Does this man deserve an exception to US Army Policy?

Not my call. It is up to his superiors.

"Instead, the Army's decision follows a long-standing practice of deciding such requests on a case-by-case basis, the letter said. Farrisee said the Army had weighed Kalsi's request against factors such as "unit cohesion, morale, discipline, safety and/or health."

I do not have sufficient information about his unit's cohesion, morale, disciple, safety, and/or health to form an opinion either way.

 

I've never been in the military but:
If I was in battle, and I saw a turbaned man kneeling over one of my soldiers, how would I know, in the heat of battle, that he was a medic and trying to save his life, as opposed to kneeling down to cut his throat? (Yes, hopefully he would be in uniform with a helmet.)
If he is depending on his god to protect him because of his beard, length of hair, etc., while he is in battle, well, since his religion is worshipping a non-existant god, what's the point?
How about he stays in the rear with the gear?
That way, if he holds his salt as a doctor, he will be of use.

 

He's a DOCTOR... not a medic. He won't be in the field leaning over anyone in the heat of battle. Even if he -wanted- to be up front, the powers-that-be aren't going to allow it because of all the training he's had. He will be in the rear, with the gear.

I don't think he would have been accepted too readily in the army I was in, but it's not my army any more... it's the next generation's and for the most part they are much more tolerant of these types of changes than my generation is.

Personally I see no problem with it. The man may be a much more devoted American than you or I. Somewhere, sometime one of our ancestors was a new-comer to this country.

 

Like I said, I was not in the miltary. If the only time one would see him would be in the operating room, what would anyone care?
I would be more concerned that he was a good doctor.
The doctor that saved my life because of my emergency lung operation?
I always asked the nurse what he said after he left.
I thought it was the Demerol.
Turned out he was from Iraq.
No kidding.

 

I would allow it.

 

In a word, I would say no.

It opens the door for all kinds of bearded kooks, legitimate or not, to demand to be treated the same, and sue if they're not.

 

Sikhs are good people, great fighters, the backbone of the British Raj. The Army could use a couple million of them.

 

The reason facial hair is not permitted is because (1) it doesn't present a clean, military image and (2) practically speaking, the gas masks used by our military can not properly seal one one with a beard. Thus, he becomes a liability on the battlefield. Sure, he's a doctor, but he should be held to the same standard everyone else is. Just my opinion.

 

Been 90 years since anyone used gas against US troops.

During WW1 gas was so horrible . . . during WW2 both sides had gas but no one used it. Apparently another "gas" war was a worse outcome than losing the war.

 

Shaving of the hair and beard was done to prevent the spread of lice among large groups of soldiers. It is still a good reason.

 

Saddam used it against his own people.

He threatened to use it against our troops.

 

He has no business wearing the uniform with other US soldiers. It's a shame that this would even be considered. It only shows what our military is becoming. This is just another example of political correctness gone crazy.

 

I don't see why not. I think when you start making exceptions to rules you're running safety risks and breaking down the walls of safety and security that help the Armed Forces have faith and unity, but hey. Obama's president, we're honoring the religion that brought terrorism to NYC not just everywhere but right smack in everyone's faces where it happened, we're tasering kindergartners and letting child molesters out of jail on good behavior, and you want me to be concerned that an American doctor serving our country is being allowed to wrap his hair and have a beard?

Not wise, but in the big picture, it's about as important as whether the next gummy bear I pick from the bag is red or white.

Whatever.

 

I am no Obama fan (probably the worst president of my lifetime), and maybe I missed something I am not aware of, but how are these things his fault?

 

I don't think Gina was saying this was Obama's fault. She was just lumping him in with the rest of the wacky things that are happening in our country.

 

Steven, sag38 is correct.

 

My apologies, thanks for clarifying.

 

Absolutely not his fault!!!!!!

Everybody oughta KNOW it's Bush's fault!!!!!!!!!!!:BangHead: