'He is a Soldier'

For Spc. (Specialist) 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 gar- ments (Kachhcra).

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 affectcd 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.

It has always been a dream of mine to be in the Army. I have tried for the last five years to get into the Army and to get a waiver.
— Spc. Harpal Singh

Photo by ROBERT TIMMONS Spc. Harpal Singh, with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, helps move his platoon’s water hydration carriers during training at the Fort Jackson Confidence Course. Singh and another Soldier going through training with a different company, were recently granted waivers to Army Regulation 670-1 so they can wear articles of their faith including beards and turbans.