US Air Force Officer Receives Approval to Wear Hijab While on Duty

Maysaa Ouza became the first U.S. Air Force JAG officer to Wear Hijab

Ouza, 29, grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, to Lebanese parents, and she proudly wears a hijab. Her parents migrated from Lebanon to Michigan in the early 1980s, with only 'clothes on their backs. When she first joined the army, she didn't see any other Muslim woman wearing the hijab in uniform.

Ouza had to fight for her religious clothing in the Air Force, as it required approval through a process of religious adaptation.

"I wanted to join because I wanted to protect and defend the liberties of this country, but ironically it felt like my religious freedom had been stripped," she said. “So I called my mentor, and with her advice, we asked to represent the ACLU and Hammoud and Dakhlallah Legal Group.”

After spending much effort on the matter, the Air Force not only gave Ouza religious conditioning but changed its entire policy. "They have changed their policy to allow pre-joining of religious residency applications," she said.

This means that army personnel could apply and obtaining religious accommodation immediately.