Rabbi Menachem Stern officially became Chaplain (1LT) Stern after being sworn in last week.

Stern is a member of the Chabad Lubavitch movement of Judaism, whose rabbis are prohibited from shaving their beards.

The Army’s decision was commended by Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty:

This decision by the Army chief of chaplains is an example of protecting religious liberty by providing for the religious support of a significant number of Jewish troops.