Sikh-American Army Officer Wins Ability to Serve with Beard, Turban

WASHINGTON : In a landmark decision, the US military granted a decorated Sikh-American officer a long-term religious accommodation allowing him to continue serving while maintaining his articles of faith of keeping a beard and wearing a turban. The move makes Captain Simratpal Singh, 28, a combat veteran, the first active duty Sikh soldier to receive approval to maintain his articles of faith while actively serving in the US army. Singh was in December last year granted a temporary religious accommodation to serve in the US army. In February, with the temporary accommodation set to expire, the army insisted he undergoes extensive testing to make sure his beard and hair wouldn’t interfere with his helmet or gas mask.