Mrityunjaysinghhacker: Published a well-researched resource.

2022-05-25T10:03:41Z

Published a well-researched resource.

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{{Short description|Religious community in the US armed forces}}
{{use mdy dates}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
[[Sikhs]] and [[Sikh American]]s have served in the [[United States Armed Forces|United States military]] since [[World War I]] through all [[List of wars involving the United States|subsequent wars]]. Since the 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.

== Sikh and Warrior Association ==
[[File:Kirpan, Kanga & Kara.jpg|thumb|Three of The Five Ks in the Sikh Religion]]
Sikhs are associated with being good warriors for several reasons, one being their religious practices and their values.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dorn |first1=Walter |last2=Gucciardi |first2=Stephen |title=Modern Sikh Warriors: Militants, Soldiers, Citizens |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/15027570.2018.1440500 |journal=Journal of Military Ethics |volume=16 |issue=3–4 |pages=272–285 |doi=10.1080/15027570.2018.1440500 |s2cid=149973754 |issn=1502-7570}}</ref> A Sikh is expected to always carry five items on them to honor [[The Five Ks]] (Punjabi: ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰ ''Pañj Kakār''), which is a foundational element of the Sikh religion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=Pashaura |editor2-last=Fenech |editor2-first=Louis E. |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199699308.001.0001 |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199699308.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-969930-8 }}</ref> The five items include [[Kesh (Sikhism)|''kesh'']] (an uncut beard), ''[[kangha]] (a wooden comb)'', [[Kara (Sikhism)|''kara'']] (an iron bracelet), ''[[kachera]] (cotton underpants)'', and ''[[kirpan]] (a small knife'').<ref name=":2" /> Each of these five items serve as symbols that uphold integrity, discipline, righteousness, and honesty, which contribute to the resemblance to warrior characteristics. Besides the idea that Sikh's core values align with those of a warrior, their reputation for being good soldiers can also be traced back to [[Guru Hargobind]], who was the sixth of the ten [[Sikh gurus]] in the religion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Syan |first=Hardip Singh |title=Early Sikh Historiography |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/17448727.2011.593297 |journal=Sikh Formations |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=145–160 |doi=10.1080/17448727.2011.593297 |s2cid=142930089 |issn=1744-8727}}</ref> In the 1600s, [[Guru Hargobind]] emphasized the importance of a military. He created an army of Sikhs, trained them, and inspired them to defend and protect.<ref name=":0" /> He was a great influence on the core principles of the religion, as he formed an enthusiastic group of Sikh warriors.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Pashaura |title=Revisiting the "Evolution of the Sikh Community" |url=https://punjab.global.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/sitefiles/journals/volume17/JPS_17_nos_1-2_Singh.pdf |journal=University of California |volume=17 |pages=45–74}}</ref> Additionally, the colonization by the British also contributed to their strong warrior reputation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Roy |first=Kaushick |title=Recruitment doctrines of the colonial Indian Army: 1859-1913 |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/001946469703400303 |journal=The Indian Economic & Social History Review |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=321–254|doi=10.1177/001946469703400303 |s2cid=145010342 }}</ref> When the British were building an [[Indian Army during World War I|Indian army]] during [[World War I]], they mainly aimed to enlist Sikhs.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khalidi |first=Omar |title=Ethnic Group Recruitment in the Indian Army: The Contrasting Cases of Sikhs, Muslims, Gurkhas and Others |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3557805 |journal=Pacific Affairs |volume=74 |issue=4 |pages=529–552 |doi=10.2307/3557805 |jstor=3557805 |issn=0030-851X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Khushwant |url=http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195673098.001.0001/acprof-9780195673098 |title=A History of the Sikhs: Volume 2: 1839-2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-567309-8 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195673098.003.0011}}</ref>

==World War I and World War II==

[[File:Bhagatsinghthind.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bhagat Singh Thind soldier in U.S. Army during [[World War I]] in 1918]]

One of the earliest Sikh soldiers in the American military was [[Bhagat Singh Thind]], who although not a U.S. citizen enlisted in the [[United States Army]] and served in World War I. Bhagat Singh Thind was the first Sikh in US military service to be granted the right to wear a turban while on active duty in the US Army. Thind requested citizenship at the end of the war, but was refused. He was granted citizenship in 1936.<ref name="Dawinder" /> Sikh participation as a part of U.S. forces in World War I was limited due to their small population in the country, but 138,000 Sikhs served in other [[Allies (World War I)|Allied forces]]. Large numbers of Sikhs served in U.S. forces during World War II, and all American wars following.

