For Spc. Harpal Singh, it was a life-time dream to serve in the Army. However, his religious beliefs could have kept him from serving.
Singh is a devout Sikh who follows the religions five articles of faith, or 5K's, of keeping unshorn hair and beard (Kes), wearing a knife (Kirpan) and metal bracelet (Kara), keeping a wooden comb (Kangha), and wearing special garments (Kachhera).
The Army recently granted him and other Sikh Soldiers exemptions to the Army's wear and appearance regulation, AR 670-1.
Basic Combat Training "is going excellent," he said during a break in training at Fort Jackson's Confidence Course. "I am privileged to be here."
"It has always been a dream of mine to be in the Army," he said flashing a bright smile. "I have tried
for the last five years to get into the Army and to get a waiver."
The Army granted many waivers for Sikh Soldiers in the past few years. Recently, Singh and two other Soldiers were given a waiver.
In 2010, the first Soldier since 1984 to receive a waiver of this kind walked in formation
at Hilton Field carrying his company's guidon during his basic training graduation.
The 34-year-old from San Francisco has excelled so far in his Army career. Only a few weeks into BCT, and he has shot expert on the rifle range and is close to scoring a 300 on the Army Physical Fitness Test.
"I have to improve my form in my push-ups, I hit the max but some didn't count," he said.
Even though he is originally from Punjab, India where it is very warm, South Carolina humidity is tough on him because he lived in the San Francisco Bay area where it is very dry. He said the humidity has affected his form and he needs to work through it.
Singh's drill sergeants call the 34-year-old a model Soldier.
Staff Sgt. Gregory Lenksi, a drill sergeant with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, said, "He's been an outstanding Soldier ever since we've had him. As far as being a drill sergeant for him, it's been good having him. He is a leader within the platoon and he has maintained high PT average and a good weapons qualification."
The accommodations the Army has given Singh is pretty basic, Lenski said.
"He gets an exception to AR-670-1 as far as his uniform and how he maintains his faith," the drill sergeant with 2nd Platoon said. "He wears a black turban during PT hours and an OCP camouflaged
turban when in duty uniform. He is allowed a beard and longer hair."
There is no particular length his beard can be, but it does have to appear neat and orderly.
Singh said he didn't see himself being treated differently from any other Soldiers.
"I usually get a questions like, why do I have a beard and what's my faith," he said minutes after going through the Slide to Victory at the Confidence Course. "Once I explain to them it turns into a positive experience and a positive reaction. They are very accepting."
The turban itself represents a symbol of equality because centuries ago there was a caste system and the turban is a symbol of pride and equality.
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion whose members are "supposed to help others and supposed to fight for others who can't defend themselves. We fight for justice. We are also supposed to share the
food and cannot have it."
The cadre was thoroughly trained before Singh arrived.
"We were prepared before he even made it to Charlie Company," Lenski said. "We had his information and the exception to policy memo given out by the TRADOC commander and it hasn't been an issue."
His life with other members in his platoon, "is normal, they don't treat him any different," said Staff Sgt. Oscar Galdamez, another of Singh's drill sergeants for his platoon. "It's like us, we don't treat
him any different. He is a Soldier, he's a basic entry Soldier and we treat him the same way as every other Soldier."
Another Sikh Soldier is going through Basic Combat Training's Red Phase.
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