Sikh Cadets Successfully Complete US Military Training

NEW YORK CITY, USA—Cadets Arjan Singh Ghotra and Gurjiwan Singh Chahal for successfully completed their Cadet Basic Training at the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point on Saturday, August 19th.

After several weeks of grueling training, they are now officially “plebes” in West Point’s Class of 2021. With full religious accommodations, both Sikh Coalition clients are the first male Sikh soldiers to maintain their articles of faith in West Point’s 215-year history.

“This is the next groundbreaking step that shows our nation’s largest employer that Sikhs can accomplish anything when given the opportunity,” said Sikh Coalition Executive Director, Sapreet Kaur.

Since 2009, the Sikh Coalition and pro bono counsel, Amandeep Sidhu, with his team from the law firm McDermott Will & Emery, have led relentless advocacy efforts to end religious discrimination by our nation’s largest employer. Starting in 2014, Becket Law also partnered with the Sikh Coalition on two successful lawsuits against the Department of Defense on behalf of four Army clients.

In January 2017, the U.S. Army issued updated rules governing religious liberty that significantly improved the standards for Sikhs and other religious minorities who seek to serve their country with their religious articles of faith intact. According to the U.S. Army, this historic step forward has translated to at least 50 observant soldiers now serving.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here