During World War II Sikh units of the Indian and Commonwealth forces served under Allied command alongside or in cooperation with American forces and earned a reputation for bravery, serving notably against the Germans and Italians in East Africa, North Africa, Italy, France, Western Europe and against the Japanese in the China-Burma-India Theater. Notable actions involving Sikhs fighting alongside American forces occurred at the Battle of Monte Cassino and the assault on the Gustav Line during the Italian Campaign where both American and Indian Army Sikh (as well as Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Polish and South African) units suffered heavy casualties. Other notable battles of World War II that involved units composed of Sikhs included both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein, Kohima, Imphal, and the Burma campaign in conjunction with Merrill's Marauders.<ref name="Dawinder">{{cite book |author = Dawinder S. Sidhu |author2 = Neha Singh Gohil |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=J9zlF4muMjMC&q=World+War+I&pg=PA137 |title = Civil rights in wartime: the post-9/11 Sikh experience |publisher = Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year = 2009 |isbn = 978-0-7546-7553-2 |page = 137}}</ref>[[File:CaptRattansikh.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Captain Rattan, United States Army (2010)]]
==Restrictions due to uniform regulations==

Prior to the 1980s—and from the time of Chief of Naval Operations [[Elmo Zumwalt#List of Z-grams|Admiral Elmo Zumwalt's "Z-grams" numbers 57 and 70]], in early November 1970 and late January 1971 respectively, permitting their presence on all [[United States Navy]] personnel until the timeframe of [[Ronald Reagan]]'s presidency—the [[United States Armed Forces]] allowed [[beard]]s while in [[Uniforms of the United States Army|uniform]].<ref name="CH">{{Cite news |title=Beard Ban Deters Chabad Rabbis From Becoming Chaplains in Army |url=http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=479 |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref> However, due to a change in regulations, the U.S. Armed Forces rescinded permission for beards in uniform, except for those who commenced their service in the military before 1986.<ref name="CH"/> On July 26, 1948, [[Harry S. Truman]], the 33rd president of the United States, made an effort to desegregate the military by issuing the [[Executive Order 9981]].<ref>Ulbrich, David J., and Alexander M. Bielakowski. "Race and Ethnicity." ''The Routledge History of Global War and Society''. Routledge, 2018. 270-284.</ref> It stated that "...there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin."<ref>Executive Order 9981, July 26, 1948; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.</ref> Although this legislation aimed to permit the participation of all eligible American citizens in the military, Sikhs who wore turbans and long beards were forced to leave the military unless they removed their turban and shaved their beards.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Jasleen |title=Desire, patriotism, and Sikh subjectivity |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/17448727.2017.1382632 |journal=Sikh Formations |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=254–267 |doi=10.1080/17448727.2017.1382632 |s2cid=148664637 |issn=1744-8727}}</ref> As the beard is a requirement according to the [[Rehat Maryada]], the current regulation<ref name="AR670">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r670_1.pdf |title=Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia |work=Army Regulation 670–1 |publisher=Department of the Army |access-date=25 October 2009 }}</ref> has created a regulatory barrier that has kept observant Sikh men from serving in the United States Armed Forces in large numbers. Retired Colonel GB Singh, applied to serve in the U.S. Army in 1979. Although there had been Sikhs who had enlisted in the U.S. Military previously, Singh was the first to go the officer route. A periodontist, Singh served in the U.S. Army as a colonel, one of a small number of Sikhs allowed to retain articles of faith, grandfathered in after a change in policy.
[[File:SpecLamba.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Specialist Lamba, United States Army (2010)]]
In April 2009, Sikh [[United States Army|Army]] [[Captain (U.S. Army)|Captain]] Kamaljeet S. Kalsi, a [[Physician|doctor]], with the help of the [[Sikh Coalition]], filed an objection to the [[Inspector General#U.S. Military|Inspector General]] and the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] to be allowed to continue to serve with his religious apparel intact.<ref name="SnS">{{Cite news |title=Sikhs want U.S. Army to waive dress and appearance regulations |author=Kevin Baron |newspaper=Stars and Stripes |url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62026# |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref> [[United States Army Reserves|Army Reserve]] [[Second Lieutenant#United States|Second Lieutenant]] Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a [[dentist]], joined in filing the petition.<ref name="CNN">{{Cite news |title=Sikhs fight Army over bans on turbans, uncut hair |author=Joe Sterling |newspaper=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/15/us.sikhs.military/index.html |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref> Kalsi joined the Army via its Health Professions Scholarship Program and had been reassured by the recruiter that wearing the uniform while retaining his religiously required appearance and apparel would not be a problem.<ref name="CNN"/> Kalsi had even served in uniform without any problems at [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] and [[Travis Air Force Base]].<ref name="SnS"/> Yet, a problem arose in early 2009 when the Pentagon told Kalsi and Rattan that they would be called to [[active duty]] and would need to shave their beards and stop wearing their turbans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sikhs demand right to wear turban in US Army |author=Chidanand Rajghatta |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/world/indians-abroad/Sikhs-demand-right-to-wear-turban-in-US-Army/articleshow/4372634.cms |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref>

