https://www.airforcetimes.com/...Early%20Bird%20Brief

Air Force grants first beard waiver to Muslim airman

By: J.D. Simkins   18 hours ago

The Air Force has granted its first ever religious accommodation beard waiver to a Muslim airman in a move designed to allow him to observe his faith.

Staff Sgt. Abdul Rahman Gaitan, an airman with the 821st Contingency Response Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California, was granted the exemption after waiting years for approval, an Air Force release said.

Gaitan, who was raised as a Catholic, first developed an interest in the Muslim faith while stationed at an air station in Izmir, Turkey, a curiosity that remained strong when he left for his new duty station in Hawaii.

“When I left Turkey, I felt as if a little bit of myself was left behind,” he said. “I began to read the Quran and the more I learned, the more I was drawn to its teachings."

The airman visited a mosque in Hawaii to explore the faith and ask questions — he converted soon after.

Following his conversion, Gaitan prepared himself for the challenges of being a practicing Muslim in the U.S. military, the greatest of which was attaining approval for his shaving waiver, he said in the release.

Being granted the waiver took nearly four years from the day Gaitan submitted the paperwork, a process that necessitated approval on the part of his “unit commander, base chaplain, installation commander up to the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel Division,” the release said.

The Army has led the way when it comes to granting religious accommodations. In 2017, the service instituted a new policy to allow the wear of head coverings and beards for observant Muslims and Sikhs. And this April, a soldier received authorization to grow a beard as part of his Norse pagan faith.

Although Gaitan called growing a beard “a constant reminder of our faith and who we are as Muslims,” doing so has not come without oppression — even from the airman’s peers.

“A month after I started growing my beard, someone shooed me away with their hand, saying very negative things because I was a Muslim," he said. "A week later, another person from a different squadron felt comfortable enough to ask me if I had joined ISIS. ... Earlier that year someone openly questioned if I was a terrorist.”

One or two ignorant comments, however, did not represent the majority of airmen who were incredibly supportive of his conversion to Islam, Gaitan said.

“The silver lining to all this was the reaction from my peers when this incident happened,” Gaitan said. “Like a lion jumping to rescue a member of their pack, another airman stood to my defense. I will never forget what she did for the rest of my life.”

After word of the incident climbed the chain of command, Gaitan’s own commander stepped in to offer support as well.

“I was called into his office with the chief and first sergeant waiting for me,” he said. “His look, tone, words and posture were shouting at me, ‘Don’t worry, we have your back.’ ... I walked out of there with a feeling I had never felt as a Hispanic Muslim Airman. I finally felt like I was fully part of the Air Force family, and that my peers and my leadership would fight to protect me.”

Makes me think of that Major husan,Least he is easy to spot.

So much for military consistency. What is next?

Someone wants to wear a red rooster outfit on his head? Or maybe a picture of Satan, and he/she/it profess to be satanist?

If the rule isn't necessary, it shouldn't be there for anyone. If it is then tough luck to the bearded guy.
Soldiers that have a legit belief in not killing but still want to serve don't go into the armed infantry as gun carrying combat soldiers. They become medics or perform some other non-combat service.
That guy didn't get drafted, he enlisted into a service he knew he couldn't qualify for under the rules.

Does he love his country and can he do his job....that's all I care about.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
Does he love his country and can he do his job....that's all I care about.

Yep.

There have been folks with beard waivers in the military for years, and the sky hasn't fallen yet.

A number of other militaries allow beards for various reasons too.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
Does he love his country and can he do his job....that's all I care about.

Yep.

There have been folks with beard waivers in the military for years, and the sky hasn't fallen yet.

A number of other militaries allow beards for various reasons too.

That's not the real issue here IMO. Is there a separation of government and religion, as per the Constitution and the leftists, or isn't there? What happens when this clown can't perform his duties because its prayer time? Or how about when he requires special meals to coincide with his religion? Do they shit can him then or grant him more exceptions. Bet I can guess given the direction things are heading with our retarded culture.

Only guys I saw with beards had medical waivers.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:

That guy didn't get drafted, he enlisted into a service he knew he couldn't qualify for under the rules.

Where are you getting this information ("enlisted into a service he knew he couldn't qualify for"). I just went back and re-read the original post several times; I do not see anything that would lead me to that conclusion.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
That's not the real issue here IMO. Is there a separation of government and religion, as per the Constitution and the leftists, or isn't there? What happens when this clown can't perform his duties because its prayer time? Or how about when he requires special meals to coincide with his religion? Do they shit can him then or grant him more exceptions. Bet I can guess given the direction things are heading with our retarded culture.

Do you have the some concerns with the Orthodox Jewish bearded servicemen? They pray, have beards, and have dietary restrictions. They've been serving for years.




What about the Sikhs? They also pray, have beards, and have dietary restrictions. And they have also been serving for years.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Do you have the some concerns with the Jewish bearded servicemen?

What about the Sikhs?

I’m thinking about “uniform” as in uniformed services. No beards for anyone. Not for women either.

Follow orders. Kill the enemy. Protect your country.

If he does those things, he has my respect and my thanks.

Bruce

If he isn't a liability and can he do the job? Carry on.

Hispanic, Muslim convert, while in the USAF...interesting.

quote:

Although Gaitan called growing a beard “a constant reminder of our faith and who we are as Muslims,” doing so has not come without oppression — even from the airman’s peers.“A month after I started growing my beard, someone shooed me away with their hand, saying very negative things because I was a Muslim," he said. "A week later, another person from a different squadron felt comfortable enough to ask me if I had joined ISIS. ... Earlier that year someone openly questioned if I was a terrorist.”

Horrible, horrible oppression.

Edited to add: I'm all verklempt.

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

I'm pretty sure we have some pre-1984 USN sailors here on Sigforum.

The Navy did a pretty decent job of bringing death and despair to the enemies of our country for the 208 years that preceded the "no beards" rule. Just an outsider's observation.

quote:

Originally posted by RNshooter:
Follow orders. Kill the enemy. Protect your country.

If he does those things, he has my respect and my thanks.

Bruce

Thank you.

When was the last time an Orthodox Jew or Sikh soldier/sailor/airman/marine committed a blue on green attack? None that I know of.


The other big non Christian religion cannot make that claim. Anyone in uniform who is a devout beard waiver Muslim better get used to being viewed suspiciously by some, it is the world we live in.

I was not talking about him being viewed suspiciously because he's a Muslim, or the rate of Muslim vs. non-Muslim attacks. That's a whole different topic.

Certain folks are complaining specifically because he's able to wear a beard, or more generally because he's getting "special treatment" because of his religion.

I'm pointing out that neither are new things, and that there was no great outcry when the Jews/Sikhs were allowed to wear beards, or were granted "special treatment" because of their religions.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
Does he love his country and can he do his job....that's all I care about.

Yes, and thanks for saying it.

I am glad this seems to be the prevailing sentiment in this thread.

Norse pagan??