Part of HuffPost Politics. There are many religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard. The demographics of the respondents closely match those of the Air Force in general, the study authors wrote. Wright said he was opposed to facial hair in the Air Force for 29 of his 32 years in service. Shaving sharpens the edges of facial hair and makes the condition worse, the college said, and shaving less frequently or allowing the beard to grow helps. The authors called for wider research in the area in order to refute or substantiate their findings. Airmen in the guard with waivers can wear beards in Air Force ceremonies and duties, but not as part of a joint service honor guard with another branch, Military.com reported. Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) in United Air University Airman overcomes barriers to express his faith as a [T]he promotion system is not necessarily inherently racially biased, but instead biased against the presence of facial hair which will likely always affect the promotions of Blacks/African-Americans disproportionately because of the relatively higher need for shaving waivers in this population, wrote the authors of a recent Air Force study. We recommend further study of gas mask and respirator fit testing with facial hair in the military population to clarify this.. I can answer the questions, so it is not really a problem but how is that even legal? Can Navy Seals grow beards? - coalitionbrewing.com The Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group which works on behalf of Sikhs and other religious minorities in the military, praised the new regulation. DAFI52-201 23 JUNE 2021 5 Written request for accommodation received by The military branch . Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. Meet this Norse Heathen airman approved to grow a beard in the Air Force, Women in the military: Moving beyond firsts, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. The female hair changes were not a want, it was very much a need based on health first when I talk with our men in uniform: Is this a need or is this a want?. 4 0 obj
Its kind of a big thing, culturally.. Less of having to work with skeleton crews, he said. The Reserve or Guard, before finally denying a request, will first consult with the Air Force personnel directorate and obtain a legal review from the Air Force. 3 0 obj
While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who, for medical and religious reasons, are not able to shave in line with regulations. addresses the Air Force grooming standard for beards: "[b]eards are not authorizedunless for medical reasons, when authorized by a commander on the advice of a medical official." An Airmen who requests an accommodation waiver to grow a beard for religious reasons must follow So far, the Air Force has banned beards for all except those who have five-year medical waivers for pseudofolliculitis barbae, or chronic razor bumps, or religious waivers for those for whom beards are central to their observance, like Sikhs, Jews, Muslims and Norse Heathens. Judge Prevents Air Force From Penalizing Airmen Who Refused Vaccine Airman becomes the first Muslim to be granted service's beard waiver for observing religion By Jon Simkins Nov 20, 2018 Air Force Staff Sgt. Religion - Af other similar condition s that prohibits regular facial shaving may requ est a waiver to wear a beard . The move came as a result of the Army authorizing beards for religious soldiers in January 2017 as part of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a move specifically enacted for Sikh soldiers. The Quran, too, was used in a similar manner. Community for current and past members of the US Air Force. Its a little scraggly right now, Sopchak said. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Heres how. Bearded Airmen and Guardians? Leaked Proposal for Air Force Test It also specifically looked at the time it took airmen with shaving waivers to get promoted relative to airmen without waivers, and whether that association led to racial bias. Abdul Rahman Gaitan in 2018 became the first Muslim airman to receive a beard waiver for religious reasons. Beards are generally frowned upon because of the U.S. militarys longstanding tradition of uniformity and attention to detail as well as concerns that certain gear, like gas masks, wouldnt tightly seal with hair in the way. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, wants to reduce the branchs cultural bias against shaving waivers granted for medical or religious reasons. The study could provide ammunition for airmen who really want to grow out their beards, a large number of whom advocate for changing the facial hair regulations on social media platforms like Reddit and Facebook. Get the latest military news, entertainment, and gear in your inbox daily. Theyre more like family members than they are divine beings, Sopchak said. US Army allows Christian soldier to wear long hair for religious reasons thx. Tell me youre an A1C without telling me youre an A1C. Religious exemption for shaving? : r/AirForce Religious Beards in the Workplace: Are Pagans Allowed Beards The Air Force, citing privacy concerns, declined to identify how many airmen have obtained waivers based on religious exemptions but said the publicity surrounding approvals in recent years has . The Air Forces updated dress and personal appearance policy clarifies the grooming and uniform standards for members who wear turbans, hijabs and beards for religious reasons. DAF COVID-19 Statistics - January 2022. