US defense secretary Pete Hegseth (Pic credit: AP)

Sikh minorities in the US military voiced strong objections to defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement mandating stricter grooming standards, including a ban on beards, long hair, and other personal expressions. “The Sikh Coalition, a group that has advocated for Sikhs in the military who want to wear visible signs of their faith, has issued a statement saying it is ‘angered and deeply concerned’ about Hegseth’s comments about grooming standards,” the organisation said.This comes after Pete Hegseth gave directives on fitness and ‘woke culture’ while addressing top militray officials in Quantico, Virginia on Tuesday. Hegseth said, “ No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression. We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards”. Hegseth also criticised physical fitness and grooming policies, environmental standards, and the presence of transgender troops, stressing that he and President Donald Trump were focused on restoring “the warrior ethos” and achieving “peace through strength.” Vice President JD Vance defended Hegseth’s speech on Wednesday, saying the measure was aimed at returning the military to “very high standards” while taking a jab at the Biden administration. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Vance shared a personal interjection from days when he served as a Marine Corps veteran. “When I was a young United States Marine, I did not have a beard. I am now the vice president, so I get to do what I want to do,” Vance added. “But, I think Pete’s trying to implement high standards, and that’s a very good thing.” Hegseth’s announcement came during a period of significant restructuring in the Trump administration. He led efforts to cut the number of four-star officers by at least 20% and oversaw the removal of several top-ranking officials, including former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and Gen. James Slife.