Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. 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. Shaving Waivers: Breaking the Stigma - Nellis Air Force Base When requests are precluded by military necessity, commanders and supervisors should seek reasonable alternatives.. ;NNB6 j~X3E]4]euu((m#/S>c9K71,E304a;97la@Ejrf-o eP9_$)'"?#EO!orCi=5P@C5TmJY;^qzU/nWXvvRH~]/C >K)a2MuOzZ.VsDNOr%rZR[TINcCPBi!U;$TXA9%9;?&>k37{X]sa`p3Wc1^CKtjBrx\5uI3 I can assure you that we are focused on our Airmen; they are the most competitive advantage we haveand we must get the people piece right.. Air Force | Beard Waiver All told, Brown added two books, two podcasts, and a documentary, The Air Force now has a single website to manage all its recruiting needs, covering Active Duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve recruiting. According to the regulation, turbans, hijabs, under-turbans or other headwear must be plain, dark blue, black, and free of designs or markings except when matching with the airman's camouflage uniform. Caitlyn Smoyer). 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. Under the new process, a commander has up to 30 days to approve an Airmans request for a waiver, and that the accommodation will generally follow the Airman through his or her career. 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. Beard hair longer than two inches must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length. This means that even though the study measured only about 4% of all male airmen, the findings would likely be similar if extended to the entire branch. Still, she called the policy clarification a great step forward.. According to the Nevada Army Guard's and Air Guard's personnel offices, the state has eight Guardsmen - four Soldiers and four Airmen - who declare Pagan as their religious preference. The Air Forces updated policy sets new grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. 19 July 2019. Paragraph 1.5.2 changed to read: Submitting Requests for Religious, Gender , or Medical Waivers. Published Jul 14, 2021 8:57 AM EDT. +BEeB5JiTx Rathour graduated Security Forces technical training on Sept. 26, 2019. When requests are precluded by military necessity, commanders and supervisors should seek reasonable alternatives.. Thats according to a new research paper published last week in the journal Military Medicine, which found that Air Force regulations against facial hair disproportionately affect Black or African American airmen and can lead to slower rates of promotion and limited job opportunities within the service. 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. Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa. That study, which involved 798 airmen responding to emailed surveys, called for more research and data on the subject. 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. "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," the post read. . In a Tuesday update of the Department of the Air Force's COVID-19 response, the service announced it had approved nine religious accommodations, including eight through service members' major and field commands and one through a Department of the Air Force appeal. 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. U.S. Soldier Serving In Afghanistan Receives Approval To Sport Beard PDF By Order of The Department of The Air Force Secretary of The Air - Af I was willfully ignorant about the impact it was having on young Black men, he said. 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. 1 comment. 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. 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. Religious head coverings are also required to be free of designs or markings unless the individuals uniform has a camouflage pattern. 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 Air Force on Friday updated its regulations to formally allow airmen to ask for a waiver to wear religious apparel such as turbans or hijabs, or beards worn for religious reasons. It gradually worked its way up through the bureaucracy before ultimately being approved July 8 by Air Force personnel chief Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly. 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.. 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. Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. I know Islam is iffy on if Beard are actually required but it is apart of the religion that I want to practice. 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). Singh was born in India and followed his father, an asylee, to the U.S. in 2012. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, 821st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, was among the first to be granted a religious accommodation for a shaving waiver based . Religious Accommodation: Growing trend around the USAF USAF photo by Alexander Goad. 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. Published Dec 21, 2022 5:12 PM EST. This is the first time the command has done so. <>/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>> However, given the most recent research; shaving waivers could play a role in racial disparity in terms of promotions. 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. It must also include a photo or description of the head covering, religious-affiliated item, grooming standard or personal appearance that is being requested. 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 . Master Sgt. The majority of the waiver group was Black (64.18%), despite that group making up only 12.85% of the cohort. And in February, the Air Force officially updated its regulations to formally allow airmen to request religious beard waivers. Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. 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?. The new AFI formally allows requests for waivers, and for neat and conservative beards that present a professional appearance. Paragraph 1.5.2.3 should be renumbered as 1.5.2.4. 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. 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. The demographics of the respondents closely match those of the Air Force in general, the study authors wrote. The religious accommodation process is designed to accommodate individuals who can cite specific teachings, traditions, or texts that Air Force policies contradict. He also consulted with The Asatru Community, a nonprofit group that advocates for followers of Norse pagan religions. The study would require only 100 to 150 service members, he said. I can answer the questions, so it is not really a problem but how is that even legal? Theyre more like family members than they are divine beings, Sopchak said. ~pkgEsHh,1%l|hJ Can Navy Seals grow beards? - coalitionbrewing.com safety) or when precluded by a compelling (i.e., especially important) governmental and/or Air Force interest. Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. The real challenge is how do you change the culture, not just in the Air Force but in the services period.. endobj 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. We are working to take away the stigma attached to airmen who have a medical need or a religious accommodation for facial hair. Those encounters, along with studies like the one published last year, convinced Wright to change his position. David covers the Air Force, Space Force and anything Star Wars-related. In a Glass Darkly - Project Gutenberg Australia Air Force issues new guidelines for beards, turbans and hijabs <> Religious groups applaud new Air Force rules allowing turbans, 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. Personnel Division," to all sign off . According to an Air Force press . Garrett Sopchak mythology, a collection of interesting stories but little more. 