Defense Secretary’s Anti-Beard Comments Raise Sikh Concerns

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Sikh Coalition expressed deep concern  over comments made by the Secretary of Defense in Quantico, Virginia, regarding military uniform and grooming standards, which immediately preceded the release of a restrictive new departmental memo.

During his address to nearly 800 generals, admirals, and senior enlisted leaders, the Secretary of Defense dismissed existing policies, declaring, “No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression.” The organization quoted him going further, stating, “no more beardo-s,” and asserting that military personnel must “shave” unless they “join special forces.”

The memorandum issued after the meeting indicates the Department of Defense is reinstating pre-2010 standards, which significantly restricted the authorization of facial hair waivers, the Sikh Coalition pointed out.

The Sikh Coalition is now on “high alert” to assess the specific implications of the new guidance for Sikh servicemembers across all branches of the U.S. military. The organization emphasized that policy shifts within the military, the nation’s largest employer, directly impact the religious rights of Sikhs in both the public and private sectors. Sikhs, the Coalition noted, have consistently demonstrated that adhering to their faith—including wearing turbans and unshorn beards—does not diminish their capacity for effective and honorable service.

The organization and its allies began advocating for Sikhs to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces while maintaining their articles of faith back in 2009. These efforts resulted in significant policy advancements, including the U.S. Army revising its standards in 2017 to better facilitate religious accommodations for Sikhs and other minorities. The U.S. Air Force followed suit in 2020, with the U.S. Marine Corps also making strides in 2023 to allow individuals to serve with their beards and turbans.

The Coalition also referenced its recent July 2025 concerns when the U.S. Army modified its facial hair policy for those with medical accommodations, a change the organization previously argued was discriminatory against certain communities, even though it did not affect Sikh soldiers with religious exemptions.