I have a close friend that wants to join the Marine Corps Reserve w/me. However his religion is an issue.?

MikeGolf

The military stantards apply equally to everybody. He has to make a decision about wether or not his religion will allow him to serve.

Instead of asking us - you should recommend that he discuss this matter with his religous leadership.

Sea

Nope he must choose one or the other. Sorry that is the way it is, and if religion will not allow him to conform to the set standards he will be excluded.

Don B

He needs to drop his ridiculous religious obligations if he wants to serve. There are good reasons for not allowing military members to wear whatever they want, and do whatever they want.

He can join the Indian Army if he wants his turban to be accepted.

Then he should join one of Europe's many military organizations.

michelob86

Sikhs wishing to join the US military have long been barred from joining if they refused to cut their hair and discard their turbans. A 1981 regulation banned â€˜conspicuousâ€™ religious symbols in the military (though there had been some exemption for the turban) while in 1999 new regulations forced Sikhs (apart from those who had enlisted prior to 1984) to choose between the five Ks and the military.

The attached article says there is a lawsuit to try to change this, but right now he cannot.

SemiConsciousLiquid

When required to be in uniform, you are required to be IN UNIFORM. A turban is definitely not military-issue headwear.

Also, beards are restricted by the grooming standards, except if there's some kind of medical issue after you're already in where you can get a waiver, like ingrowing hairs or something.

There's hair regulations for men, too. I'd say he's going to have static with recruiters for all 3 of these problems.

A basic fact of the military whether people like it or not, is that you are there to serve your country and be a part of something larger than yourself. You are volunteering to be part of a cohesive whole that puts self-image and individuality way down on the priorities. I don't buy the argument that he should be able to overthrow long-standing regulations that serve a purpose in order to flaunt his personal beliefs that should be private anyway.

oh my!

Your friend has to make that choice... Only he can make that choice...
The decision will come from his heart....

Roo

i know this might sound racist but if thats what he wants to do, more than anything in the world then he probabaly should

Lirpa

The standards only apply while on duty in uniform. I can't see any easy way to get around the beard or hair thing considering how long it takes to grow, but the turban would be fine when he was off duty and out of uniform.

The military doesn't make exceptions except in cases where health is an issue. The general reality of being a member of the US armed forces is that you agree to follow and obey their rules and regulations when you swear in. You relinquish all personal and moral obligations to anything other than serving your country.

In reality, the letter of the law is almost never applied that harshly, but there are limits to how much they can bend the rules. Blatant visual signs of non-compliance are not tolerated (at least when I was in the USMC).

amy-j

wow thats tough...
why is his religion making this so hard for him?

blutic11

There are no execeptions for this kind of thing. The military makes reasonable accomodations but a person must accept the military rules and regulations if they choose to join.

MarathonWomen

Regardless of the cultural/religious issues, a beard would be dangerous for him to have because it would not allow a proper seal on his gas mask. That in the very least he could not keep unless there was a medical reason he could not shave and that would only be temporary.

My dad works at a chemical plant and can't have a beard for the same reason - it's a safety issue.

WisDevilDog

If he enlists the beard, long hair and turban are all going to go. Theres not going to be any wiggle room either.

oops

I am a Sikh as well. Show this to your friend, he might change his mind.

Khalsa Type 1 ( Those who quietly think they are Pure Sikhs )

almost every 'Khalsa' breaks his religious laws. Of the 5 Kâ€™s the Kesh ( hair and beard, eyebrows, body hair ) is shorn by a massive ( maybe 99 %, yes 99 % ) majority of the young 'Khalsa', weather they are in the UK or the fields of Punjab . Even the 'Khalsa's who keep the hair will reject 3 other physical symbols. For convenience sake - without batting an eyelid. Ask a religious 'Khalsa', - if you take so much trouble over maintaining your hair at the right length, do you keep â€˜the Kachaâ€™ ( large undergarment / drawers ) or do you wear a Calvein Klein brand of underwear. Do you keep â€˜the Kangaâ€™ ( comb ) of the right length or only a miniature Kanga â€“ for convenience sake ? The â€˜Karaâ€™ is convenient so almost everyone ( including I ) wear it.

There is nothing wrong with this though - a dynamic religion will not lay too much emphasis on rituals - it will change, progress and become stronger with time. That is why Sikhism is a great religion today

Khalsa Type 2 ( those who make a big show of their rituals )

Sikhs who have very little achievements to their credit, try to attract attention to themselves and pump up their fragile egos by this display of religious identity ( again â€“ only Kesh and Kara ) by saying â€“ â€œlook I am a true blue Sikh, I am better than you. You cannot achieve this.â€

J B

There have been previous cases in which a recruit's or an officer candidate's religious beliefs preventing that person from following uniform regulations either prevented that person from being enlisted or commissioned, or resulted in the separation of an enlisted man or officer already in the Service. So I think your friend will not be able to enlist unless finds a way to satisfy his own faith in a manner that conforms to military regulations.

William F

Just stumbled on this one.
Yes European armies allow turbans but then again the British long allowed Sikhs in its army, they colonized the Sikh homeland after all. Sikhs are a martial people (in the best sense of the expression) and it makes little sense to me that people who are known for their discipline, courage, dedication and fighting ability be excluded from military service. Is there any room for maneuver within his religion?
If it is a health and safety issue would the armed forces give exceptions for its non-front line members? By that I mean those in clerical positions, catering etc.

sheek

For everything you need to know about the Marine Corps that will address any questions you have just go to this site and click the third link down. http://www.TheMarine.Info

If you have any further questions, you can ask me personally. (Lol and no im not the chick in the photo, thats my GF)

http://www.TheMarine.Info

RockstarZook

Unfortunately the regulations and standards are put in place and that is that. Thank you to both of you for the decision that you want to serve our country. I understand that some exceptions are made, but not many. If he really wants to serve, sometimes religion has to be put on the back burner. You can practice, but otherwise you are now government property. And they will tell you what you can look like.

Sorry. I know that not all of it is fair, but it is the way it is. Good luck.

Rachel

I don't think that religion should prevent someone from doing something patriotic that they really want to do.

mikecoma

IM SORRY FOR ALL THE IMMATURE PPL WHO ANSWERED......i ship to MCRD SD 08-03-09, can't wait to go...ask your recruiter about what they can or can't wear while serving.....until he knows what the limitations are, its only up to him to decide what he wants to do with his life...good luck, im torn between being a Active- Duty 0311 or 0331, can't decide XD...

Look me over, I'm the Capm

I've seen the military make religious exceptions yes. He should talk with the recruiting officer though.

Mysterious

You could try to pull out a petition against the marines for not allowing people to participate in their religious ways while part of the service. Or, you could pull out the " Freedom of Religion" thing and try to start a movement about it or something of that nature. I don't really think you should have to choose between your dream and your religion. It's not right. It's like saying I can't participate in a writing workshop class because I where all back. See how unfair that is? It's a simple example but you get the point.

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