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. Air Force OKs beards, turbans, and hijabs worn for religious reasons A chaplain must then interview the requesting airman and submit a recommendation to the wing chaplain (or the unit's equivalent of a wing chaplain). The conventional view of facial hair is that it looks unprofessional in uniform. Requests should normally be recommended for approval unless approval would have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards or discipline, the regulation said. During tours of less than 30 days, A ir Force Reserve (AFR) and Air National Guard (ANG) chaplains not on extended active duty may request a beard waiver for religious observance when consistent with their faith. It must be free of designs or markings, except an airman wearing the Airman Battle Uniform or Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform can wear a matching camouflage hijab. 0. That study, which involved 798 airmen responding to emailed surveys, called for more research and data on the subject. <>>>
PFB is a skin condition that makes shaving painful and can lead to permanent scarring if the skin is not allowed to heal, which makes it a common reason for receiving a shaving waiver. The Air Force Surgeon General has approved five-year waivers allowing male airmen with a medical condition causing painful ingrown hairs to grow beards, the service said Tuesday. US Air Force Grants Exemption for Norse Heathen Beard Religious exemptions to the rule allow for beards up to 2 inches long. The group is one of the Air Forces volunteer teams that considers ways to make policies more equitable for all airmen. Immunization Exemption Guidance | Health.mil Black men disproportionately suffer from the ingrown hairs that cause painful razor bumps, either precluding them from shaving more regularly or forcing them to suffer and, in some cases, endure scarring. The Air Force is first in many things, but in this case the branch came in second to the Army, which in 2017 became the first military branch to grant religious exemptions for beards, turbans. Anecdotal evidence and a July 2021 study in the journal Military Medicine indicate that airmen with shaving waivers are more often passed over for promotions and other professional opportunities because of their appearance. In a Glass Darkly - Project Gutenberg Australia Previously, these airmen needed to get their waivers updated annually. As of Jan. 21, the Air Force has administratively separated 111 active duty Airmen. I will also add, the whole reason I want a beard is to help me with my faith during Ramadan. In 2018, Staff Sgt. ;NNB6 j~X3E]4]euu((m#/S>c9K71,E304a;97la@Ejrf-o
eP9_$)'"?#EO!orCi=5P@C5TmJY;^qzU/nWXvvRH~]/C >K)a2MuOzZ.VsDNOr%rZR[TINcCPBi!U;$TXA9%9;?&>k37{X]sa`p3Wc1^CKtjBrx\5uI3 Sopchak, an aerospace ground equipment craftsman at Hill Air Force Base in Utah,said other airmen have been emailing him with questions about his faith. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jackson Manske. They also make offerings anything from food to drinks to physical objects to their gods during a ceremony called a blot, he said. He joined Task & Purpose in 2019, after covering local news in Maine and FDA policy in Washington D.C. David loves hearing the stories of individual airmen and their families and sharing the human side of Americas most tech-heavy military branch. Big news today for the many airmen out there who want to grow out their beards: not only is there little evidence showing that beards interfere with a gas mask seal, but the Air Forces ban on beards may also be contributing to racial discrimination and hurting promotion opportunities within the service. Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group, How the Navy's beard policy discriminates against Black sailors, Shaving waivers disproportionately affect Black airmen, delay promotions, Racist text spurs Air Force investigation into alleged squadron job discrimination, Women in the military: Moving beyond firsts, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. Air Force Special Operations Command has made history by granting a religious accommodation waiver to a Sikh service member. Beards could be two months away in the Air Force. The Air Force in recent years has begun granting waivers to allow airmen including airmen of the Muslim, Sikh and Norse Heathen or pagan faiths to grow beards for religious reasons. Garrett Sopchak mythology, a collection of interesting stories but little more. Yes, Navy Seals can grow beards. Sure, but how about competitive pay and benefits? Published Feb 12, 2020 2:11 PM EST. DAFI 52-201 is the governing regulation for religious accommodation. such as an exemption uniform policy; the from a purchase of suitable, alternative personal protective . . Correction: This story was updated at 6:53 p.m. to reflect correct information about religious waivers for beards. In 2018, Staff Sgt. For ANG The Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group that has pushed for changes to the Air Forces dress and appearance policy, commended the move. ak cGeoI0_enzM8_#.Skvv1Nx72!oaBV
>q@yN;NG.s;9>/B32:*I=u/x|=3;.m1.DWc(P(mZ XZ Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to receive a religious accommodation beard waiver. In March 2021, after Comer arrived at Maxwell Air Force Base, he started talking to his first sergeant about applying for a religious accommodation to obtain a beard waiver. As we work to build a more inclusive force, we are constantly assessing and evaluating all of the processes and programs that affect our Airmen, she said. Comer wore a beard with a religious accommodation waiver, but beards in the Air Force may become far more common after a uniform board considers facial hair in November. I cant tell you how many hundreds of times, probably thousands, that weve gotten [that] question. The Coalition said both changes were influenced by a years-long advocacy and litigation campaign by the Coalition and its pro bono co-counsel at McDermott Will & Emery. However, most airmen who have waivers are Black, because they are more likely to be affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) than White airmen. The research studied the effect of shaving waivers on the careers of active duty male airmen. The updated regulation said beards must be no longer than two inches when measured from the bottom of the chin, and must be rolled and/or tied when longer than two inches. endobj
