Coast Guard changes rule, will allow some religious headgear on duty

August 10, 2006

(RNS) The U.S. Coast Guard has changed its rules and will now permit some religious headgear to be worn on duty.

Chief Petty Officer Daniel Tremper said the Coast Guard has made a "verbal" commitment to enact the change, which aligns it with other U.S. military services. He said a written policy should be released soon.

The rule changes will permit the wearing of a yarmulke, worn by some Jews, but will not allow the hijab worn by Muslim women.

"It must be of a style and size that it can be completely covered by and not interfere with the wearing or appearance of any uniform military headgear," said Tremper, a Coast Guard spokesman, in a Thursday (Aug. 9) interview.

Permitted apparel cannot cover the face or forehead or "interfere with the proper wear or functioning of protective clothing or equipment," he said.

For example, religious headgear could not be worn by firefighting team members who wear masks on Coast Guard cutters. "We're talking about safety concerns there," Tremper said.

The policy comes after a meeting of the guard's Uniform Board, which recommended the change to Admiral Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard. Allen agreed to the revision.

Some individuals and an Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization had sought the revision. Jack Rosenberg, a Hasidic Jewish member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary from Silver Springs, N.Y., had lodged a complaint, along with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

"There's nothing more American than freedom to worship and volunteering to serve in our armed forces," Kerry said in an Aug. 4 statement after learning of the rule change. "No one should ever have to choose between honoring their religion and keeping their job, especially our servicemen and women."

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations also welcomed the revision.

"Other branches of America's armed services accommodate servicemen and women wearing religious clothing so long as it does not interfere with their duties, and we are heartened that the Coast Guard now provides for similar accommodations," said Nathan Diament, the umbrella organization's director of public policy.

-- Adelle M. Banks