Second US Army Victory!
Sikh Coalition
(Washington D.C.) December 11, 2009 - The U. S. Army announced that it will accept a second Sikh recruit Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan, who refused to remove his dastaar or shave his hair as a condition of joining the military.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-coalition/28503-second-us-army-victory-captain-tejdeep.html
On Vaisakhi day 2009, the Sikh Coalition launched a campaign calling on the Army to accept Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi and
into the military. In October, the Army announced that Captain Kamaljeet Singh would be able to serve with his Sikh articles of faith.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28503
The U.S. Army's acceptance of Captain Tejdeep Singh and Captain Kamaljeet Singh marks the first time in 23 years that the Army will accept Sikh recruits who maintain their articles of faith.
While the Sikh Coalition whole heartedly applauds the Army's action, it remains concerned that Captain Tejdeep Singh and Captain Kamaljeet Singh received individual exemptions to Army policy. There has not yet been a change to the overall policy excluding Sikhs from service.
The Big Picture: What This Victory Means for the Sikh Community
The individual accommodations for Captain Tejdeep Singh and Captain Kamaljeet Singh have significant implications for Sikhs in the workplace.
The Army is America's largest and most prominent employer. Ending discrimination in the United States Army sends a message to all other employers, both private and public, that discrimination against Sikhs who maintain their articles of faith is not acceptable.
Employers in the private sector often heed the example of government institutions. If government can accommodate Sikhs, then private employers will have great difficulty arguing that they should be able to reject Sikhs in the workplace.
Most importantly, over the long-term, equal participation in all of society's institutions, including the Army, will go a long way towards reducing the prejudice Sikhs often see in schools or on the streets.
Next Steps
Over the coming year, with the community's active support and in collaboration with other Sikh organizations, the Coalition will continue to work with the US Army to ensure all Sikhs may serve. We are encouraged that the Army has expressed its willingness to review its general policy of excluding Sikhs from service.
A Thank You to Our Community Partners
The Coalition would like to thank the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, and Amandeep Singh Sidhu, Esq., McDermott's lead attorney on the matter. In 2009 alone, McDermott attorneys have donated over $250,000 in pro bono legal services to the Sikh Coalition on this issue.
The Coalition would also like to thank Representative Howard Berman (D-CA) and Jasmeet Kaur Ahuja on his staff for the countless hours they devoted to ensure a successful resolution of Captain Rattan's and Captain Kalsi's matter .
Several Sikh groups worked together to achieve this goal. The Coalition would like to thank the Sikh Council on Research and Education for the many hours it invested in outreach on Capital Hill, as well as the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund and United Sikhs. Finally the Coalition would like to thank the thousands of Sikhs who signed petitions to the Army's leadership and contacted their Members of Congress.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges all Sikhs to practice their faith fearlessly. If you are barred from joining the military or any type of employment because of your Sikh faith, please report the incident at
legal@sikhcoalition.org.
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Second US Army Victory! Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan May Keep Dastar :) 
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