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hU f[6rx~ 8;GO yNb4.A`t`Wj Last August, he went to his units chaplain an evangelical Christian who Sopchak said was very supportive and curious about his Heathen religion who helped him put together the paperwork for his religious accommodation request. It interfaces with DAFPD 52-1, Chaplain Corps; Air Force Instruction (AFI) . What happens when patients disagree with an exemption decision? According to a statement from the Air Force, Senior Airman Dominic Varriale was granted the turban waiver in 2020. Sopchak, a 28-year-old aerospace ground equipment craftsman at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, on July 8 received approval to get approval to wear a beard in accordance with his Heathen faith. This is the first time the command has done so. For example, it took airmen with eight or more years with a waiver about a year longer on average to get promoted to the rank of technical sergeant (E-6) compared to airmen who had a waiver for just a year or two. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. The AFI allows the Air Force to deny a request for a waiver only if it furthers a compelling government interest., Groups such as the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Sikh Coalition, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced their support for the decision, with CAIR saying Feb. 12 it is a step toward religious accommodation and inclusion for military personnel of all faiths., No Sikh American should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their career ambitions, Giselle Klapper, a Sikh Coalition staff attorney, said in a release. t7be,2/gQ u7|O;(?lKHfm'*g' I{C That matches the length allowed for people who are medically exempt from the requirement to be clean-shaven. For example, hijabs must be closely fitted to the contours of the airman's head and neck, tucked under the uniform top, and cannot cover the airman's eyebrows, eyes, cheeks, nose, mouth or chin. It is unclear how many Norse pagans, Heathen, or Asatru followers are in the military, but they have become increasingly visible in recent years. Central figures in Norse mythology such as Odin and Thor are commonly depicted as wearing beards. Air Force top enlisted leader wants to remove stigma of beard waivers We are working to take away the stigma attached to airmen who have a medical need or a religious accommodation for facial hair. Asking questions is fine, but how is that even legal? 1 comment. %PDF-1.5
OpJAGAF 2019-9, 21 March 2019, Religious Accommodation Request-Norse Many Asatruars and other heathens think it's wrong for heathens to use this exemption because heathens don't have the kind of religion in which our gods require all their followers to follow commandments in order to achieve a proper afterlife. According to the memo, which was first posted on the unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco July 12, Sopchak can wear a neat, conservative beard that presents a professional, well-groomed military appearance and stays no more than two inches from the bottom of his chin. Army allows soldier to have beard because of his 'Norse Pagan' faith Sikhs have served honorably and capably in the U.S. Armed Forces and other militaries around the world, and while we are eager for a blanket proclamation that all observant Sikh Americans can serve in every branch of the military without seeking accommodations, this policy clarification is a great step forward towards ensuring equality of opportunity and religious freedom in the Air Force.. That was followed up by more leaked slides in October which promised that an updated facial hair standard would be considered at a November meeting of the Air Force Uniform Board, Coffee or Die Magazine reported. *!+zu[XAoC_:X/0{ v8iAU}JqQ.u`6fE_GJTBh$Wx)Vpw#7~rDeI0r\!H(NW|/bcPRHBe0tEyXYD q{ PDF 0 3 JAN 2017 - United States Army The standards for growing a beard for medical reasons remain unchanged, the Air Force said. Many airmen on social media called for abandoning the beard prohibition altogether. Garrett Sopchak, a 28-year-old aerospace . Rachel Cohen joined Air Force Times as senior reporter in March 2021. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. United States Air Force members who refused to take the COVID vaccine for religious reasons will soon get a reprieve from the punitive actions the military took against them.. For military members, exemptions must also be documented in readiness systems (Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Medical Readiness Reporting System, Army Medical Protection System, or Air Force Aeromedical Services Information Management System). Rathour graduated Security Forces technical training on Sept. 26, 2019. Now, updated Air Force regulations make clearer and smoother the path for personnel to request and obtain a similar religious waiver. Of them, 40 Airmen voluntarily left the service and 14 officers retired, according to Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Feb. 28.