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). Powered by GoDaddy This website uses cookies. 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. Capt. &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 Airmens facial hair also cannot interfere with the wear of personal protective equipment such as gas masks, the Air Force said, and airmen must be able to continue to perform their duties. Air University Airman overcomes barriers to express his faith as a Sikh American airman in U.S. Air Force allowed to serve with turban and other similar condition s that prohibits regular facial shaving may requ est a waiver to wear a beard . 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. Hopper's exemption is the latest example of the military's effort most notably the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force to acknowledge the diverse religious practices represented in its ranks. 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. Sens. 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. 1 0 obj purifying respirators and controlled air purifying respirators or beard-bands: 3. work just as well as N95s, but may cost more, and thus may be found to impose . | 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. 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. The airmans unit commander would then decide whether to endorse the request. 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. PDF Supreme Court of the United States 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.. All are welcome. Air Force Officially OKs Beards, Turbans, Hijabs for Religious Reasons . When asked about specific efforts for removing the stigma regarding waivers, an Air Force spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the Air Force changed AFI 36-2903, its regulation governing dress and appearance standards., earlier this spring to allow airmen with a shaving profile to trim and shape their facial hair, and to allow airmen with profiles to apply for more positions in the service. I cant tell you how many hundreds of times, probably thousands, that weve gotten [that] question. David Roza <> (Garrett Sopchak) For nearly a year, the Air Force weighed a staff sergeant's request to grow a beard as part of his religious beliefs before. Meanwhile, about 76.83% of the no-waiver group was White. The DAF will remove adverse information from records of those currently serving service members who sought. 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. U.S. Air Force Approves Beards, Turbans and Hijabs for Religious 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. One Facebook commenter questioned why the Air Force needs a separate pilot program when it could study those who already have shaving waivers. Sopchak, an aerospace ground equipment craftsman at Hill Air Force Base in Utah,said other airmen have been emailing him with questions about his faith. Based on the successful examples of Soldiers currently serving with these accommodations, I have determined 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. Eugene Oliver/U.S. In December, the Air Force commissioned its first female Muslim chaplain . 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. 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. Air Force beard policy is actually damaging airmen's careers 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.. Air Force top enlisted leader wants to remove stigma of beard waivers Last year, Capt. Don't lie about your belief. It was approved in September, which means Singh will soon head to basic training. | That matches the length allowed for people who are medically exempt from the requirement to be clean-shaven. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 368001, - Participation and Training Procedures. The US Air Force has updated its dress code policy to outline a clear approval process for Sikhs and Muslims who want to serve while wearing their articles of faith. It took Sopchak about 11 months to get his beard approved. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith that they do so. Seven months later, this reporter could not immediately find any such progress reports. 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. There currently is no clear evidence showing that is the case, the study said. Air Force Special Operations permits the First Sikh Airman to Keep his The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. For some pagans, it is seen as a way of honoring the gods and goddesses. (In heathen lore . I have an approved religious accommodation and have gotten pretty knowledgeable on the process. Religious exemptions to the rule allow for beards up to 2 inches long. But so far, the call for beards seems to fall on deaf ears. HbMc#!6d~\@sQfe_Mp X_T1ew,`CC _O3b eTBo~&aM(AL?z[vEIYf~;LI>*H~BL 3v3!2/)mC*f3d]UL!'7*^LtPNl2"8}Vo=N@&.&|Ye. Air Force Solidifies Approval Process For Religious Beards - HuffPost Airmen can use styling products on their beards, but petroleum-based products are not allowed while wearing a protective mask. 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. Sikhs Sue Marine Corps Over Restrictions on Beards Hopper,. 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. W2~@R>tA);|6[ +XnDnQi\k`LF. The Brig. Air Force Special Operations Command has made history by granting a religious accommodation waiver to a Sikh service member. 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. Staff Sgt. Staff Sgt. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Air Force leaders 'not inclined' to allow beards for airmen ooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. I want to go all out with practing the religion (including reading the Quran like it is recommened during Ramadan. This new study looked at a much larger share of data and involved 9,339 valid responses. Still, Ritchie called for a study to come up with a conclusive answer. The Army granted a similar waiver last year, and beard exemptions have been granted for a growing number of Sikhs and Muslims . 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. ), the Washington Post, and others. Air University Airman overcomes barriers to express his faith as a . 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. [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 a recent Air Force study. Its unclear how many people currently use shaving waivers. 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. 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 religious beard exemption in the US army was created for the benefit of Sikhs. (U.S. Air Force) Airmen will be allowed to wear up to. The idea would let participating airmen sport well-kept beards no longer than one-quarter inch, Military.com first reported Monday. In 2017, the U.S. Army officially updated its dress and appearance standards to accommodate hijabs, turbans and beards. Now, updated Air Force regulations make clearer and smoother the path for personnel to request and obtain a similar religious waiver. 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. 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. In the stories, you could see even the gods themselves have flaws, Sopchak said. Copyright 2023. (Staff Sgt. 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. The conventional view of facial hair is that it looks unprofessional in uniform. Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United 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. Chief Bass comment demonstrates her commitment to changing the culture, and there seems to be some progress already. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.