The all-volunteer force is the United States Army’s greatest strategic asset; which is made up of the Regular Army, Reserve Component, and Army civilian contractors. If you have been fortunate to be part of such organization, one thing stands out. The Army is a versatile community that is rich in culture. A “melting pot”, for lack of better words. In an organization where different people’s upbringings and theories are mixed together, you will notice that a lot of values derive from their beliefs and idealism. Particularly, some people’s tenets come from their religion. In the United States Army, there are currently regulations in place for religious practices and accommodations within the military service. However, religious freedom and the military have had an ongoing history of frequent revisions to create the most favorable conditions which brings me to the point at hand. Should the Army accommodate to the religious needs of the uniform as a whole? Debaters of this topic are concerned that certain religious accommodations to the uniform would be unfair and negatively impact military readiness. Nonetheless, the Army should accommodate to the religious needs of the uniform because it would not intervene with Army readiness, it would create a positive operating climate, and as a proud organization and nation, we value the rights to practice whatever religion one chooses.
Religious accommodations would not hinder Army readiness. Army readiness has been made the main priority from the current Chief of Staff of the Army, General Mark A. Milley. But what exactly is Army Readiness? In short, Army Readiness is ensuring that all operating forces are organized, trained, and equipped to deploy and fight. In 2016, Army CPT Simratpal Singh, who practices Sikhism, was given the right to have a beard and wear his turban in uniform after much assessment. In Sikhism, the practice of letting your hair grow naturally is a sign of respect for one’s creation, therefore, it is vital for their religion to allow beards and the wear of a turban to maintain a neat appearance. To take that away from them, would be considered robbing them of their identity. The concerns expressed for CPT Singh’s grooming requests were in regard of his safety equipment. Specifically, if it would prevent him from properly wearing his helmet and gas mask. If a soldier is not compatible with their equipment, they would not be able to train safely and effectively. Such circumstances would make the Soldier non-deployable, therefore, affecting Army readiness. In Dickstein, C. (2016, April 1) interview with CPT Singh, he stated that “he recently passed standard gas mask and helmet evaluations with his unit, he said. He’s completed a rifle marksmanship course in full kit and gone through a tear gas chamber with absolutely no problems.” CPT Singh’s unit granted him the right to wear his turban and beard so long it does not intervene with the health and safety of both himself and the individuals working around him. As a flexible and adaptive Army, religious accommodations and maintaining military readiness is something the Army can achieve.
Religious accommodations would positively affect the working climate and Soldier’s morale. Creating the right environment for Soldiers is essential for any effective organization. When an Army leader is put in a position where they have authorized command over subordinates, whether at a battalion or squad level, it is important to establish standards and create a climate. Leaders shape the climate and operating environment based on their leader attributes, particularly, their character and presence. An effective leader’s character derives from their moral values that include respect, empathy, caring, tolerance and discipline. Presence is how others perceive that leader, which is a direct effect of their character and the example they set for the organization. The Army has set regulations and policies that protect Soldier’s values and lifestyle to create a quality working environment for them. The Department of the Army (2014, November 6) states in AR 600-20 Army Command Policy that “It is the policy of the United States Army to provide EO and treatment for all Soldiers without regard to race, color, religion, gender, or national origin”. Competent leaders enforce these standards to mitigate the hindering of morale and maintain a positive and effective force.
As a proud nation, we value the rights to practice whatever religion one chooses. The United States established its fundamental values in its early years. The U.S. Declaration of Independence, Paragraph 2 (1776) states that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This indicates a person’s basic rights that must not be taken away. Similarly, The U.S. Constitution’s first amendment (US 1791) states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Evidently, the U.S. is a nation that created a government whose purpose was to establish justice, domestic defense, tranquility, and protect the rights of its people which holds true to this day. This idealism must not only apply to civilians, but also to the all-volunteer force that make up the United States Army. The rich and diverse culture is what makes the United States Army so unique. As a proud organization that lives the Army Values every day, we must be loyal and respect our peer’s religious accommodations without sacrificing military readiness.
In many discussions, there is always a gray area where one cannot determine whether a position is right or wrong. Especially with a sensitive topic such as religion. However, as a progressive and adaptive organization, the Army has revised regulations and policies to create the most favorable conditions. In conclusion, if the requests do not intervene with readiness, religious accommodations will be granted. Granting religious accommodations promotes unit cohesion, boosts morale, and creates a climate where Soldier’s tenets are cared for by leaders. Our nation and Army is always striving to protect what others value. Therefore, the Army should accommodate to the religious needs of the uniform.