Enlisted Sikh To Become First In 30 Years To Win Right To Wear Faith Articles in Army
3rd September 2010
For the first time in more than 30 years, the U.S. military has allowed an enlisted Sikh soldier to maintain his religiously-mandated turban, beard and hair while serving in the Army.
Lamba was recruited by the Army in 2009 through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program for his language skills in Punjabi and Hindi. He was initially advised by an Army recruiter that his Sikh articles of faith would likely be accommodated. But the Army’s current regulations do not permit a new recruit to request a religious accommodation.
It would seem foolish to reach out to someone for specific skills and then get all bureaucratic on him.