U.S. Marine Completes Basic Training While Adhering to Turban and Beard
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Private First Class Jaskirat Singh, aged 21, makes history as the first Marine to graduate from basic training while observing the Sikh articles of religion (a turban, beard, unshaven hair, and a steel bracelet). Singh's graduation from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego following a court battle for religious accommodations was a significant turning point in his life.
This victory resulted from a legal battle in April 2022, when Jaskirat Singh, Milaap Singh Chahal, and Aekash Singh filed a federal complaint against the Marine Corps for its policy prohibiting religious symbols from being worn during basic training.
The three men's decision to join the Marine Corps as poolees was an act of service and devotion to their faith. However, the Marine Corps dress code prohibits them from wearing religious symbols.
In December 2022, a federal appeals court decided that the Marine Corps reluctance to grant religious accommodations to the Sikh troops violated their religious liberty, marking a turning point in this legal dispute.
Their ability to display religious symbols important to the Sikh religion, such as the turban, beard, uncut hair, and steel bracelet, was affirmed by the court. This decision highlighted the value of diversity and inclusion, setting a precedent for tolerating religious views within the military.
Singh's resolve to serve his country while remaining faithful is groundbreaking. For young Sikhs who want to serve their country without sacrificing their faith, he sets an example. "My personal goal is that today's events may demonstrate to other young Sikhs that if they want to pursue a career in the military, they can do so while being faithful to their religion," Singh said following the emotional graduation ceremony.
Men of the Sikh religion traditionally show their dedication by donning turbans, growing their hair and beards, and wearing steel bracelets. While Sikh active-duty Marines can now wear religious symbols, this does not include boot camp. Before Singh's historic achievement, the Marine Corps was the only military service that did not let Sikh recruits wear religious accouterments while attending basic training.
Singh and his fellow Sikhs brought attention to the need for religious accommodation in the military during their legal fight. After the U.S. court denied the preliminary injunction, the case was appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in September 2022.
With her ruling, Judge Patricia Millett brought attention to the necessity for religious accommodations in boot camp procedures on the part of the courts. Millett noted that the Marines had yet to show how their refusal of accommodations helped them achieve their goal of unit cohesiveness.
After much legal wrangling, Singh was granted a preliminary injunction enabling him to fulfill uniform standards while wearing a cotton turban instead of the traditional metal one. The fact that Singh could practice his religion thanks to the court's order and the Marine Corps updated standards demonstrates the significance of honoring multiple faiths throughout the service.
Singh's success is quite significant. Reiterating his dedication to his religion and his job as a Marine, Singh said, "I'm pleased to show that wearing a turban or a beard does not make me any different or less of a Marine, and I aim to prove that in the future."
The story of Jaskirat Singh is one of faith, patience, and the ultimate victory of religious freedom in a society where tolerance and diversity are of the utmost importance. His graduation, while openly displaying his Sikh religious items, is a powerful symbol of the ideals of tolerance and acceptance upheld by the United States Military.
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