Congressman Crowley Responds to Pentagon Announcement, Urges U.S. Military to End Presumptive Ban on Sikh Articles of Faith
Crowley leads efforts calling on Defense Department to welcome Sikhs in U.S. Army
Crowley and colleagues are currently circulating a letter calling for the military to end the presumptive ban on Sikh articles of faith
(Queens, N.Y.) – Today, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus and a leader on Sikh American issues in Congress, reiterated his call for an end to the presumptive ban on Sikh articles of faith, including turbans and beards, in the U.S. military. Responding to new Pentagon rules that permit limited religious accommodations, Crowley is currently spearheading a bipartisan letter signed by 20 members of Congress on both sides of the aisle requesting that the U.S. Armed Forces update their appearance regulations to allow Sikh Americans to serve while abiding by their articles of faith.
“Depending on how they are implemented, some aspects of the new Department of Defense rules may be a step in the right direction,” said Rep. Crowley. “But more needs to be done to end the underlying presumptive ban on service by patriotic Sikh Americans. Sikh Americans love this country and want a fair chance to serve in our nation’s military.”
Sikhs have served in the U.S. Army since World War I, and they are presumptively permitted to serve in the armed forces of Canada, India, and the United Kingdom, among others. Notably, the current Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army is a turbaned and bearded Sikh, even though Sikhs constitute less than two percent of India’s population.
Currently, three Sikh Americans have been granted individualized accommodations to serve in the U.S. Army. These patriotic soldiers wear turbans and maintain beards in a neat and conservative manner, both in accordance with operational requirements and their Sikh religious beliefs. They are also able to wear protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, in conformity with safety requirements.
In the letter being circulated by Crowley, the members call on Defense Secretary Charles Hagel to consider the achievements of these soldiers and their demonstrated ability to comply with military requirements while practicing their faith.
The full text of the letter is below:
The Honorable Charles Hagel
Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense
Washington, DC 20301
Dear Secretary Hagel:
We respectfully request that the U.S. Armed Forces modernize their appearance regulations so that patriotic Sikh Americans can serve the country they love while abiding by their articles of faith.
As you know, three devout Sikh Americans have been granted individualized accommodations to serve in the U.S. Army. These patriotic soldiers wear turbans and maintain beards in a neat and conservative manner, both in accordance with operational requirements and their Sikh religious beliefs. They are also able to wear protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, in conformity with safety requirements.
These Sikh soldiers have given their all in service of their country. Maj. Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi earned a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan, which included treating multiple combat injuries and reviving two clinically dead patients back to life; Capt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan earned a NATO Medal for his service in Afghanistan; and Corporal Simran Preet Singh Lamba successfully graduated from the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program for his proficiency in Punjabi and Hindi.
Given the achievements of these soldiers and their demonstrated ability to comply with operational requirements while practicing their faith, we believe it is time for our military to make inclusion of practicing Sikh Americans the rule, not the exception.
Devout Sikhs have served in the U.S. Army since World War I, and they are presumptively permitted to serve in the armed forces of Canada, India, and the United Kingdom, among others. Notably, the current Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army is a turbaned and bearded Sikh, even though Sikhs constitute less than two percent of India’s population. Throughout the world, and now in the U.S. Army, Sikh soldiers are clearly able to maintain their religious commitments while serving capably and honorably.
We look forward to working with you to end the presumptive ban on Sikh Americans in the U.S. military and extend opportunity to Sikh Americans who wish to serve and defend our nation.
Sincerely,
Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
David Valadao (R-CA)
Judy Chu (D-CA)
Joseph Heck (R-NV)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Jim Costa (D-CA)
Leonard Lance (R-NJ)
John Garamendi (D-CA)
Ted Poe (R-TX)
Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Karen Bass (D-CA)
Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI)
Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Frank Wolf (R-VA)
Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
Pete Olson (R-TX)
David Price (D-NC)
Hank Johnson (D-GA)
Charlie Dent (R-PA)
Crowley has been a leader in the House of Representatives on issues pertaining to the Sikh American community. In April 2012, Crowley led a letter signed by 93 members of Congress urging the FBI to update the Hate Crime Incident Report Form (1-699) to include crimes committed against Sikh Americans. Following the August 2012 attack on the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wis. Crowley spearheaded the introduction of a Congressional resolution recognizing the contributions of the Sikh American community and urging action on hate crimes. In 2013, Crowley led a letter signed by over 100 members of Congress to the FBI Advisory Policy Board to express strong support to begin tracking and quantifying hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu and Arab-Americans, and submitted testimony to the FBI Advisory Policy Board reiterating his strong support for updating the hate crimes documentation form and sharing feedback and concerns from his conversations with Sikh, Hindu and Arab American communities.
Congressman Crowley is the eight-term representative from the 14th Congressional District of New York, which includes sections of Queens and the Bronx. He is a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and serves as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives.