September 18, 2013: Earlier this summer, while I was traveling by air, a flight attendant asked passengers to thank members of the U.S. military who were on the flight. We offered a round of applause for these men and women in uniform, honoring their sacrifice and service. However, a certain irony was not lost on me.
As I applauded these soldiers, I also felt regret. Members of my community — Sikh Americans, who have a celebrated martial history around the world — are denied the same opportunity to serve because our religious articles of faith — the turban and uncut hair — have been presumptively banned by the U.S. military since the early 1980s.
This has not always been the case. During World War I, a Sikh from California named Bhagat Singh Thind served in the U.S. Army with his articles of faith. And observant Sikhs continued to serve until the military's grooming policies changed in the early 1980s, excluding Sikh articles of faith. As such, observant Sikhs have been effectively excluded from service without the opportunity to demonstrate their ability. This can only be seen as discriminatory.
In recent years, after significant personal effort, only three Sikhs have received an exemption from the grooming restriction. With their turbans and beards, these men completed basic training and have served in active duty as decorated soldiers. They have successfully worn gas masks and helmets, and their turbans have been incorporated into their uniforms. Their superiors have lauded their dedication to the uniform as examples for their comrades.
Observant Sikhs are not asking for special status to serve in the United States military. On the contrary, we are simply seeking equal opportunity to serve without exception. Sikh Americans have the same opportunity to serve like every other American.
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