(JustPatriots.com)- For the first time, the United States Army has granted a religious exemption to a Christian soldier, allowing him to keep his beard and grow his hair long.
Sgt. Jacob DiPietro, is the first to receive such an exemption. According to his religious beliefs – specifically, the Nazerite vow – he is unable to take any razor to the head. He is also unable to consume alcohol under his religious belief.
DiPietro, of Florida’s Army Reserve’s 489th Transportation Company, was given the exemption on July 25. He first joined the army 10 years ago but only recently began pursuing his faith.
Lieutenant General Gary M. Brito, who is the chief of Army personnel, issued a memo saying that he may wear his uncut hair in accordance with Army uniform and appropriate grooming standards which are outlined in Army Regulation 670-1.
The victory for DiPietro comes after two years of requesting the exemption after discovering the Nazarite vow in the Book of Numbers in the Bible’s Old Testament, which says that “no razor may be used on their head.”
DiPietro, a patriot, said that he felt compelled to join the U.S. Armed Forced after witnessing the September 11, 2001 attacks when he was in third grade. He said that the seed was planted in him early in his life, and he always knew that this is what he was going to do. The exemption, therefore, must come as a great relief.
However, it opens the door to yet more exemptions…and they may not all be as innocent as this. It’s important to note that DiPietro is not the first soldier to be granted such an exemption, as Sikh soldiers have previously been allowed to wear their hair long. However, him being the first Christian to be granted such an exemption indicates that the Army is increasingly open to exemptions to official military uniform rules.
Could this open the door to the Armed Forces allowing exemptions for people who follow extremist “woke” ideological views? Let’s hope not.
