Sikh recruit graduates from elite US Marine Corps with turban, beard

For the primary time, a 21-year-old Sikh Marine has graduated from the elite US Marine Corps recruit coaching with out having to shave his head or beard or hand over the “articles of faith” which can be thought-about sacred in Sikhism.

Private First Class Jaskirat Singh on Friday made historical past on finishing his coaching on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego after a federal decide ordered the army service in April to accommodate the recruit’s spiritual practices, The Washington Times reported.

The order got here almost a 12 months after three Sikhs and Jewish and Muslim recruits sued the Marines in search of spiritual lodging.

The Army and Air Force accommodate Sikh recruits, legal professional Giselle Klapper with the Sikh Coalition mentioned, whereas the Navy presents extra restricted lodging. The Marines had been probably the most restrictive of the companies.

He is probably going the primary enlisted Marine to graduate from recruit coaching whereas sporting articles of religion intrinsic to the Sikh custom, particularly a beard and turban, Military.com quoted the Sikh Coalition which, together with different advocates, has helped him and greater than 50 Sikh Americans safe army lodging for spiritual put on.

Last 12 months, a federal court docket of appeals granted a preliminary injunction permitting Singh to start coaching with out having to have his head and beard shaved, which is customary for recruits after they first arrive at boot camp.

The injunction additionally allowed Singh to put on spiritual articles reminiscent of turbans and patkas.

“Making it by way of Recruit Training is an achievement I’m deeply proud to share with all of my brothers and sisters in my battalion,” Singh was quoted as saying by the Messenger news website.

“The incontrovertible fact that I did it with my Sikh articles of religion, which posed no barrier to my achievement, is deeply significant to me personally,” he mentioned.

Singh mentioned his fellow recruits supported him and his spiritual beliefs, and that he had chosen the Marine Corps due to the companies’ values of honour, braveness and dedication overlapping with Sikh values.

The court docket order lined solely Singh, however Klapper mentioned the group hopes the Marine Corps will lengthen the lodging to all Sikh recruits.Another legal professional who labored on the case, Amandeep S. Sidhu, a associate at a legislation agency, mentioned he additionally seems to be for change by the Marines, one of many nation’s oldest and elite army companies.

Edited By:

Sudeep Lavania

Published On:

Aug 14, 2023