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Lamba is thrilled. "I'm a proud US army soldier today. There's nothing about my beard and hair that bars me from doing anything any other soldier would do," Lamba told TOI over phone from the US.
Lamba's enlistment in 2009, had triggered a nine-month review in which army officials pondered over if he could serve while sporting a turban, uncut hair and a beard.
In the same year, two Sikh officers, a doctor and a dentist, were allowed to serve in the Army while wearing a beard, unshorn hair and a turban, inspiring him to apply to a combative rank profile. US army policies since 1984 had prevented Sikhs from enlisting in the soldier rank.
But Lamba requested the Army to allow him to keep his articles of faith. He was then recruited under the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest recruiting program.
During his training, Lamba wore a turban, that was patterned on army combat uniform, instead of the regular patrol cap.