credibility of real requests in the future. The Brig. &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 (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. DAFI52-201 23 JUNE 2021 5 Written request for accommodation received by William Bailey, a beard waiver. 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. The U.S. Air Force granted its first religious waivers to the military-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate this week. In December, the Air Force commissioned its first female Muslim chaplain . A1C Rathour is the first Sikh Airman to receive religious accommodation, and may grow his beard and wear his turban while in uniform. 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. | David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? Under the new guidelines . Meet this Norse Heathen airman approved to grow a beard in the Air Force I can answer the questions, so it is not really a problem but how is that even legal? Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He also consulted with The Asatru Community, a nonprofit group that advocates for followers of Norse pagan religions. 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. 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. Editors note: This story has been updated with new comments from Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. Rathour graduated Security Forces technical training on Sept. 26, 2019. The new findings build off a preliminary study published in December which said that shaving waivers had negatively affected the careers of many airmen, especially those of color. The demographics of the respondents closely match those of the Air Force in general, the study authors wrote. Air Force reverses 'adverse actions' against airmen who sought vaccine At first, it appeared Sopchak was the first Heathen to get a beard waiver. Now, updated Air Force regulations make clearer and smoother the path for personnel to request and obtain a similar religious waiver. A chaplain must then interview the requesting airman and submit a recommendation to the wing chaplain (or the unit's equivalent of a wing chaplain). There could be more studies of this topic to come. Turbans and under-turbans have similar color and material requirements as the hijab. What happens when patients disagree with an exemption decision? 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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. U.S. Military Issues Another Beard Waiver for Muslim Airman When requests are precluded by military necessity, commanders and supervisors should seek reasonable alternatives.. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Air Force). 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. Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa in June 2019 became the first active-duty Sikh airman allowed to wear a turban, beard and long hair, which Sikhs tie in a bun and then cover with the turban. 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. It is a sincerely held belief, but I have not been a Muslim for long, only a couple weeks. The conventional view of facial hair is that it looks unprofessional in uniform. While these issues affected airmen of all races who had shaving waivers equally, Black or African-American airmen made up the majority of the waiver holders and thus bore a disproportionate share of the consequences. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III formally rescinded the Pentagons vaccination requirement Jan. 10, as required by the 2023, SDA Taps Raytheon for Seven More Missile-Tracking Satellites, Photos: F-22s Deploy to Tinian for First Time as Part of ACE Exercise, In Message to Force, Austin Touts Once-in-a-Generation Investments, Heres What USAFs Science Board Is Studying Now, Were Weird: New Commander Details Life Inside Task Force 99, Air Force Separated 610 Airmen For Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine, Adverse Actions to Be Erased for Some Troops Who Sought Exemptions to COVID Vaccines, USAF Launches New Study of Cancer Risk in ICBM Crews, Senators Launch New Drive for Space National Guard, Heres What the CSAF Is Reading, Watching, and Listening To This Month, New Total Force Airforce.com Site Highlights Guard and Reserve Opportunities, Air Force ROTC Unveils Sweeping New Scholarship for Older Cadets, Saltzmans Priorities for Space Force: Three New Lines of Effort, New Rules for Vaccine Refusers After DOD Lifts Its COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate. 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. The religious accommodation process isn't designed for individuals to play the God/conscience card to get around things they don't like. Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United States Air Force revises grooming rules to accommodate religious beards - BJC Does anyone have any information on how you actually get a religious exemption for shaving? Air Force Special Operations permits the First Sikh Airman to Keep his The waivers remain in effect even when the airman is deployed or has a permanent change-of-station move, the Air Force said in the release. USAF photo by Alexander Goad. 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. That assessment, and ability to address and adjust, is critical to our force, and our people. 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. 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. 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. If you saw a man that had a beard, you could almost guarantee that they were a good person, that you could go to them for help," Sopchak said. 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. 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. Beard News in Air Force Copyright 2022 Beard Waiver - All Rights Reserved. Last year, Capt. Religious Accommodation: Growing trend around the USAF But so far, the call for beards seems to fall on deaf ears. First Air Force JAG officer to wear hijab featured in short NBC documentary, Women in the military: Moving beyond firsts, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. Heathens hold religious services rooted in Norse paganism aboard aircraft carrier, Women in the military: Moving beyond firsts, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. Sure, but how about competitive pay and benefits? "They were well-respected. Sopchak said that something about the Heathen religion felt more real to him. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. 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. 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. (Staff Sgt. Singh was born in India and followed his father, an asylee, to the U.S. in 2012. Coffee or Die Magazine | Beards in Blue? Air Force Uniform Board Will Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. 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. Air Force Special Operations Airman becomes first-ever religious waiver 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. A federal judge Thursday temporarily blocked the Air Force from penalizing a group of service members who are seeking a religious exemption to otherwise mandatory Covid-19 vaccination, in. 19 July 2019. 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. Since then, 21 Honor Guard airmen now have a pass to grow neatly-trimmed beards, according to Military.com. While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who,. Previously, these airmen needed to get their waivers updated annually. 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.. 