Close on the heels of accepting its first turbaned recruit, US Army has announced drafting of another Sikh in uniform, with community advocacy groups demanding that doors be opened for Sikhs in large numbers in US Army.
Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan has been accepted as an Army dentist and allowed to wear a turban and not shave his hair as a condition of joining the military. Confirming the drafting of Rattan, the community's advocacy group, Sikh Coalition, hailing the Army action, said these enrolments should not be treated as isolated cases and that doors should be opened for large-scale recruitment of Sikhs in the US Army.
"The Sikh Coalition remains concerned that there has not yet been a change in
Meanwhile, Rattan said that he was pleased that the Army has accepted him. "I thank the Sikh Coalition, the community and Sikh organisations that supported me. I look forward to the day when Sikhs can freely serve in any field, including the Army, without discrimination," Captain Rattan said.
