Much has been made of the January changes to the US military religious accommodation policy — changes presumably made in light of the 2013 and 2014 NDAAs passed by Congress that required the US military to promulgate policies protecting religious expression.

The changes have been criticized by almost everyone, including Congress, religious liberty advocates, and even religious groups who might benefit from grooming or uniform wear waivers. The policies do not expressly address religious expression, and the waivers they allow are temporary and subject to the whim of local commanders, according to some sources.

The US military recently revealed that two applicants have been denied waivers under the new policy.

In addition, it said since 2012 it has approved six and denied five waivers:

Those approved included three Sikhs who had previously been granted waivers…a Jewish chaplain and for two Muslim soldiers…

The five whose requests were turned down included a future Sikh soldier, an enlisted Sikh soldier, a Muslim female officer and a military prisoner.

The prisoner is none other than former US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan. It would seem the drama over his beard during the trial was quickly taken care of after he was forcibly shaved in prison, and that was the end of that.

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