Changes to USMC Religious Apparel and Grooming Regs

The Marine Corps Uniform Board has implemented some changes to MCO 1020.34 regarding both the wearing of religious apparel and grooming standards related to religious observance.

In the first case, they are now requiring CMC approval for religious apparel. The old wording did not have this requirement. Changes are in red.

C. WITH CMC APPROVAL, NEAT AND CONSERVATIVE VISIBLE ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL WITH THE UNIFORM WHICH DO NOT INTERFERE WITH OR REPLACE REQUIRED UNIFORM ARTICLES OR INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF A MEMBER’S MILITARY DUTIES.

(1) ALL REQUESTS FOR WEAR OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH 1004.6C WILL BE FORWARDED VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS (DC M&RA) FOR DECISION.

(2) THE NAVMC 10274 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION (AA) FORM WILL BE USED FOR REQUESTS FOR WEAR OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL.

In regards to grooming standards, there is now a standard procedure in place for requesting religious exemptions:

REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTIONS TO GROOMING REGULATIONS BASED UPON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WILL BE FORWARDED VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO DC M&RA FOR DECISION, USING THE NAVMC 10274 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION (AA) FORM.

Finally, there will now be an established group to review both apparel and grooming requests. This is probably the best news out of all of this. In the past, many folks had to “reinvent the wheel” each and every time a request was made.

DC M&RA WILL CONVENE A STANDING BOARD TO REVIEW REQUESTS FOR WEAR OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL OR EXCEPTIONS TO GROOMING REGULATIONS BASED UPON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

See the MARADMIN for the full text.