Is the Army so desperate for cooks they now get waivers to wear a hijab? And a cook can pick and choose what meat products to prepare???

"A culinary specialist, she said, she was recently reassigned from an on-post dining facility to her battalion’s headquarters company after objecting to cooking pork products."

Complete article with photo:

https://www.armytimes.com/news...to-remove-her-hijab/

A Muslim soldier says her command sergeant major forced her to remove her hijab

By: Meghann Myers   22 hours ago

Sgt. Cesilia Valdovinos was at a chapel at Fort Carson, Colorado, for a suicide prevention briefing on March 6 when she says her command sergeant major grabbed her by the arm, took her outside and made her remove her religious head covering in front of others.

The senior noncommissioned officer believed that Valdovinos, 26, who has an approved exemption from her brigade commander to wear a hijab in uniform, was wearing her hair out of regulations underneath it, she told Army Times on Tuesday.

“To me, it was the same thing as if they had asked someone to take their top off,” the soldier, a member of the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, said.

No one had asked her whether her hair was in a regulation bun, she added, before demanding that she remove the garment.

She took off the scarf portion of the covering first, she said, but Command Sgt. Maj. Kerstin Montoya demanded she completely expose her hair. When she removed the cap underneath, which covers her hairline and underneath her chin, the length of hair came loose from its bun.

The battalion adjutant, who accompanied Valdovinos and Montoya for the inspection, says that the senior NCO tapped the sergeant on her shoulder before leading her outside of the chapel.

“Upon removing her hijab it was evident her hair was completely down,” Capt. Brooke Smith said in a statement. “CSM Montoya told her to get her hair back in regulation and not let it happen again. At no point did CSM Montoya touch the soldier or yell at her (at all or within earshot of other soldiers).”

Valdovinos claims her hair was tied up under the hijab. The under-cap has an extra length of fabric inside, she explained, that she wraps around her bun to secure it before pulling the cap down. That’s why her hair came loose when she removed it, she said.

It was the first time since receiving her waiver that the soldier had ever been confronted about her hijab, she said. But not the first she felt targeted as a Muslim in the Army.

In an Equal Opportunity complaint filed on March 7, she said, she described her first sergeant referring to her as “the girl with the hood.” A culinary specialist, she said, she was recently reassigned from an on-post dining facility to her battalion’s headquarters company after objecting to cooking pork products.

And previously, she added, she reported to her company commander that while deployed last year, another soldier referred to her as a terrorist. The captain did not escalate the claim, she said.

“I take all reports of soldiers disrespecting another soldier’s religious beliefs, observances, or traditions very seriously," Col. David Zinn, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division commander who signed Valdovinos’ exemption memo, said in a statement. "There is currently an inquiry regarding Sgt. Valdovinos’ claim. I will ensure our unit continues our tradition of placing a high value on the rights of our soldiers to observe the tenets of their respective religions or to observe no religion at all.”

The inspection was a blatant act of Islamophobia, according to the head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which represents Valdovinos.

“Unless this CSM, who wretchedly denigrated our MRFF client by ordering her to take off her hijab in public, enjoys the extraordinary powers of X-ray vision, it would have been impossible for this CSM to have even seen the hair of our MRFF client,” Mikey Weinstein said in a statement.

The under-cap is an integral part of the approved hijab, he added.

“I wish they would just ask me if they have questions,” Valdovinos said.

Since filing her EO complaint, she added, no member of her command has reached out to her to talk about the situation. Neither has Montoya been counseled on a more sensitive approach to enforcing regulations, according to a Fort Carson spokeswoman.

“No actions have been taken at this time pending the results from the informal inquiry,” Brandy Gill told Army Times. “Once all of the facts have been gathered the command will take appropriate action.”

Since early 2017, the Army has allowed religious headgear for soldiers whose faith requires it, with written approval by a brigade commander. The regulation states that the hijab must not cover the face, must be a solid color or in matching camouflage to the uniform of the day and that the ends must be tucked into any uniform top.

The bulk of the hair must also be able to be shifted around to accommodate a combat helmet when necessary, according to the regulation.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sigmund,

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

A culinary specialist, she said, she was recently reassigned from an on-post dining facility to her battalion’s headquarters company after objecting to cooking pork products.

I guarantee you she's a lazy SHIT who doesn't want to work, the pork thing is a convenient excuse.

I worked as an Army cook with several black Muslim guys and they never had a problem cooking bacon, sausage, pork chops, ribs, any pork products. They just didn't eat them.

My guess is she "changed" religions and is now facing the ramifications of her actions.

For what it's worth, I served with muslims (male and female) and about the only indication i saw was a request (not demand) to pray and the manner which they prayed before a meal. Also, the observance of Ramadan while underway was a treat to see. Lol

We serve in the military with a reasonable expectation of accommodation. Not with a demand for it.

Sadly it’s been this bad for a while..

Is this a case of the converted being more enthusiastic of their victimhood and eager to 'be an example'?

