A local paper notes the training of SPC Simram Lamba, the first observant Sikh to serve as an enlisted line Soldier in decades.  For his part, Lamba seems to find it a non-event:

Lamba…said the most frequently asked question by his fellow soldiers is about his unshorn hair and beard.

Lamba said both are considered Sikh articles of faith. He called them a “natural gift from God, and we’re not going to destroy it.”

Lamba added the soldiers at his side treat him like any other soldier. “Anything happens, they’ll take care of me. Anything happens to them, I’ll take care of them,” Lamba said.

Similar to conversations about race, gender, etc, Lamba said he was inspired by the two Sikhs who became Army officers:

Lamba said his inspirations were two Sikh officers, a dentist and a surgeon, who preceded him at Fort Sam Houston.

He now hopes to be inspiration for others.  Currently, the US Army still permits exceptions to dress policies (ie, hair and beard required for observant Sikhs) on a case-by-case basis, though one Senator has asked the US military to reconsider its policy in light of Orthodox Jewish Chaplains who cannot join because of their religious dress requirements (beard).

Via the Army Chaplaincy blog, revisited.