Coast Guard to Allow Religious Clothing

[Amelia]

Coast Guard to Allow Religious Clothing

9 Aug 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Coast Guard is changing its regulations to allow religious head coverings such as skullcaps, but Sikh turbans still will be excluded, officials said Wednesday.

Coast Guard spokesman Dan Tremper said the new rules "have verbally gone into effect" but still must be formally adopted.

The head coverings must fit under a uniform hat or helmet, and they cannot bear bright colors, writing, pictures or symbols.

Lawmakers called for the change after Jack Rosenberg, a Hasidic Jew who passed his training for the Coast Guard last year, was told he could not serve without taking off his skullcap.

The U.S. Armed Forces under the Defense Department have permitted religious head coverings since 1987.

The Guard falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, and is considered one of the five branches of the armed forces.

Its missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, environmental protection and port security. It has 38,000 active-duty men and women, 8,000 reservists, and 35,000 auxiliary personnel.

[Kountzer]

I'm a coast guard vet. Things have changed considerably since when I was in.