When her hair fell down it was because it wasn’t secured in a military manner. All the stuff about a strap and such would have had no impact if her hair was secured.

Watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6AvIStmGVo

I’m getting the impression this was a cook that recently converted to Islam. Hence not wanting to handle pork and the stuff about just getting an exemption.

When I was in the army, there were uniform regulations. You wore the uniform as indicated by those regulations.

We had none of this stuff about special head coverings, etc etc etc.

We have an all volunteer army. Perhaps it would be best if all volunteers understood that there were regulations about wearing the uniform.

And, IMO, there should be one set of uniform regulations that applied to all soldiers. No special hats, no special dispensations for beards, etc.

But them, I am a crusty old fart who is disenchanted with the way our society is going, and dying.

18 years in the Army... My $0.02:

#1 "...A culinary specialist..."


#2 ...it would have been impossible for this CSM to have even seen the...
LOL, SGM sees everything

#3 ...recently reassigned from an on-post dining facility...
"reassigned" from the DFAC... Thats something you'll be real proud to tell you children about some day!

#4 As told to be by a very wise 1SG in so many words...
There are these Soldiers, they are called Sergeant Majors. Their job is to tell you, your fucked-up!

#5 E-8 and above, its all vertical

why is she even in the Army in the first place?

the Army has a UNIform...UNI meaning one...as in unified...

if she can't abide by the regulations, then toss her sorry ass out onto the street

we don't need Muslims in the military

ever

since 9/11

i have never seen or heard of a CSM or Chief of the Boat being so off base as this cook alludes to.

My money is on the CSM being right and the cook being a shitbag troublemaker who is using her religion to try and create something out of nothing.

quote:

“Unless this CSM, who wretchedly denigrated our MRFF client by ordering her to take off her hijab in public, enjoys the extraordinary powers of X-ray vision, it would have been impossible for this CSM to have even seen the hair of our MRFF client,” Mikey Weinstein said in a statement.

Well Mikey, that is entirely possible as per Army Rules and Regulations, along with traditions, state that COMMAND SERGEANT MAJORS stand directly at the stairs to the throne of God. In reality they are the conscience of the command and is the bearer of standards. Like what was posted above, Sergeant Majors know all and see all.......Command Sergeant Majors know all, see all, and hear all.

I can summarize what the investigation will report:

1. Sgt. Muslim is a lazy worthless soldier who will use her religion to get out of her duties and responsibilities.
2. That Sgt. Muslim bragged to other female enlisted soldiers that she never wears her hair in the proscribed manner and just hides it under her hijab.
3. #2 was reported to the CSM who checked and verified it as true.

If she is really lucky, she will get a general discharge, otherwise she is well on the road to the Big Chicken Dinner.

Mikey Weinstein...why am I not surprised this piece of shit is mixed up in this? If you’ve never heard of him, you’re better off. He’s needed an ass-beating for years.

I recall that a pal of mine in the British Army professed to be a druid. Needless to say, he was NOT allowed to wear long flowing druid-y stuff whilst in uniform, especially during NBC exercises.

She doesn't want to comply with regulations? Fine, boot her ass out. She can be replaced by an inert object, for all the good she's doing, and the taxpayers really do not need to pay her.

This is the biggest problem I see from when I first enlisted in 1992 and what I now see when I re-enlisted in 2009.

When I first enlisted it was an honor to serve and you were dam lucky to get to wear the uniform of the designated branch you were ALLOWED to enlist in. There was none of this women in the military month, hispanic month etc.. Everyday, every month was you are a soldier month. There were no exceptions, you either wore the uniform, you followed orders or you were booted.

NOW..
It is lets see how we can make everyone happy and accommodate everyone so everyone has a safe space.
In all my years in, I have seen every type of SGT Major from professional laid back, to professional a**hole. BUT I will say one thing, they KNOW the rules and regulations. And pretty much spout every line verse, subverse etc.. of the said regulation you are breaking..

I have a strong feeling this cook is a less than stellar soldier, and she got called to the carpet.

quote:

Originally posted by brywards:
Mikey Weinstein...why am I not surprised this piece of shit is mixed up in this? If you’ve never heard of him, you’re better off. He’s needed an ass-beating for years.

As soon as I saw his name, I knew this wasn't about hair or a job reassignment, this is an opportunity for Mikey and his MRFF to sue or harass someone in uniform. Mikey W. is a piece of shit!

Why am I not surprised to find his name, fingers involved in this.

He is a disgrace and a POS.

Oh the poor thing. Forced to remove the smelly rag from her head. Oh the humanity!

Get busted for a 670-1 violation, drop an EOP/SHARPS complaint. It's the new black.

INFILTRATION. That is what’s happening in the US military. They are so desperate to fill-in that “diversity block” that military Recruiters are going after less-than-qualified individuals to fill that quota, and they “fudge” the problem recruits in the belief that Basic will weed them out; but Basic also needs those quotas too.