A National Guardsman has been granted permission to grow out his beard in keeping with his Norse pagan religious faith. The ruling on the beard, commonly referred to as a skegg, is the first religious accommodation approved by the Nevada National Guard.
Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper, 34, is currently serving in Afghanistan and said the beard honors the “pillars of Heathenism,” and that his “personal faith is deeply tied to the modern warrior lifestyle.”
Hopper, from Madison, Alabama, is allowed to keep a 2-inch beard per the waiver. Two more pagan soldiers have requested similar exemptions for facial hair, and the Nevada National Guard is reviewing both cases.
Because exemptions are rarely made, Hopper carries the waiver on him at all times while on duty in Afghanistan and has had to produce the document to skeptical officials.
“Regardless of why, [wearing] a beard while in uniform does tend to raise a number of questions,” said Hopper. “I do get up a little earlier than others to make sure it is in accordance with AR 670-1, but that is about it.”
