An Army officer who filed suit against the service and the Defense Department to maintain articles of his Sikh faith while in uniform received a waiver to Army appearance standards that will allow him to keep his beard, long hair and turban.
Capt. Simratpal Singh requested such an exception in October. After months without an answer, and after he was asked by the Army to participate in what his legal team called "unprecedented, prejudiced testing" regarding the fit of his helmet and gas mask, he sued DoD, the Army and several top defense officials in search of a permanent waiver. In early March, a U.S. District Court judge in the District of Columbia ordered the Army not to undertake the gear tests.
According to the March 30 memo ordering the exception, a copy of which was provided to Army Times on Friday by Singh's representatives, the officer:
- Must wear his hair, beard and turban in "a neat and conservative manner" and in a way that allows proper fit of the Army Combat Helmet and other equipment as required.
- May wear a turban instead of other nonprotective Army headgear.
- Should be prepared to "comply fully" with Army appearance regulations should the exemption be removed. It will be reviewed by Singh's command on a quarterly basis and after a year, or possibly sooner, by the Army's assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs.
The court case remains active, according to a Sikh Coalition spokesman. As part of the initial compliant, Singh's legal team requested the judge order the Army to pay Singh's legal fees and award "nominal damages," while ruling on the constitutionality of the Army's actions toward Singh on religious discrimination grounds.
Another lawsuit involving three enlisted Sikhs seeking similar accommodations was filed late last month. Lawyers with the Sikh Coalition, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and McDermott Will & Emery represent that trio, along with Singh. The Army has not commented on either lawsuit, citing the ongoing litigation.
"My faith, like many of the soldiers I work with, is an integral part of who I am," Singh said in a Friday news release from the Sikh Coalition. "I am thankful that I no longer have to make the choice between faith and service to our nation."
Singh's temporary waiver was set to expire Thursday. He serves as a staff officer with 249th Engineer Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
He shaved his beard and adhered to other Army appearance standards when he began his service at the U.S. Military Academy. He continued to do so after his 2010 commissioning and throughout service that included graduating from Ranger School and earning a Bronze Star in Afghanistan. He regretted his decision not to request a waiver earlier in his career, according to his legal team, leading to his recent decision to request a religious accommodation.
At least three other Sikhs have been granted such an accommodation since the grooming standards went into effect in the 1980s.
Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.
