Quietly, US military opens up to Sikhs

[Kadie]

Quietly, US military opens up to Sikhs

by Shaun Tandon Shaun Tandon – 2 hrs 5 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Growing up near the air force base in Dayton, Ohio, Tejdeep Singh Rattan knew he wanted to serve in uniform. When the military discouraged him, he persisted but again got a cold shoulder.

When he was turned away a third time, Rattan -- an observant Sikh with a turban and beard -- became suspicious.

"I was, like, I don't know what's going on," he said. "I was very introverted at the time. I never felt the need to fight back. But I said I really want to do this, and you guys are sending me out again and again."

The 31-year-old is now US Army Captain Rattan, since July the head dentist at the Fort Drum base in New York.

In what appears to be a quiet shift, the US military since last year has allowed Rattan and two other Sikhs to serve while retaining their turbans and beards, which are required by their faith.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100924/ts_alt_afp/usmilitaryreligionsikhs_20100924132601



US Army Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, seen here in New York City on September 14, is the first Sikh in the US Army. In what appears to be a quiet shift, the US military since last year has allowed Sikhs to serve while retaining their turbans and beards, which are required by their faith.
(AFP/File/Timothy A. Clary)



US Army Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi poses in Times Square, New York on September 14, wearing his US Army ACU Digital Camouflage turban along with his ACU uniform. Kalsi, who is the first Sikh in the US Army, is an emergency room doctor and emergency medical services director stationed at Ft. Bragg.
(AFP/File/Timothy A. Clary)

[AngryAmish]

1. That is one awesome camo turbin.

[customerserviceguy]

2. I've been acquainted with more than a couple of Sikh men

They're the guys you want on your side in a fight.

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. There were a few Sikhs in the Army when I was in (early-to-late 70's)...

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...who were allowed to keep their beards and turbans.
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I don't know if the policy changed back-and-forth since then.
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