religous accommodation and discrimination[1]

8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]

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Religious Accommodation

and Discrimination


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AGENDA Religious Diversity in Army


Religious Discrimination

Military Necessity

Roles and Responsibilities: Commander

EOA/EOR

Chaplain

Soldier


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Religious Diversity in the Army

What is Meant? Variety of Religious Traditions

Strength

Recognition, Respect, and Understanding

How does it Look? About 46% Protestant, 25% Roman Catholic, 25% No Pref.

What is the Impact?

Potential for Bias, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Potential for MisunderstandingChallenges for Accommodation

Awareness and Richness


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Definition:The act of facilitating a Soldiersacknowledgment of the divine, variousreligious beliefs and practices relating to thesacred so long as such accommodation will

not have an adverse impact on militarynecessity, that is, unit, or individual readiness;unit cohesion; health and safety standards; or

discipline.

BLUF:Providing for Free Exercise of Religionwithin the bounds of Military Necessity


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The Five-Finger RuleCommanders Must Ask:

1. What is the importance of the religiousrequest?

2. What is the importance of the militaryrequirement?

3. What is the impact of repeatedaccommodations?

4. What are other alternatives to meet therequest?

5. What have been past practices?


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Areas of Accommodation

Rites, Rituals, Observances and Practices Diet

Medical Concerns: Immunizations, DNA,Surgery, blood transfusions

Apparel

Personal Grooming (Grandfathered SituationsOnly; see AR 600-20, Command Policy, Ch 5)


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Definition: Any action, intentional orunintentional, that unlawfully or unjustly resultsin unequal treatment of persons or groupsbased on religion and for which distinctions are

not supported by legal or rationalconsiderations (IAW DoDD 1350.2).


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Military Necessity

The Most Critical Issue when considering anAccommodation

Subject to the Commanders Judgment

Limits the Extent of Accommodation or FreeExercise

Newly ConstructedChapel At Camp Victory,Baghdad


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Roles and Responsibilities

CommanderAssesses Requests: Five-Finger Rule

Applies Military Necessity Rule

Adjudicates Request IAW Regulations &Policies

EOR/EOA: Is this a complaint or anaccommodation issue? Is it discrimination?

Chaplain: Assists with accommodation

Soldier: Adheres to procedures, voices concern


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Religious Diversity in Army



Military Necessity

Roles and Responsibilities: Commander

EOA/EOR

Chaplain

Soldier

Summary


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Vignette #1 Ramadan

A Muslim Soldier in your battalion desires toobserve Ramadan, an important annual 30-dayfast in Islam. As a pillar of his faith, it isimportant for him to observe the fast. It involves

no food or moisture from basically sunrise tosunset. An observing Muslim will also limithis/her intake of food in the evening hours. TheSoldiers First Sergeant has denied this requestbecause she feels the Soldier may jeopardizehis health, especially because of the strenuousmission schedule he is currently on. He comesto you because he feels the denial is unjustified.


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QUESTIONS?

CH (LTC) Bonura20 OCT 2005


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Vignette #2 Pagan Rituals

A Soldier, who calls herself a Wiccan, desires tomeet with other Wiccans and Pagans on theinstallation. She asked her chaplain to help herwith this request but he has not been very

responsive. Her unit supervisor said he wasntgoing help a witch. She has now come to you.

What will you do?


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Vignette #3 Staff Meeting Prayers

A new battalion commander has directed hischaplain to provide a prayer at every commandand staff meeting. He told him hed like astrong Christian prayer because I am

concerned about the faith of my officers,especially since we are all at war. A newlieutenant has come to you because he isuncomfortable with prayers at every meeting.He says, I feel like Im attending a bible study.The chaplain told him he is just doing what thecommander wants. Also, the LT objects to aChristian prayer.


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Vignette #4 Apparel

A Muslim Soldier desires to wear the traditionalkhimar, a headcovering, during work hours andwhile in uniform (not just during prayer). Hersupervisor told her no but didnt give her much

of an explanation. She explains to you that shehas observed Jewish Soldiers wearing aYarmulke (skull cap) during work hours andwhile in uniform. So why cant she wear her

religious headcovering?


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Vignette #5 Witnessing and Prayer

An atheist Soldier complains to you that he is sickand tired of hearing about Jesus from a bible-thumper in his platoon. Furthermore, he

doesnt want to be present when the chaplain

gives the invocation at the change of command.However, he has been told his presence ismandatory. He is ready to file an IG complaint.


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Vignette #6 Rations

Your unit is about to conduct training at theNational Training Center and a Muslim Soldiercomes to you complaining that the unit does notwant to provide faith-specific rations for her

during the training. Her commander explained itis too late to order the rations and she shouldhave spoken up sooner. Shell just have to

make due.

religous accommodation and discrimination[1]

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