The [[Sikh Coalition]] argued that not allowing the servicemembers to continue to maintain their appearance according to their religion violated the [[Religious Freedom Restoration Act]] of 1993.<ref name="SnS"/> The Army argued that continued wear of the turban and beard violated current regulation, that would hinder the servicemembers from meeting health, safety, and mission requirements including the use of [[gas mask]]s.<ref name="SnS"/> In late October 2009, Kalsi was allowed an exemption to the policy,<ref name="ToI">{{cite news |title=Sikh group: Doc gets OK to serve with turban |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Army Times |url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/ap_army_sikh_hair_102309w/# }}</ref> and would be able to serve while adhering to his religious beliefs.<ref>{{cite news |title=US army accepts first Sikh recruit |newspaper=The Times of India |publisher=Bennett Coleman & Co |url=http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/5156279.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820102501/http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/5156279.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 August 2011 |access-date=25 October 2009 }}</ref> The Army continues to maintain that these were specific determinations due to the individual case and that present regulations will not change,<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |title=Army Allows a Sikh Doctor to Serve Wearing a Turban |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/nyregion/24sikh.html |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref> however the Sikh Coalition holds out that this will be the beginning of a policy shift that will allow other Sikhs to serve their country in uniform.<ref name="NYT"/>

The case of Rattan was put on hold, pending his completion of the dental boards exam.<ref name="ToI"/> Upon graduation from basic officer training at Fort Sam Houston as a captain on March 22, 2010 Rattan was also granted an exemption.<ref name="Exempt">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=10172836|title=1st Sikh in Decades Graduates Army Officer School, Page 1|author=Michelle Roberts|access-date=2010-03-22|work=ABC News}}</ref> A third serviceman, Specialist Lamba, who graduated from Fort Jackson in November 2010 was also granted an exemption.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sikh soldier stands out at Fort Jackson |first=Jeff |last=Wilkinson |url=http://www.thestate.com/2010/11/11/1555712/sikh-soldier-stands-out-at-fort.html |newspaper=The State |access-date=5 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115014400/http://www.thestate.com/2010/11/11/1555712/sikh-soldier-stands-out-at-fort.html |archive-date=2011-01-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After a legal battle, Army Captain [[Simratpal Singh]] won a long-term religious accommodation in 2016 that allowed him to maintain the articles of his Sikh faith while serving. Specialist Harpal Singh (US Army Reserves), Specialist Kanwar Singh (MA National Guard) and Private Arjan Ghotra (VA National Guard) were also allowed to attend Army's Basic Combat Training in summer 2016. Specialist Harpal Singh received Soldier of the Cycle award from his chain of command at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Not long after, in early 2017, the Army updated its regulations on grooming and appearances to allow Sikh soldiers and Muslim women to wear religious coverings, and for Sikh men to keep their beards. <ref>{{cite news|last=Epstein |first=Kayla|newspaper=Stars and Stripes |title=Air Force allows Sikh to wear turban, beard, unshorn hair |publisher=The Washington Post }}</ref>

