SIG Louis Talbot, Sikh and soldier

A SIKH AND SOLDIER SIG LOUIS TALBOT

By Judith Martin

Integrating easily into the New Zealand Army as a baptized Sikh is all about communication and looking for opportunities to make things happen, says one of our newest soldiers, SIG Louis Talbot.

SIG Talbot was brought up on a crop farm near Temuka, South Canterbury and attended Christ’s College.

“I have always had a passion to join the military. Growing up I was always reading about New Zealand’s military history and wanted to serve. I like the Army’s involvement in providing peacekeeping and humanitarian aid along with its primary focus of training to fight. I also have a great love of outdoors and fitness and the Army’s reputation of having high fitness standards was another thing which motivated me to join.”

He is doing his initial corps training, learning fundamentals for being a signaler in a signals detachment. After his current course, he will train in the Electronic Warfare Squadron. As a Sikh, he wears a turban and has a beard. He keeps a small sword (kirpan) on him as well as the rest of the five “ks” traditional to baptized Sikhs – kashera, (shorts), kanga (comb), kara (iron or steel bangle) and kes (uncut hair).

“Initially at the start of my recruit course, I was told my kirpan would be taken off me as in the TAD standing orders, you are not allowed weapons in barracks, however I stated the importance of the kirpan, and my Commanding Officer approved it to be kept on me. If the five ks are not allowed, Sikhs that are gursikhs (baptized Sikhs) who follow this life style would not join the Army as it is important that we keep these things.” Sikhs traditionally wake early in the morning and recite prayers. “It is challenging on Basic training as you share a room with up to 10 other recruits. You are to wake up only when ordered and you have no personal light in your bed space and no phone to source your religious texts off, so you have to bring your own gutka sahib (collaboration of religious texts for Sikhs) and source your own small light. Basic training is fast-paced so finding time for prayers isn’t easy and has to be asked for by recruits to instructors daily, as you are always on the go from 0530–2200.”

SIG Talbot used the time in the morning when other male recruits were shaving to tie his dastaar or turban, and for other parts of his morning routine. The variety of work is one of the best parts about being in the Army, he says.

“Every day is different, from classroom training to outdoor practical tasks, to going for physical training with the regiment, each working day is enjoyable. The most challenging thing for me so far has to be the long days and nights on field exercises being the section gunner no.1, pack marching with great weight, something I had never done before, but pushed through. The army trains you well in building up your mental and physical strength to be able to perform better than you could think you could possibly do.”

“Every day is different, from classroom training to outdoor practical tasks, to going for physical training with the regiment, each working day is enjoyable.”