![\"Simratpal](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Simratpal-Singh-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nSimratpal Singh, an Army Captain, West Point grad, Ranger and combat veteran, recently decided to take the Army to court to force them to allow his distinctive Sikh headwear and his beard while he continued to wear the uniform. Thursday, the Army decided to change the policy rather than battle the issue in court. The Army had previously allowed doctors to wear their religious accoutrements, but not other career fields. From the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty<\/a>, which represented Captain Singh;<\/p>\n Captain Singh initially received a temporary accommodation in mid-December, allowing him to report to his new assignment in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with beard and turban in place. In early March, however, the Army tried to subject him to heightened testing for his gas mask and safety helmet, even though he had already passed the standard safety testing all soldiers undergo. On March 4, 2016, a U.S. District Court in D.C. ordered the Army to stop imposing discriminatory testing and to treat Captain Singh under the same rules that apply to everyone else. The Army\u2019s decision yesterday confirms that Captain Singh\u2019s religious turban and beard have no impact on his ability to serve.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sikh warriors have a long and storied military tradition, but, that was before chemical warfare. While I agree that the good captain should be able to serve, he should also understand the risks associated with facial hair on the modern battlefield. If he’s willing to take the risk, well, fine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"