In January 2017, following the outcome of a lawsuit under the [[Religious Freedom Restoration Act]], regulations were changed, allowing for the wearing of beards and turbans by religious individuals (the same ruling also allowed the wearing of burkas and hijabs by Muslims). The ruling does stipulate that the regulations can require that the beards must be worn at certain lengths (via rolling and clipping) and must not interfere with operations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abdul |first=Qassim |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/01/06/army-allows-sikhs-permanent-exemptions-to-wear-beards-turbans.html |title=Army Allows Sikhs Permanent Exemptions to Wear Beards and Turbans |publisher=Military.com |access-date=2017-02-27}}</ref> Second Lieutenant Kanwar Singh became the first Sikh service-member to complete US Army's Officer Candidate School under the new military policy. He completed Basic Combat Training (Fort Jackson - 2016), Officer Candidate School (Massachusetts, Connecticut and Alabama - 2018) and Signal Basic Officer Leaders Course (Fort Gordon - 2020) with unshorn hair, beard, and turban. He currently serves as a commissioned officer in the Massachusetts National Guard (US Army Signal Corps).<ref>{{cite web|last=Rios |first=Simón |url=http://www.wbur.org/news/2018/08/07/kanwar-singh-sikh-military |title=Sikh Man Paves Way To Serve Country While Staying True To Faith |publisher=WBUR.org |access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref>
[[File:KS_receiving_ARCOM.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Lieutenant Singh receiving the [[Army Commendation Medal]] from a [[General Officer]], United States Army (2019)]]

In June 2019, Airman Harpreetinder Singh Bajwa became the first active duty airman allowed to serve with a beard, turban and unshorn hair as part of a given religious accommodation. Bajwa is a first-generation American who enlisted in the Air Force in 2017. Bajwa learned of exemptions granted to Sikh members in the Army, and that in 2018, the Air Force had allowed a Muslim JAG Corps officer, Captain Maysaa Ouza, liberty to wear a hijab. After hearing about Captain Ouza, he contacted Kamal Kalsi, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve and founder of the Sikh American Veterans Alliance who helped him make his case. <ref>{{cite news|last=Epstein |first=Kayla|newspaper=Stars and Stripes |title=Air Force allows Sikh to wear turban, beard, unshorn hair |publisher=The Washington Post }}</ref>

In June 2020, [[Anmol Narang]] became the first observant Sikh to graduate from the [[United States Military Academy]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Karni|first=Annie|title=Latest Crop of West Point Graduates Includes First Observant Sikh Cadet|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/us/politics/west-point-sikh-anmol-narang.html|access-date=2020-06-15|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2022, the District of Columbia's federal appeals court ruled that Milaap Singh Chahal and two other Sikhs were not required to shave to serve in the Marine Corps.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Halisia |title=Sikh men can serve in the Marine Corps without shaving their beards, court says |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/12/24/1145459140/sikh-marine-corps-beards-court-religion-army-military-marines |access-date=2022-12-25}}</ref>

==Notable individuals==
* Colonel [[G. B. Singh]]
* Sergeant [[Uday Singh Taunque]], Iraqi War, [[Bronze Star]], [[Purple Heart]]
*Cpl.Gurpreet Singh [[US Marine Corps]] Afghanistan [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] KIA 2011 [[Bronze Star]] [[Purple Heart]]
* Sergeant [[Bhagat Singh Thind]]
* Lt Col [[Karamjit S Aujla]] USAF
* Maj [[Simratpal Singh]] US Army
* SRA [[ Aninjot Sekhon]] USAF
* LtCol [[Deepinder Singh Grewal]]USAF

==See also==
*[[Military history of Pakistani Americans]]
*[[United States Air Force Chaplain Corps]]
*[[Chaplain Corps (United States Army)|United States Army Chaplain Corps]]
*[[United States Navy Chaplain Corps]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{USMILHIST}}

[[Category:Sikhism in the United States]]
[[Category:Religion in the United States military| S]]
[[Category:Indian-American history]]
[[Category:Military history of the United States]]

Sikhs in the United States military - Revision history

Mrityunjaysinghhacker: Published a well-researched resource.