US Navy Lt Haji “Omar” Shareef, a helicopter pilot, was interviewed recently on his ability to adhere to the religious tenets of Ramadan while being a military pilot.  (Video below the fold.)

While he says Muslims can largely do their duties, he notes they do ask for accommodations such as not doing physical training during the day, since they cannot drink water between sunrise and sunset.

On his part, as a pilot, he “puts himself on the night schedule” so his ability to fly will not be hindered by his fasting.

As a point of interest, Lt Shareef is filmed in uniform wearing an Islamic kufi. While many people are familiar with the story of the yarmulke or kippah in the US military, the kufi falls under the same guidelines.

The US military “accommodates,” without endorsement, the religious practices of its adherents, without regard to their particular beliefs.  It does so to the extent it can without compromising the mission.  For example, if Lt Shareef’s unit isn’t flying nights the entire month, and it needs him to fly during the day to support the mission, it is not obligated to keep him off the schedule (and he is obligated to show for duty in a condition to conduct the mission).

The same is true for the religious practices of every member of the military, and can be as generic as being called to duty on the Sabbath or flying a combat mission on Easter.  (See DoDD 1300.17, Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the Military Services.)  Still, to the extent it can without impacting the mission, the US military generally attempts to accommodate the religious exercise of its members.

The US military does an admirable job of supporting the religious freedom of its troops wherever they are, and whatever their role in the mission may be.

In fact, the military often “accommodates” other ideologies as well.  Certain military locations have been known to have “reduced” operations on the Monday after the first Sunday in February — which is, of course, the day after the Super Bowl.

Pop quiz:  Why would a helicopter pilot be given the callsign “Omar?”

Video courtesy of the Air Force Report, though ironically the reporter is a Navy Petty Officer and the main subject is a Naval aviator.