{"id":4733,"date":"2017-03-19T13:22:33","date_gmt":"2017-03-19T07:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.barusahib.org\/?p=4733"},"modified":"2024-11-22T13:29:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T07:59:25","slug":"decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/","title":{"rendered":"Decades of Struggle: Sikh Americans Achieve the Right to Serve in the U.S. Military"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#Introduction_A_Milestone_in_Religious_Freedom\" >Introduction: A Milestone in Religious Freedom<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#A_Journey_of_Determination\" >A Journey of Determination<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#The_Ban_and_Its_Impact\" >The Ban and Its Impact<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#Small_Steps_Toward_Change\" >Small Steps Toward Change<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#The_New_Policy_A_Landmark_Decision\" >The New Policy: A Landmark Decision<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#Religious_Accommodations_at_the_Brigade_Level\" >Religious Accommodations at the Brigade Level<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#Immediate_Implementation\" >Immediate Implementation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#Sikh_Soldiers_in_Action\" >Sikh Soldiers in Action<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#A_Lifelong_Goal_Achieved\" >A Lifelong Goal Achieved<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#Service_as_a_Religious_Duty\" >Service as a Religious Duty<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#The_Numbers_Speak\" >The Numbers Speak<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#The_Bigger_Picture_Faith_and_Patriotism_United\" >The Bigger Picture: Faith and Patriotism United<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/decades-of-struggle-sikh-americans-achieve-the-right-to-serve-in-the-u-s-military\/#Conclusion_A_Victory_for_Inclusion\" >Conclusion: A Victory for Inclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction_A_Milestone_in_Religious_Freedom\"><\/span>Introduction: A Milestone in Religious Freedom<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For decades, Sikh Americans faced a tough choice\u2014serve their country or follow their faith. That long-standing dilemma is finally coming to an end with new U.S. Army regulations granting religious accommodations for visible articles of faith.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Journey_of_Determination\"><\/span>A Journey of Determination<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Ban_and_Its_Impact\"><\/span>The Ban and Its Impact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In 1981, the U.S. Army banned exemptions to uniform requirements for religious articles like turbans and beards. This left observant Sikhs unable to serve without compromising their faith.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Small_Steps_Toward_Change\"><\/span>Small Steps Toward Change<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since 2009, individual accommodations had been granted on a case-by-case basis, but they were rare. Capt. Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi was among the first to receive such an exemption, setting a precedent for future Sikh soldiers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_New_Policy_A_Landmark_Decision\"><\/span>The New Policy: A Landmark Decision<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Religious_Accommodations_at_the_Brigade_Level\"><\/span>Religious Accommodations at the Brigade Level<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In a groundbreaking move, the U.S. Army announced new regulations allowing brigade-level commanders to grant religious accommodations for turbans, beards, and hijabs. This shift marks a significant step toward inclusivity in the military.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Immediate_Implementation\"><\/span>Immediate Implementation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The policy has already benefitted five Sikh American soldiers, who were granted the right to serve while wearing turbans and beards. According to the Sikh Coalition, this is the largest increase in observant Sikh soldiers since the ban was enacted.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sikh_Soldiers_in_Action\"><\/span>Sikh Soldiers in Action<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Lifelong_Goal_Achieved\"><\/span>A Lifelong Goal Achieved<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Private Shabaddeep Singhjammu, one of the soldiers granted accommodation, expressed his joy:<br \/>\n\u201cThe ability to serve my country and faith has been a lifelong goal.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Service_as_a_Religious_Duty\"><\/span>Service as a Religious Duty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Capt. Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi highlighted the connection between Sikhism and service:<br \/>\n\u201cGuru Nanak taught us that religion is important, but service to mankind is paramount.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Numbers_Speak\"><\/span>The Numbers Speak<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With these changes, there are now at least 14 observant Sikh soldiers serving in the U.S. Army. This progress not only benefits Sikh Americans but also strengthens the military\u2019s commitment to diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bigger_Picture_Faith_and_Patriotism_United\"><\/span>The Bigger Picture: Faith and Patriotism United<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The new regulations ensure that Sikh Americans no longer have to choose between serving their country and practicing their faith. This milestone highlights the importance of respecting religious diversity within the armed forces.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_A_Victory_for_Inclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion: A Victory for Inclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. Army\u2019s new policy is a testament to decades of advocacy and determination by Sikh Americans and their allies. It reflects a broader commitment to inclusivity, paving the way for more diverse representation in the military.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction: A Milestone in Religious Freedom For decades, Sikh Americans faced a tough choice\u2014serve their country or follow their faith. That long-standing dilemma is finally coming to an end with new U.S. Army regulations granting religious accommodations for visible articles of faith. A Journey of Determination The Ban and Its Impact In 1981, the U.S. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-4733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","hentry","category-achievements-awards","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4733"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4734,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4733\/revisions\/4734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4733"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=4733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}