F 1 CONTRACTING WITH INDIVIDUAL SAUDI BUSINESSMAN

File: 970430_sep96_decls13_0003.txt
Page: 0003
Total Pages: 13

Subject = F 1 CONTRACTING WITH INDIVIDUAL SAUDI BUSINESSMAN               

Parent Organization = ARCENT      

Unit = VII CORPS   

Folder Title = SUPPLY BY CLASS                                                                                 

Document Number =          2

Box ID = BX000285









                       COURT

                SUE: Most Americans   do not have a good  understanding of
                                              S'ies and the religious
          the Saudi/Arabic customs and courte'
          practices of Muslims that impact their lives while assigned  in
          the Middle East. Consequently, problems of dress, vehicle
          operation, and religion sometimes occurred.

          b. DISCUSSION: Thexe were a number on incidents involving US
                                                                em
          military personnel being improperly dressed  (mostly f ales)
          outside military compounds. ARCENT was slow to get the word    out
          on uniform standards and units were slow to enforce the
          standards. Secondly, in Saudi Arabia, women   are not allowed  to
          drive automobiles. The U.S. Government received a waiver to
          allow female soldiers to drive tactical vehicles which overcame
          this,saudi prohibition. However, non-tactical vehicles (NTV
          civilian vehicles used by the Army in addition to tactical
          vehicles) could not be driven by females under the same waiver.
          As with the uniform policy, this was not strongly enforced by
          some units. Finally, during the holy Muslim season, the
          opportunity for Muslim service members to participate in the
          ,pilgrimage to Mecca'or Medina (Hajj) became available. one of
          the five pillars of Islam is that every Muslim should make the
          pilgrimage to Mecca or Medina once in his or her lifetime. some
          soldiers were not allowed to go because critical missions were in
          progress. Each refusal literally required justification to 22
          SUPCOX IG and host nation. The Corps understood that the
          commander had the authority to refuse participation based on the
          criticality of the mission. It was later understood that   the
          theater policy was that all soldiers who could prove their Muslim
          faith could participate in the Hajj. No written policy to this
          effect was ever produced.

          c. RECOMMENDATION:

               1) Initial newcomer's orientation should include a section
          on Arab customs/courtesies and religion.

               2) Uniform policies need to'be published and enforced. The
          chain of command needs to 'monitor soldiers departing US military
          compounds for uniform violations, vehicle-aispatching, driver
          licensing, and authority to drive.

               3) Policies impacting religious practices in a fore
                                                                   xgn
          country need to be published and enforced. If it is the intent
          of the commander that every Muslim soldier be allowed to
          participate in the HAJU, then the theater should publish this
          guidance clearly, and concisely, and well in advance.

          d. POC: SSG Mohammed Bouardi, G5 - NCOIC, at COM 099-663   .865-
          06021 Ext. 3345.
          2D COSCOM POC (Germany) CPT Peebles, ACofS SPO, ETS 4216-560.

Document 13 f:/Week-60/BX000285/SUPPLY BY CLASS/f 1 contracting with individual saudi businessman:04189716375624
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-60
Box ID = BX000285
Unit = VII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = SUPPLY BY CLASS
Folder Seq # = 7
Subject = F 1 CONTRACTING WITH INDIVIDUAL SAUDI BUSINESSMAN
Doc Seq # = 2
Doc Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification =
SAGWI Request = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 18-APR-1997