Sikhs and U.S. Army Standards for Uniform and Appearance

[Wargames Mark]

Story on Sikhs in the Army: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?s...&article=65625

My own thinking is that while it is great that these men want to help with the fight, there is a standard for appearance and it should be enforced - even if that means that some people will not serve.

[Fuchs]

The German standard for soldier appearance is that soldiers are allowed to have beards, if they just care properly for these beards (no wild growth). I'm not aware of any domestic troubles with this in the past two decades.

About the Sikh + Helmet problem;afaik the Sikhs are getting a special helmet (or are campaigning for it) in the Indian forces. Historical depictions of Sikh leaders show that it's apparently OK to have the turban around the helmet (or hints of a turban).


A standard is fine, but if new troubles arise it's also OK to revise a standard to adapt.


I personally despise the existence of waivers. A rule/standard is either universally good or it's simply bad.

[davidbfpo]

Before the US Army and others make policy they should ask the Canadians, Indians and the British how they have coped with Sikhs? In fact was there not a picture of a Swedish-Sikh soldier not on SWC recently, with his turban?

davidbfpo

[slapout9]

Before the US Army and others make policy they should ask the Canadians, Indians and the British how they have coped with Sikhs? In fact was there not a picture of a Swedish-Sikh soldier not on SWC recently, with his turban?

davidbfpo

W.E. Fairbairn of the SMP (Shanghai Municipal Police) had Sikhs on the Police Force and they were allowed to wear their turbans as part of their official uniform.

[Ken White]

...there is a standard for appearance and it should be enforced - even if that means that some people will not serve.

that appearance has little or nothing to do with combat capability -- or performance. I'd rather go to war with 10 motivated rag bags than 50 uniform and well turned out mediocrities.

[carl]

Re: Ken's comment above. There is a quote regarding Confederate troops to the effect that never had so much been accomplished by so many so disheveled. That would probably hold for all the armies on both sides except for maybe the Army of the Potomac. They were a bit neater I believe.

[tequila]

Mindless uniformity is stupid.

Besides, it's not as if he was growing a beard to flout the rules or express his individuality --- if anything, it's his way of demonstrating exactly the opposite.

As long as it can be adopted for the field, who cares.

[omarali50]

General rules are useful, but so are exceptions. The Sikhs are a really special case. What they ask for in terms of special treatment is a very visible but purely symbolic concession and once that concession is made, they have a history of very distinguished service. Its not a slippery slope to shariah law or something like that. I dont know if there are enough Sikhs in the US to justify this, but if enough are wanting to join, then the US army would be foolish to keep them out due to some misplaced insistence on general rules.....

[Ken White]

Both wore their Dastaar, Kirpan and Kara in uniform. The one in Viet Nam simply put his steel helmet with no liner over his Dastaar. I didn't check their underwear. Both were good folks and one was an MI Warrant.