--- description: U.S. soldiers can now more easily gain approval to wear a turban, beard or hijab thanks to revised uniform regulations title: U.S. Army Relaxes Rules on Beards and Turbans image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9bf8838e2f71d45e/6988b48b97cdff25786af05f/gettyimages-108637959.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Military](/tag/military/) ## Military Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The U.S. Army Just Made It Easier for Religious Troops to Wear Beards, Turbans and Hijabs by [Joseph Hincks](/author/joseph-hincks/) ## Joseph Hincks Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 6, 2017 6:18 AM CUT  U.S. Army Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi poses in Times Square, New York City, on Sept. 14, 2010 U.S. Army Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi poses in Times Square, New York City, on Sept. 14, 2010Timothy A. Clary—AFP/Getty Images by [Joseph Hincks](/author/joseph-hincks/) ## Joseph Hincks Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 6, 2017 6:18 AM CUT U.S. service men and women who wish to wear a turban, beard or hijab for religious reasons will be able to gain approval thanks to revised uniform regulations that aim to better accommodate religious minorities serving in the military. The revisions — outlined in a memorandum signed by U.S. Army Secretary Eric Fanning earlier this week — allow brigade-level commanders to approve religious accommodations, Reuters [reports](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-defense-religion-idUSKBN14P2AD "undefined"). In the past, the authority to approve such accommodations rested with the Army secretary. Lieut. Colonel Randy Taylor, the army’s director of public affairs and assistant secretary, said in a statement, “Our goal is to balance soldier readiness and safety with the accommodation of our soldiers’ faith practices, and this latest directive allows us to do that.” **Read More:** [_American Sikhs Push to End Army Ban on Beards_](http://time.com/306/american-sikhs-push-to-end-army-ban-on-beards/ "undefined") Under the new guidelines, Muslim and Sikh servicemen will be able to wear beards, provided they are shorter than 2 in., rolled up or tied. Turbans, _patka_ (under turbans), as well as head scarves or hijab for women, are permitted under the new rules. The memo also stipulates that hair braids, cornrows, twists and locks are also allowed. “We are pleased with the progress that this new policy represents for religious tolerance and diversity,” Harsimran Kaur, legal director of civil-rights-advocacy group the Sikh Coalition, told Reuters. Previous Army uniform rules had [clashed](http://time.com/306/american-sikhs-push-to-end-army-ban-on-beards/ "undefined") with religious clothing and grooming customs, making it difficult for soldiers to serve without compromising their religious beliefs and traditions. Many American Sikhs have [protested the grooming](http://time.com/3582629/lawsuit-sikh-american-military-iknoor-singh/ "undefined") rules, leading to several court cases. \[[_Reuters_](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-defense-religion-idUSKBN14P2AD "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4625313/us-army-uniform-sikh-turbans-hijab/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4625313/us-army-uniform-sikh-turbans-hijab/"},"headline":"The U.S. Army Just Made It Easier for Religious Troops to Wear Beards, Turbans and Hijabs","datePublished":"2017-01-06T06:18:58.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T02:34:58.351Z","description":"Hair braids, cornrows, twists and locks are also allowed under the new rules","url":"https://time.com/4625313/us-army-uniform-sikh-turbans-hijab/","keywords":["Military","Army"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9bf8838e2f71d45e/6988b48b97cdff25786af05f/gettyimages-108637959.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Joseph Hincks","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/joseph-hincks/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9bf8838e2f71d45e/6988b48b97cdff25786af05f/gettyimages-108637959.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TO USE WITH AFP STORY by Shaun Tandon, U","caption":"TO USE WITH AFP STORY by Shaun Tandon, U","creditText":"Timothy A. 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