Soldier comes from long line of Sikh warriors


As the first member of the Canadian Air Force to wear a turban, 2nd Lieut. Jasbir Singh Tatla figures he's a good role model to issue a call to arms to his fellow Sikhs.

And if you want to honour the Sikh tradition of being warriors, Tatla said, don't get involved in gangs and criminal activity. Instead, sign up with the Canadian Forces, where you can make a real difference and fight -- for your country.

"It's a great honour to be the first member of the Air Force to wear a turban," said Tatla, 35, of Surrey. "It is something that is hard to express in words, but it gives me a chance to set an example for my community....

"My whole family background is army," said Tatla, who is married with two sons, aged three and eight. "So it was a natural thing for me to do." [Link]