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. safety) or when precluded by a compelling (i.e., especially important) governmental and/or Air Force interest. <>/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, a 28-year-old aerospace ground equipment craftsman at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, on July 8 received approval to get approval to wear a beard in accordance with his Heathen faith. In a Glass Darkly - Project Gutenberg Australia U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Isaac John, 423d Security Forces Squadron flight member, holds his position during a field training exercise at Stanford Training Area, England, Aug. 17, 2022. 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.. A staff judge advocate must also review the request package. 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. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 368001, - Participation and Training Procedures. 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). Asatru FAQ: Beards - PaganSquare - PaganSquare - Join the conversation! The interviewing chaplain will then send the wing chaplain a memo on whether the airman has a sincerely-held belief, whether the accommodation is related to that belief, and how the Air Force policy places a burden on that belief. 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 Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the policy change. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. 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. He also hopes to grow the Heathen community in the area around Hill. 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. such as an exemption uniform policy; the from a purchase of suitable, alternative personal protective . W2~@R>tA);|6[ +XnDnQi\k`LF. Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United Airmen assigned to units wearing a beret of any color may wear an appropriately-colored head covering as directed by the unit commander, one sample memo explains. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. When requests are precluded by military necessity, commanders and supervisors should seek reasonable alternatives.. Hopper,. A highly visible sign of changing Air Force policy may soon be evident here at Kingsley Field, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. 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. There is no potential timeline for approval, because it isnt even at that stage, she said. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Rather than delay his enlistment, Comer decided to shave his beard and apply for the accommodation at a later date. 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 . Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. The religious accommodation process is designed to accommodate individuals who can cite specific teachings, traditions, or texts that Air Force policies contradict. 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. [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. Get the latest military news, entertainment, and gear in your inbox daily. endobj In the stories, you could see even the gods themselves have flaws, Sopchak said. And in February, the Air Force officially updated its regulations to formally allow airmen to request religious beard waivers. Sopchak said in a Tuesday interview that in the old sagas, a beard was a sign someone was a respected member of the community who could be trusted to help others. 2 0 obj According to the Department of Defense Instruction 1300. 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. Published Dec 21, 2022 5:12 PM EST. Those encounters, along with studies like the one published last year, convinced Wright to change his position. Sopchak said he was originally raised Baptist, but has not been a Christian for a long time. Heres how. 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. Chief Bass comment demonstrates her commitment to changing the culture, and there seems to be some progress already. The Nevada Army Guard said that Sgt. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Shaving sharpens the edges of facial hair and makes the condition worse, the college said, and shaving less frequently or allowing the beard to grow helps. The new AFI formally allows requests for waivers, and for neat and conservative beards that present a professional appearance. Religion - Af 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. The military branch . Tim Chacon/Air National Guard. The U. S. Air Force has published new guidance for religious accommodations that allow airmen to wear beards, turbans and hijabs. Air Force beard policy is actually damaging airmen's careers DAFI 52-201 is the governing regulation for religious accommodation. Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. Theyre more like family members than they are divine beings, Sopchak said. All are welcome. 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. I know Islam is iffy on if Beard are actually required but it is apart of the religion that I want to practice. 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. Any recommendations made by the board would then have to be approved by Air Force senior leadership, a service spokesperson told Coffee or Die at the time. Requests should normally be recommended for approval unless approval would have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards or discipline, the regulation said. David Roza PDF Office of The United States Air Force Auxiliary Memorandum for All Cap The Army granted a similar waiver last year, and beard exemptions have been granted for a growing number of Sikhs and Muslims . 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.. 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. The facial hair cannot exceed one-quarter of an inch, must be grown out naturally and cannot be shaped or styled. In the words of the Hungarian scholar Goldziher, 'The history of religion . Asking questions is fine, but how is that even legal? The Supreme Court today upheld Indian Air Force's denial of permission to two Muslim personnel to grow beard, holding that the two orders were in compliance with Regulation 425(b) which . However, given the most recent research; shaving waivers could play a role in racial disparity in terms of promotions. We speculate that these members, irrespective of race/ethnicity, may perceive this bias against shaving waivers and choose to leave the service earlier.. 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. David Roza AFSOC Airman first in command to gain Sikh religious accommodation waiver Press J to jump to the feed. 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. This is the first time the command has done so. Correction: This story was updated at 6:53 p.m. to reflect correct information about religious waivers for beards. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The study would require only 100 to 150 service members, he said. On My Knees I Think Clearer 1st Class Benjamin . Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Religious groups applaud new Air Force rules allowing turbans, hijabs The Sikh Coalition said the Air Force regulation closely resembles the Army's. If they didnt have one, in some of the stories, they were actually ridiculed. 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. NORSKK - Everything you need to know to get a religious | Facebook "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," the post read. 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. +BEeB5JiTx <> A soldiers Norse pagan faith earns beard waiver