Air Force Grants Historic Religious Accommodation to Sikh Airman
Harpreet Bajwa聽becomes聽the first聽active Airman permitted to wear a turban, beard, and unshorn hair in accordance with his Sikh faith.
LAKEWOOD, Wash. 鈥� With the help of the 老澳门开奖结果 (老澳门开奖结果) and the Sikh American Veterans Alliance (SAVA), an Airman with the U.S. Air Force has received a religious accommodation allowing him to wear a turban, beard, and unshorn hair, in compliance with his Sikh religious beliefs. Airman 1st Class (A1C) Harpreet Singh Bajwa, crewchief at the McChord Air Force Base near Lakewood, Washington, is the first active Airman to be authorized to adhere to Sikh religious grooming and dress principles while serving his country.
鈥淚鈥檓 overjoyed that the Air Force has granted my religious accommodation,鈥� said A1C Bajwa. 鈥淭oday, I feel that my country has embraced my Sikh heritage, and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity.鈥�
As a first-generation American born to an immigrant family, A1C Bajwa enlisted in the Air Force in 2017, eager to give back by serving his country. At the time, he was not permitted to practice certain Sikh beliefs due to Air Force grooming and dress rules. However, after learning about religious accommodations granted recently to Sikh servicemembers in the U.S. Army, as well as a religious accommodation allowing a Muslim Air Force JAG Corps officer, Cpt. Maysaa Ouza, to wear hijab, A1C Bajwa contacted SAVA to determine whether he, too, would be eligible for an accommodation.
SAVA then connected Bajwa with the 老澳门开奖结果, which had successfully represented Cpt. Ouza and had won a groundbreaking lawsuit against the Army, requiring religious accommodation of a Sikh ROTC cadet. After receiving a letter from the 老澳门开奖结果, the Air Force approved Bajwa鈥檚 application.
Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney for the 老澳门开奖结果, applauded the Air Force鈥檚 decision: 鈥淣o one should have to choose between following their faith or serving their country. We鈥檙e pleased that the Air Force granted our client鈥檚 request, and we hope that all branches of the military come to recognize the importance of religious inclusion and diversity.鈥�
Lieutenant Colonel Kamal Kalsi Singh, president of SAVA, added: 鈥淎s one of the first Sikh service members to receive a religious accommodation from the Army, I鈥檓 proud to see A1C Bajwa become the first active Airman allowed to wear his Sikh articles of faith in while in uniform. Sikhs have a long history of serving in militaries around the world, and I鈥檓 confident that A1C Bajwa will represent that tradition honorably.鈥�
