In a significant development, intense deliberations were held in Washington D C on Wednesday concerning the entry of Sikhs entry into the US Army.
The US Congressmen, as part of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus met representatives from the Sikh community, including the retired Indian Army officer, seeking to get a one time solution for US Sikhs to get religious accommodation in order to serve the American Army.
The round table briefing saw the participation of Major General Richard Cripwell, Defense Attache, UK Embassy, Washington. Inderjit Singh Boparai, retired Air Commander in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Apart from them, other officials discussed the integration of Sikhs in the British Armed Forces and how the changes were required in US law to allow Sikhs to serve in the US Army.
Jaspreet Kaur, Attorney, United Sikhs, Kirnbir S Grewal, US Army (ret) also presented briefing to Congressmen. The disc primarily focused on the religious accommodation process and the experience of Sikhs in foreign militaries in various countries including India and UK.
It's pertinent to mention that Sikhs wishing to join the US military has to go through a long, arduous, and individualized process of receiving a religious accommodation in order to serve in US Army while maintaining their articles of faith.
Recently in some of the individual cases the US Army has issued a special waiver allowing a Sikh officer to keep a beard, uncut hair and wear a turban while on duty but this is not adopted as general policy.
Major General Richard revealed that British Army has a long relationship with Sikh since 1805.
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He proudly said that Sikhs are the more bravery people on the earth and the British Army has been providing them the religious accommodation since the inception of the Sikhs in the British Army.
Inderjit Singh Boparai, retired Air Commander in the Indian Air Force who has served the Indian army shared his experiences with the Congressmen.
"I served Indian Air Force from 1964 to 1996 and was part of the jointly exercise with the US Air force, Air forces of France , British and Russia where we never faced any issue with my beard, hair while using all the safety guards needed to fly the Air force planes," he said. He retired as a Director, Safety of Indian Air Force (IAF).
Kirnbir S Grewal, US Army (ret.) discussed his service in the US Army while maintaining his Sikh articles of faith from 1977-1984. He was awarded best soldier by the US Army. He also said while serving and flying he has never faced any issue with gas mask, helmet or any other gadget while bearing beard and hair.
Kaur expressed her views about Iknoor Singh who is now serving the US army. She revealed that Iknoor won a court battle against the US Army over its grooming standards that had prohibited him from growing a beard and wearing a turban.
She also cited the example of Sikh officer Capt. Simratpal Sing who recently joined the US Army and is allowed to keep a beard, uncut hair and wear a turban while on duty. She also explained that the Sikhs had been serving the UK and even US Army since World War 1.
"But since 1980s, observant Sikhs have faced difficulty in serving due to a discontinuation of exemptions to uniform standards which previously allowed Sikhs to maintain their religiously-mandated beards and turbans while in uniform," she added.
Congressman Johan Geramandi, Co Chairman of American Sikh Congressional Caucus (ASCC) said that Sikhs will be able to serve the US military and important deliberations abiding by their tradition and required amendments in the law in the US will be initiated. He said the bravery of the Sikhs and their Army traditions are recorded in the history.
Harpreet Singh, one of the friends of Sikh Caucus congratulated the American Sikh Congressional Caucus for holding briefing for the US Sikhs to get religious accommodation in order to serve US military as he welcomed these important deliberations.
Dr. Pritpal Singh, Co-ordinator American Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC) also applauded the efforts by the Caucus for holding such an important discussion which will pave way for the Sikhs' entry into the US Army.