religious representatives may also take on the role of dealing informally with complaints, or social or welfare issues affecting members of the armed forces. In nearly all countries, they also advise and assist leaders of the armed forces on matters concerning plans, policies, and doctrine that affect the religious, ethical, and moral well-being of armed forces personnel. Practice varies between countries (and indeed different services within countries) over whether religious representatives such as chaplains have a military rank. In a clear majority of states responding to the ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire, some account was taken of special needs related to the practice of religion (food requirements, clothing, religious holidays, external signs of religious faith/affiliation).188 In relatively few cases, however, did states describe any active measures taken to facilitate religious practices by members of the armed forces. Examples that were given were the provision of rooms for worship or prayer in military units (Azerbaijan and France); the assignment of chaplains or spiritual counsellors to military units (Belgium, Ireland, and Spain) and facilities for religious organizations to make these arrangements independently (Slovakia); the availability of food to meet religious dietary requirements (France and Norway); the possibility to observe religious holy days (Belgium, Denmark, and France); and consideration of the need to observe special traditions with regard to external signs (such as turbans for Sikhs) (Norway). 189 Box 11.7 Religious Dress in the Armed Forces: The UK Approach189 “All Service personnel are required to wear standard pattern uniforms and adhere to Service clothing policy and instructions. However, the Armed Forces recognise the need to observe specific codes of dress in accordance with particular religious beliefs. For operational and health and safety reasons, members of the Armed Forces may have to be flexible in some circumstances.” Sikhs are permitted to wear the 5Ks: Kara (steel bangle), Kesh (uncut hair), Kanga (small comb), Kaccha (special-design knee-length underwear), and Kirpan (small sword); male Sikhs can also wear a turban. However, some constraints on the wearing of a turban exist: especially in operational circumstances (for example, commander’s helmets in armoured fighting vehicles, combat helmets, breathing apparatus (full hood) for firefighters, and flying helmets for aircrew in some types of aircraft). Muslim and Sikh Men Muslim and Sikh men are permitted to wear short, neatly trimmed beards. However, for occupational or operational reasons, where a hazard clearly exists, personnel authorized to wear beards on religious grounds will have to be prepared to modify or remove their beards to such an extent as to enable the correct wearing of a respirator or breathing apparatus. Muslim Women Muslim women are allowed to wear uniform trousers, rather than a skirt, and may wear a hijab except when operational or health and safety considerations dictate otherwise. Jewish Men A male member of the Jewish faith may wear a dark plain or patterned yarmulke whenever he removes other headdress. Ministries of defence can also make a positive contribution to promoting increased understanding in the armed forces of diverse religious practices and to avoiding religious discrimination. Valuable guides have been produced for the benefit of army personnel, 188  ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire, question 71.c. 189  Guide on Religion and Belief in the MOD and Armed Forces, UK Ministry of Defence, 2006. 95 Handbook on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel