Community for current and past members of the US Air Force. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith that they do so. 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. other similar condition s that prohibits regular facial shaving may requ est a waiver to wear a beard . 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. Last year, Capt. DAFI 52-201 is the governing regulation for religious accommodation. This is a volunteers proposal.. Religious beards in the military were allowed in 2017. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? The Air Force on Friday became the second branch of the U.S. military to approve the wearing of beards, turbans, hijabs, under-turbans/patkas, unshorn hair and other indoor/outdoor head coverings for religious reasons. [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. 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. In the stories, you could see even the gods themselves have flaws, Sopchak said. Based on the successful examples of Soldiers currently serving with these accommodations, I have determined 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. 3 0 obj The majority of the waiver group was Black (64.18%), despite that group making up only 12.85% of the cohort. 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. What happens when patients disagree with an exemption decision? Tim Chacon/Air National Guard. Sounds like you might want to talk to your local chaplain team. are divided over that study showing beard waivers hurt careers. This article has been updated to reflect the fact that another Norse Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. 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. Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Many airmens dearest wish may soon come true if the Air Force greenlights a pilot program allowing some men to grow beards. 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. Friday's regulation formalizes such waivers into a multi-step review process. safety) or when precluded by a compelling (i.e., especially important) governmental and/or Air Force interest. In 2018, the Air Force granted its first "religious accommodation beard waiver" to a Muslim airman, allowing him to wear a beard while in uniform. 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. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. A California-based airman has become the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver after a 2014 policy. 19 July 2019. 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. William Bailey, received a waiver to grow a beard in March. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. The new version of the service's dress and appearance standards policy allows tattoos up to 1 . Wright said he was opposed to facial hair in the Air Force for 29 of his 32 years in service. But advocates argue that more sweeping changes are needed, in part because shaving waivers are often misunderstood and hurt Airmen's careers. 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. 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. such as an exemption uniform policy; the from a purchase of suitable, alternative personal protective . Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, Airman 1st Class Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright, said in April on a panel discussion on male grooming standards in the Air Force. 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 doctors studied its discriminatory effect on Black airmen. There are many religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard. Changing policy, actually is the easy part, Wright said. Its kind of a big thing, culturally.. (U.S. Air Force) Airmen will be allowed to wear up to. 8[/6&ip1~E5\h|#_W7AO2#+S_*wQ2I1jg!zx 6FTUqepk9v i*z]D@s;3c~52YJSR04P_dZgLA-Xh YWX,&"qp6bY ?HD]SL%d9n4%;uwR"d"4X And in February, the Air Force officially updated its regulations to formally allow airmen to request religious beard waivers. Copyright 2023. 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. 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. 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 and hijabs. endobj 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. Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group, How the Navy's beard policy discriminates against Black sailors, Shaving waivers disproportionately affect Black airmen, delay promotions, Racist text spurs Air Force investigation into alleged squadron job discrimination, 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. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. In a June 18 memo, Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg authorized the longer shaving waivers for airmen with pseudofolliculitis barbae, or razor bumps, effective immediately. Part of HuffPost Politics. | Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. According to the memo, which was first posted on the unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco July 12, Sopchak can wear a neat, conservative beard that presents a professional, well-groomed military appearance and stays no more than two inches from the bottom of his chin. 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. 2 0 obj According to a statement from the Air Force, Senior Airman Dominic Varriale was granted the turban waiver in 2020. The memo said he can grow a longer beard if he rolls or ties it, but Sopchak said hell likely keep it within two inches to stay safe on the job and keep it simple. This is the first time the command has done so. The real challenge is how do you change the culture, not just in the Air Force but in the services period.. | "They were well-respected. Master Sgt. Because its a faith that hasnt been practiced in about 1,000 years, he said, theres no set way to practice it. Its unclear how many people currently use shaving waivers. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. Airmen who need to grow out their facial hair in uniform can take heart that the top enlisted airman, Chief Master Sgt. The Air Force has granted several airmen permission to wear beards, turbans and the hijab for religious reasons in recent years. Beards cant exceed two inches if they do, they must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length, the regulations state. But his community now meets in parks or homes to commemorate holidays such as Yule and the solstices. David Roza William Bailey, a beard waiver. 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. In addition to believing in the old Norse gods, he said, Heathens believe that they are descended from them. Service spokesperson Ann Stefanek said the proposal is under discussion by the Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, but hasnt been approved. The Reserve or Guard, before finally denying a request, will first consult with the Air Force personnel directorate and obtain a legal review from the Air Force. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, 821st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, was among the first to be granted a religious accommodation for a shaving waiver based . 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. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. The Air Forces updated policy sets new grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. A1C Rathour is the first Sikh Airman to receive religious accommodation, and may grow his beard and wear his turban while in uniform. Chief Bass comment demonstrates her commitment to changing the culture, and there seems to be some progress already. 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. Beard hair longer than two inches must be rolled and/or tied to achieve the required length. 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. We are working to take away the stigma attached to airmen who have a medical need or a religious accommodation for facial hair. Here are some active soldiers who have been allowed to keep their facial hair. As described in sample memos included in the regulation, safety concerns might include wearing a gas mask or going within 25 feet of an operating aircraft. 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. Eugene Oliver/U.S. Singh said that he believes the Air Forces policy update will make it easier for Sikh Americans to serve while maintaining their articles of faith. Want to write for Task & Purpose? 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). Beard News in Air Force Copyright 2022 Beard Waiver - All Rights Reserved. ), the Washington Post, and others. There are also exceptions for Air Force Reservists serving less than 30 days. It is is up to the wing commander (or the unit's equivalent of such a commander) to make the final decision. Published Jul 14, 2021 8:57 AM EDT. Sopchak said hes recently had some airmen, who were interested in exploring his religion, email him with questions, and hes helping other Air Force Heathens get their beards approved. Capt. 