Back in 1988, the Army proposed a new regulation for Jewish personnel. We could wear a Yarmulke under our headgear (cap, helmet, whatever) when armed or not. We could wear it while indoors too. At the time, I worked at HQ, Sixth US Army, Deputy Chief of Staff, Training (DCST), located at the Presidio of San Francisco. I was the DCST admin Sergeant. The DCST Sergeant Major almost popped a blood vessel when he heard about this new rule. The Assistant DCST was also concerned. So they called me into the ADCST’s office and asked me if I was going to wear my Yarmulke (Yiddish for cap). I told them I would wear my Kippah (Hebrew for dome or skullcap) instead, if they did not want me to wear my Yarmulke.
The SGM looked very pleased with my response. However, the ADCST knew me better. He asked me what means Kippah? I explained to them Kippah means skullcap. Suddenly the SGM lost his smirk. The ADCST asked me not to wear the Kippah or Yarmulke when in the office, because they were afraid of …? (Don’t remember what they were afraid of.)
After much discussion, we agreed I could wear my military headgear in the office rather than my Kippah or Yarmulke. Previously there were a lot loud discussions about me wearing my headgear indoors.
Later the ADCST asked me why I wanted to wear a Yarmulke or my army headgear indoors. I explained that in my family, wearing an everyday hat or cap was the same as wearing a Yarmulke. Covering our head reminds us that there is a Heaven above and we are not Number 1! Furthermore, covering your head is a sign of respect.
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