RELIGIOUS ACCOMODATIONS

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RELIGIOUS ACCOMODATIONS

• EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REPRESENTATIVE COURSE

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Overview

• Army Policy on Religious Accomodation
• Define Religious Discrimination
• Elements of Religious Discrimination
• Religious Practices That Can Conflict with
  Military Duties
• Requests for Accomodation
• Commanders Actions on the Request

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Army Policy on Religious Accomodation

• It is the Armys policy to approve
  requests for accomodation of religious practices
  when they will not have an adverse impact on
  readiness, unit cohesion, health, safety,
  discipline, or otherwise interfere with the
  soldiers military duties

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Religious Discrimination

• Any action, intended or unintended,
  that unlawfully or unjustly results in unequal
  treatment of a person or groups based on religion
  and for which distinctions are not rational
  considerations.

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Elements of Religious Discrimination

• Discounting the beliefs of others
• Religious jokes/slurs
• Compulsory services
• Exclusionary prayer
• Stereotyping people by their religion
• Non-association due to religion
• Failure to provide alternative services
• Lack of concern

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Religious Practices That Can Conflict with
Military Duties

• Worship practices
• Dietary practices
• Medical practices
• Wear and appearance of the uniform
• Personal grooming

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Request for Accomodation

• AR 670-1
• Submit to immediate commander
• Approve (formally or informally)
• Disapprove -Afford soldier opportunity for
  Appeal
• Appeal forwarded to higher commanders
• DCSPER the final authority for appeals

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Commanders Actions on Requests for Accomodation

• Consider the high value the Army places on
  religious beliefs
• Determine sincerity and if religion based
• Will accomodation have an adverse impact on
  military readiness, unit cohesion, standards,
  health, safety, or discipline
• Importance to the individual
• Impact of similar requests
• Alternatives
• Previous treatment of similar requests

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Summary

• Army Policy on Religious Accomodation
• Define Religious Discrimination
• Elements of Religious Discrimination
• Religious Practices That Can Conflict with
  Military Duties
• Requests for Accomodation
• Commanders Actions on the Request