The U.S. Air Force has updated its dress code to accommodate the religious garb of Sikhs and Muslims.
Officials finalized the new approval process last week for soldiers to have turbans, beards, uncut hair, and hijabs, according to CNN. Soldiers who are granted exceptions must keep their appearance “neat and conservative” in almost all cases.
Sikh and Muslim soldiers could apply for exceptions to wear religious garb before the new process was created, but the applications were judged on a case-by-case basis that could take significant time to resolve. Under the new guidelines, applications must be processed within 30 days for personnel in the United States and within 60 days in all other cases.
Sikh and Muslim groups cheered the new accommodations but pushed for more change.
“We support these new guidelines as a step toward religious accommodation and inclusion for military personnel of all faiths,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council of American-Islamic Relations.
“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 toward ensuring equality of opportunity and religious freedom in the Air Force,” said Giselle Klapper, a staff attorney at the Sikh Coalition.
