(Military Times) A new update to the Navy’s religious accommodations policy will allow Sikh sailors to wear turbans for the first time, following the Air Force’s decision to do the same in early February.
Previously, religious head coverings like Muslim hijabs and Jewish kippahs were allowed because they did not interfere with uniform covers, but per the March 16 instruction from the Bureau of Navy Personnel, there is no longer a requirement that an approved religious head covering be worn underneath the cover prescribed by the uniform of the day.
“We are appreciative that the U.S. Navy has taken a step forward in securing accommodations for observant Sikh Americans who wish to serve with their religious articles of faith,” Giselle Klapper, Sikh Coalition’s staff attorney, said in a March 19 release.
