How a Sikh Marine made history with the help of a 30-year-old religious freedom law
Private 1st Class Jaskirat Singh made Marine Corps history earlier this year when he completed boot camp with a turban and beard — two essential parts of his Sikh faith. Singh’s achievement was made possible not only by his own hard work, but by a 30-year-old religious freedom law that creates legal options for people who can’t comply with a federal policy without violating their faith. Singh’s challenge was that Marine Corps uniform rules prevent recruits from wearing head coverings and maintaining a beard.