Protest to End Ban on Sikhs Wearing Turbans in US army

The Times of India ^ | 15 Apr 2009

[nickcarraway]

Sikh organisations in America have launched a campaign to end a ban on Sikhs joining the US Army without removing their turbans and cutting off their hair.

Two Sikh military trainees who have been asked to remove their turbans and cut their hair to become eligible for active duty in the US Army launched the campaign with a protest in front of the historic Marine Corps War Memorial near Pentagon here Tuesday.

Captain Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, a doctor, and Second-Lieutenant Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, who have just completed an army programme that pays for medical education in return for military service, were joined by a dozen Sikh leaders at the protest organised by the Sikh Coalition, a community organisation working for Sikh rights in the US.

Kalsi and Rattan, vowed that they would fight against the discriminatory regulation of the US Army, which is preventing them from serving their country of birth through the military.

In a petition submitted to the US Army Tuesday, the two said they were assured by military recruiters that their turbans and unshorn hair "would not be a problem" when they were recruited to join the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Programme.

"Now both of them, medical professionals in the Army, are being told that they must remove their turbans and cut their unshorn hair and beards- all mandatory articles of the Sikh faith- when they report for active duty in July," said Amardeep Singh, executive director of the Sikh Coalition.

The Sikh Coalition has also launched a signature campaign to "protect Sikhs' right to serve in the US Army with their Sikh identity intact." Under it, 15,000 people will be asked to write to the US Army to end discrimination against the two men.

The US Army banned "conspicuous" religious articles of faith for its members in 1981. But some Sikhs who had joined before that date were allowed to practice their religious identity.

[boknows]

It’s the Army.

Your job is killing people.

You wear a Uniform - get it? UNI form, One Form.

Get over it.

[VeniVidiVici]

Let me break out a huge shovel. It’s getting deep.

---

Health Professions Scholarship Program

Prospective students compete for scholarships that cover some or all of the medical school years. The Air Force offers three- and four-year scholarships, and the Army offers one- to four-year scholarships. While on scholarship, the financial expenses of tuition, fees, a monthly stipend, and mandatory books and equipment are paid by the student’s sponsoring service.

As inactive reserve officers, the students are required to serve 45 days of active duty for training (ADT) each fiscal year. While on active duty, they receive the same rights, privileges, and pay, and are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as any other active-duty officer. For the first two years of training, this duty is sometimes spent attending an officer basic course/school (Army, Navy, Air Force) or executing “School Orders” (paticipating in clinical training) at the student’s university. For the 3rd and 4th years, the student will often carry out elective clinical rotations at a military hospital.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Neither this American Sikh, nor his Indian Sikh father (who was also a soldier, but in the Indian Army) had any problem with shaving off their hair:

 

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/uday-singh.htm

 

 

 

 

Uday’s funeral service to be as per U.S. Army traditions

 

Chandigarh, India: December 4, 2003:

The funeral of Sergeant Uday Singh, who died in Iraq on December 1, 2003, while serving with the U.S. forces, will be held here with full service honours, with a contingent from the U.S. army being flown in here for the purpose.

Stating this here today, Steven J. Stoiber, a defense attache with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, said the contingent was expected to be led by an officer of the rank of Brigadier General. The services would be as per the U.S. Army traditions.

For the family, it will be a tortuous wait as it would take at least a week before Uday's body arrives here because there are many formalities to be completed. The body has been taken to Dover, Delaware, for an autopsy. After being embalmed, the body will be draped in the soldier's "Class-A" uniform, complete with service medals and regimental regalia before being airlifted to Chandigarh.

This is perhaps for the first time in Independent India that a foreign army would be conducting a service funeral. Later, Uday's ashes would also be taken to the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia near Washington, where the US buries it war dead.

The U.S. authorities had earlier asked Uday's father, Lieutenant Colonel P.M. Singh (retired), whether Uday should be buried at Arlington or his last rites be performed in Chandigarh. Steven, who refused to disclose his rank, is performing the role of casualty assistance officer, whose job is to stay with the bereaved family until the funeral is over and assist the family. The U.S. Embassy's media adviser, Ms Arti Singh, is also here and is expected to stay until all formalities are completed.