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). Since then, 21 Honor Guard airmen now have a pass to grow neatly-trimmed beards, according to Military.com. 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. The military branch . Hopper,. 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. Beards could be two months away in the Air Force. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Isnt the whole point of religious freedom that people CANT do that? Wing commanders or other leaders at major commands, numbered air forces or other organizations will then approve or deny such a request. Singh was born in India and followed his father, an asylee, to the U.S. in 2012. Requests should normally be recommended for approval unless approval would have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards, or discipline, the Air Force wrote. 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.. The new AFI formally allows requests for waivers, and for neat and conservative beards that present a professional appearance. Previously, these airmen needed to get their waivers updated annually. The Air Force style authorities have spoken: neck and hand tattoos are in, beards are still out. Still, it seems the Honor Guard has not completely embraced shaving waivers. 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. The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the United States which has helped more than 20 Sikh Americans serve in the military, applauded the changes. . 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. 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. They also make offerings anything from food to drinks to physical objects to their gods during a ceremony called a blot, he said. 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 advocacy group submitted a religious accommodation request for Singh in April 2019. 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. 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. (In heathen lore . 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. 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. Those encounters, along with studies like the one published last year, convinced Wright to change his position. 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. 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. Legacy sites goang.com and afreserve.com will now direct users to the central airforce.com site. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. The updated Air Force Instruction, released Feb. 7, also formally allows Sikh airmen to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear hijabs. The regulation follows years of individual airmen and other service members receiving waivers for religious beards and apparel. Heres how. Sens. Isnt the whole point of Religious Freedom that people CANT question your religious beliefs?? Sopchak said that something about the Heathen religion felt more real to him. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. The Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group which works on behalf of Sikhs and other religious minorities in the military, praised the new regulation. Air Force). No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, Klapper said in a statement Wednesday. I will also add, the whole reason I want a beard is to help me with my faith during Ramadan. Tell me youre an A1C without telling me youre an A1C. The same was true for airmen trying to hit the rank of staff sergeant (E-5). Would beards be nice? For example, it took airmen with eight or more years with a waiver about a year longer on average to get promoted to the rank of technical sergeant (E-6) compared to airmen who had a waiver for just a year or two. addresses the Air Force grooming standard for beards: "[b]eards are not authorizedunless for medical reasons, when authorized by a commander on the advice of a medical official." An Airmen who requests an accommodation waiver to grow a beard for religious reasons must follow 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. +BEeB5JiTx Of them, 40 Airmen voluntarily left the service and 14 officers retired, according to Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Feb. 28. I have an approved religious accommodation and have gotten pretty knowledgeable on the process. 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. ;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 Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. But on July 18, the amn/nco/snco page posted a March 1 memo granting another Heathen airman, Staff Sgt. 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. One Facebook commenter questioned why the Air Force needs a separate pilot program when it could study those who already have shaving waivers. 0. While the study did not list an exact difference in promotion times between airmen with and without waivers, it did say with mathematical certainty that shaving waivers as a whole were associated with a significantly longer time to promotion compared to the no-waiver group.. It must be free of designs or markings, except an airman wearing the Airman Battle Uniform or Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform can wear a matching camouflage hijab. 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. stream If they didnt have one, in some of the stories, they were actually ridiculed. At first, it appeared Sopchak was the first Heathen to get a beard waiver. I know Islam is iffy on if Beard are actually required but it is apart of the religion that I want to practice. 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. Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. The Air Force also granted its first religious accommodation beard waiver, to a Muslim airman, in 2018. *!+zu[XAoC_:X/0{ v8iAU}JqQ.u`6fE_GJTBh$Wx)Vpw#7~rDeI0r\!H(NW|/bcPRHBe0tEyXYD q{ The services often claim that facial hair interferes with the seal of a gas mask, but an Air Force doctor has found no direct scientific evidence to support that claim. 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. Below are current coronavirus disease 2019 statistics for Department of Air Force personnel: *These numbers include all of the cases that were reported since our last update on Jan. 18. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. The research studied the effect of shaving waivers on the careers of active duty male airmen. 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. 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. 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. Something about what he found resonated, and Sopchak became a Norse Heathen. By approaching recruiting centrally as a Total Force, Air Force Recruiting, The Air Force last week announced an expansive new ROTC scholarship available to older Cadets committed to commissioning, with the goal of recruiting and retaining more future Airmen in the program. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. This new study looked at a much larger share of data and involved 9,339 valid responses. 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 . 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. Hopper,. Get the latest military news, entertainment, and gear in your inbox daily. The Quran, too, was used in a similar manner. Accommodation of Religious Practices in the Air Force. Now, updated Air Force regulations make clearer and smoother the path for personnel to request and obtain a similar religious waiver. 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. 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. Published Feb 12, 2020 2:11 PM EST. 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. 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. In 2017, the U.S. Army officially updated its dress and appearance standards to accommodate hijabs, turbans and beards. The facial hair cannot exceed one-quarter of an inch, must be grown out naturally and cannot be shaped or styled. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. There currently is no clear evidence showing that is the case, the study said. 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. 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. 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. 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. The authors called for wider research in the area in order to refute or substantiate their findings. It was only after becoming the top enlisted airman that Wright met fellow airmen for whom being clean-shaven was impossible without immense pain and skin damage. 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.