{"id":16138,"date":"2018-11-14T19:33:42","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T19:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/11\/14\/here-are-the-armys-new-policies-on-religious-accommodations-sexual-assault-prevention-training\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:46:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:46:06","slug":"here-are-the-armys-new-policies-on-religious-accommodations-sexual-assault-prevention-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/11\/14\/here-are-the-armys-new-policies-on-religious-accommodations-sexual-assault-prevention-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Here are the Army\u2019s new policies on religious accommodations, sexual assault prevention training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Army\u2019s top leadership has been going through pretty much the entire organization with a fine-toothed comb this year, from a new fitness test<\/a> to a non-deployable policy<\/a>, and now they\u2019re rolling out some tweaks to the service\u2019s religious accommodation rules<\/a> and mandatory training for sexual assault and substance abuse prevention, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In two memos signed on Nov. 8, Army Secretary Mark Esper laid out new processes for allowing religious soldiers to wear distinguishing symbols, as well as refined guidelines for completing mandatory Sexual Harassment\/Assault Response and Prevention, Equal Opportunity, suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention and resilience training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe emphasis on leaders delivering quality training to soldiers on the topics contained in this directive must be on building readiness, not compliance,\u201d Esper wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A unit Sexual Assault Response Coordinator listens during the kickoff event for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., March 29, 2018. (Sgt. Uriah Walker\/Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since April, Esper has released 16 memos to reduce administrative burdens on leaders. In that same vein, these new policies are designed to flatten processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soldiers seeking to wear a hijab in uniform or grow a beard for religious reasons have, in the past, submitted a request for an exception to uniform policy to their brigade commanders, who then consulted with Army headquarters on whether to grant it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, that approval authority has been bumped to the general court-martial convening authority level, otherwise known as the lowest-ranking general officer responsible for the soldier\u2019s command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that level, that particular officer will have in-house access to experienced chaplains and Army attorneys to consult on the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\t