Speaking to media-persons at his Sector 18 residence, Colonel P.M. Singh and his wife, Manjit said their son had not been afraid to fight in Iraq. With tears, she recalled her son’s last words to her a few days ago, when he had said he was proud to be in the US army and that nothing could happen to him. She said she had been against Uday joining the U.S. Army.

Enlisted into ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Armoured Regiment, Uday was killed after his patrol had been ambushed near Habbaniyah. He was evacuated to the Forward Operating Base, St Mere, where he succumbed to his injuries. He had been a gunner onboard a Hummvee, which left his torso exposed.

The 21-year-old trooper hailed from a military family, with his father having served in the Indian Army and his grandfather having served in the Royal Indian Air Force during the colonial era. Uday’s father said his son had proved himself as a soldier, having been awarded the Army Achievement Medal when his company was deployed in Kuwait in 2001. He had moved to Iraq in September 2003.

His home was crowded as relatives, friends and associates poured in to express their condolences. His friends recalled that Uday loved fast cars, war movies and was keen on joining the US army. He had spoken to some of his friends a few days ago. An alumni of St Stephen’s School, from where he did his Class XII, one of his teachers said he was focussed about his career.

Uday’s 87-year-old grandmother, Anup Kaur, to whom he had written last month describing the conditions prevailing on the battlefield, trying to overcome emotions, said Uday had brought honour to a military family by sacrificing his life. Uday’s 11-year-old sister Bani was brought home from Sanawar, where she is studying in Class VII.

---

Chandigargh, India - A U.S. soldier killed in Iraq has been given full military honors at a funeral in his hometown in India.

Twenty-one-year-old Army Sergeant Uday Singh was killed December first in an ambush on his convoy. He would have become a U-S citizen next month.

About 100 of his family and friends gathered in his hometown today to remember him. His coffin was escorted by a military honor guard led by Lieutenant General James Campbell. Campbell said two great nations pause to mourn a courageous young man. He said Singh's loss is a reminder "once again that freedom is not free."

After the service, Singh's body was taken to a funeral home for religious rights and cremation. His ashes will be flown to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Singh's father is a retired colonel in the Indian army and says his son would want to be laid to rest alongside "his buddies" who also died in Iraq.

Tribune News Service

Sunday, December 5, 2004
Courtesy of the Washington Post

The grave marker in the front row of Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery looks like almost every other marker in that precise arrangement on the grassy burial ground, but for Sikhs, it is one of a kind.

Under that gray-white headstone lies Sergeant Uday Singh, the first U.S. soldier of the Sikh faith killed in the war in Iraq. A group of three dozen Sikh people from the area came yesterday morning to honor the first anniversary of the 21-year-old Army gunner's death in Iraq with a modest service, and just as important, to remind the rest of the world that Sikhs are Americans.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[capydick]

They may as well ask if they can strap their swords (Kirpans) to their hips and walk around Post while they’re at it.

[ansel12]

[April Lexington]

I think the Gurkha’s wear turbans in the British Army...

[exit82]

Oh, they just completed their taxpayer funded medical edumacation, and now they have to enter active service.

Convenient time to protest, heh?

[SeafoodGumbo]

Okay, you can wear your hair long and a turban, but your hair has to be colored orange and your turban has to be one with pink polka dots and lots of aqua-colored fur. Oh, and you have to wear high heels also. And you have to wear rings that are the size of high school graduation rings...but on every single finger. And you have to shave your eyebrows. And only move by moonwalking.

Huh? You'd rather just shave your head and put the turban away for awhile? You changed your mind? All right...

[Ditto]

I have worked with some Sikhs. I kind of like those guys, but a uniform is a uniform. If they can raise their own division, I'd cut some slack and allow them their own division "covers."

For a couple of guys who are into Uncle Sam for a few hundred grand of educational expense, I'd say either follow the rules, or give the damn money back.

