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I did not serve in the Army but I can tell you that turbans and beards would not be allowed in the Navy due to safety issues. Everyone serving abord US Navy ships must be trained in firefighting. To fight fires on board ships, you must be able to wear the face mask and it must provide a good seal to the face. Having such long beards would prevent a good seal of the face mask. If they're wearing the firefighting gear properly then the chance of the beard catching on fire is greatly reduced. Another danger involves mechanical equipment depending on the job. Working in the engine room and fire room (boilers) of the ship, we're told we cannot wear a wedding ring unless a hole is cut into the ring to break the circle. That way if the machinery catches the ring, it will tear the ring off the finger instead of tearing the finger off the hand. If you're not careful, the beard could also get caught up in the machinery. Navy gas mask aren't the hood type like the Army/Marines use. Ours resembles the firefighting face mask and so once again the beard would not provide a proper face seal. On the flight deck of aircraft carriers, there is no loose clothing allowed for safety. If pants legs must be tucked in tight, I doubt a free waving beard would also be allowed. Can't wear a turban on the flight deck either. It has to be a flight deck helmet or you don't work there at all. If anyone here served in the Army can come on and relay your experience it would be helpful to this topic.
I'm sure this will be a long, drawn-out process that ultimately leads to a lot of wasted money where some sort of non-committal type decision can be met. How about, "You don't like the rules...don't join."
It's a safety issue above all, his religion comes second if he's going to people in harms way.
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