US Air Force Allows the Sikh Man to Keep Turban
After the decision, the 1st Class Airman in a statement said, he was “overjoyed that the Air Force has granted my religious accommodation. Today, I feel that my country has embraced my Sikh heritage, and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity”.
The US Air Force has finally granted a religious accommodation to an active on duty Sikh airman, thereby allowing him to maintain a turban, beard and unshorn hair in accordance with his faith.
Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa serves as a crew chief at McChord Air Force base near Lakewood. After the decision, the 1st Class Airman in a statement said, he was “overjoyed that the Air Force has granted my religious accommodation. Today, I feel that my country has embraced my Sikh heritage, and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity”.
The US Air Force’s decision to allow him to maintain his religious faith with regard to his appearance is a ‘historic’ first, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Though the US Air Force was not immediately available to confirm whether he is the first Sikh in the service, who is granted such a waiver.
In a statement, US Air Force Spokesperson Major Nicholas J Mercurio said, “The Air Force places a high value on the rights of its members to observe the tenets of their respective religions or to observe no religion at all”.
Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa is a first generation American, who is enlisted in the US Air Force in the year 2017, with the dream to serve his country. According to the US Air Force rules, he was required to cut his hair and remain clean shaven, in contrast to his religious practice.
It is here, his fight for justice began, said Kamal Kalsi, founder of the Sikh American Veterans Alliance and a former lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve, who helped Bajwa win his accommodation.
Bajwa was aware of exemptions being granted to Sikh members in the US Army and in the year 2018, the Air Force also allowed a Muslim JAG Corps officer, Captain Maysaa Ouza to wear a hijab. It is then he contacted Kalsi for assistance.
Kamal Kalsi says, “It was important for him to be able to maintain that Sikh identity as well as his identity as a soldier. The turban and beard are an important part of a Sikh’s identity. The turban is a crown. It represents our connection to social justice, our connection to our faith. These articles of faith for us remind us to do good in the world and to be good citizens in the world”.
American Sikhs are allowed to keep their beards, unshorn hair and turbans while serving in the US Army until a ban that was instituted in the 1980s. But the rigidness of the military on appearance has been challenged in recent years as the members of the service have petitioned to visibly practice their faiths.