[ansel12]

http://www.sikhnn.com/print.php?sid=640

A Lesson for Sarah Palin: Being a Real American

[jz638]

the two said they were assured by military recruiters that their turbans and unshorn hair "would not be a problem"

"My recruiter lied to me!"

Seriously though, if they had some manner of documentation that they were assured the hair would not be an issue (the IG usually makes the call on burden of proof there) they may have gotten themselves a free out of the military. I don't think you get your loan repayment honored in the event of fraudulent enlistment though.

[captain_dave]

"I think the Gurkha’s wear turbans in the British Army..." --- No. The Gurkhas do not wear turbans. They wear a jungle hat with flat brim and pugaree.

http://www.khukuriblades.com/images/images_product/119_30-310-x-210.jpg

[Frantzie]

They need to go home and join the Sikh army. Every other group who came to America was able to adapt and conform.

[Frantzie]

The Army PAID for BOTH of their medical degrees! Don’t like the game boys - pay for the education you got off my back. These clowns are trying to get bounced so they get a free medical education.

[stormer]

Or serve.

[nickcarraway]

The only thing is the Army allowed this until 1980. I don’t want the Army to start banning religion entirely. Will catholic soldiers be allowed to wear a scapular?

[Prokopton]

A Lesson for Sarah Palin: Being a Real American.

Sarah Palin said that Sikh citizens were not real Americans?

[familyop]

Put ‘em in their own units, then let them wear the turbans and knives as part of their uniform. After that, we’ll see what they got. ;-)

[calex59]

While I think the Sikhs are great people this is a bit over the top. If their religion forbids them to not wear their turban and not cut their hair then they shouldn’t join the military. If the armed forces changed their rules for every religion there would be a rag tag bunch of soldiers instead of the trained groups we have now. This is just idiotic.

[ansel12]

Sarah Palin said that Sikh citizens were not real Americans?

The guy wrote a hit piece for the Sikh publication about Palin and racism when she mentioned "real Americans" once and about the GOP being racist and anti India Indians.

I emailed the author pointing out that her husband and children were "native American" and that conservatives wanted to see a ticket of GOP Governor Sarah Palin and Piyush (Bobby) Jindal, the editor contacted me and wanted to publish the letter but the author forbid the challenge.

"First I bristled and then I was horrified as I watched Sarah Palin draw a distinction between “real Americans and those that are not” during the 2008 presidential campaign. Notice the absence of any mention of Native Americans in her call."

"An immigrant from India, I am a Sikh-American, and wear the markers of my faith – long unshorn hair covered by a turban. Sarah Palin had just sundered the nation into “us and them,” and relegated people like me to the category of incomplete Americans.
I wondered what makes one a real American! "

"Or, is Sarah Palin and her ilk looking to racial and cultural purity?"

"Sure there have been many Sarah Palins along the way, and there will surely be many more. But as Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. said, “”The greatest virtue of a functioning democracy is its capacity for self-correction.”"

etc.

[exit82]

Ansel12, your post 21 put your post 11 in proper context.

Thanks.

Otherwise, you were probably going to get an objection from me. ;)

[ansel12]

I was tired last night and even as I posted it I knew that without context it didn’t make any sense but I just posted it anyway for some reason, I think the Sikh publication annoyed me and I just wanted to get it out there for some reason.

[Non-Sequitur]

I think the Gurkha’s wear turbans in the British Army...

No they don't. Gurkha's are from Nepal.

[Alter Kaker]

They need to go home and join the Sikh army. Every other group who came to America was able to adapt and conform.

Well maybe, except for Zouave Americans.

[Pilsner]

I think the Gurkha’s wear turbans in the British Army...

Nope. Gurkas don't wear turbans, that was the Sikhs.

[papasmurf]

I have to say, I served from 1970-1978 with some Sikhs who wore their Turbans.

Other than their Turbans, there were no discernible differences in their performance, or love of our Country.

If any of you remember the Red Brigade of Europe, one of these Sikhs, a fella named Ian, was one of the MP’s, a dog handler btw, that caught members of the red brigade at the missile maintenance site in Siegelsbach I was stationed at.

[April Lexington]

My goof! Sorry to all gurkhas. I stand corrected.