8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
1/17
Religious Accommodation
and Discrimination
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
2/17
AGENDA Religious Diversity in Army
Religious Accommodation
Religious Discrimination
Military Necessity
Roles and Responsibilities: Commander
EOA/EOR
Chaplain
Soldier
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
3/17
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
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
4/17
Religious Accommodation
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
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
5/17
Religious Accommodation
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?
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
6/17
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)
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
7/17
Religious Discrimination
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).
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
8/17
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
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
9/17
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
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
10/17
Religious Diversity in Army
Religious Accommodation
Religious Discrimination
Military Necessity
Roles and Responsibilities: Commander
EOA/EOR
Chaplain
Soldier
Summary
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
11/17
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.
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
12/17
QUESTIONS?
CH (LTC) Bonura20 OCT 2005
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
13/17
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?
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
14/17
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.
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
15/17
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?
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
16/17
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.
8/3/2019 Religous Accommodation and Discrimination[1]
17/17
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.