Sikhs have served in the U.S. military since World War One.
A group of young Sikhs enlisting in the U.S. Army has been given a special dispensation to wear their turbans and beards during basic combat training.
Army Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi poses in Times Square, New York in 2010, wearing his US Army ACU Digital Camouflage turban along with his ACU uniform. A new wave of Sikh soldiers enlisting in the U.S. Army will be allowed to wear the traditional turban and beard in Basic Combat Training. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
In 2009, Kalsi became the first person to be allowed to wear his turban and beard and of the decision to allow the waiver for Sikhs enlisting in the military, he said:"It shows progress.”"It's also part of our American upbringing to be able to practice our faith; you know religion freedom is a critical part of being an American. It's important to fight for the things you believe in, and religious freedom is one of those things," he told Military.
Since then, between 2009 and 2011, six Sikh, Jewish and Muslim soldiers received temporary accommodations to follow their religious traditions. All six received long-term accommodations in 2013, WBUR.org reported.
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