In a first for the Royal Air Force and the British Military, a Sikh padre have joined the Royal Air Force’s Chaplain branch.
Flight Lieutenant Mandeep Kaur, the first Sikh padre, grew up in the Punjab region of India and was chosen to be a chaplain when she was studying for her engineering doctorate in the UK.
Mandeep graduated at RAF College Cranwell on Thursday, after completing their reservist officer training.
Mandeep will now be tasked with providing spiritual and welfare support to soldiers, airmen and women, and their families. That might involve deployments aboard ships, going out on patrols or living on the frontline, to be on hand for when personnel need them.
The appointments come after the Ministry of Defence recently launched a new diversity strategy for more inclusion across the armed forces.
Sikh Chaplain, Reverend (Flight Lieutenant) Mandeep Kaur was one out of a total five Chaplains to graduate alongside one hundred and forty other Officer Cadets commissioning into a variety of branches following Regular and Reserve Officer training.
“It has been a wonderful joy to welcome five new Chaplains today, representing the diversity of British society into the Royal Air Force Chaplains’ Branch and to celebrate with them and their families. It has been an absolute privilege to welcome our first Sikh and Muslim commissioned Chaplains into the Royal Air Force and I look forward immensely to working with them into the future”
The RAF Chaplain-In-Chief
The Venerable (Air-Vice Marshal) John Ellis
The Chaplains were marched onto the parade square in front of VIP guests, including the Chaplain-In-Chief, the Venerable (Air-Vice Marshal) John Ellis, as well as their families and friends. They stood on parade alongside their fellow Officer Cadets to be inspected by the two-star rank Reviewing Officer, Air-Vice Marshal Bruce Hedley.
Following the graduation from RAF College Cranwell they will assume the pastoral role and duties of an RAF Chaplain and a commissioned Officer. This will lead them onto providing spiritual, pastoral and ethical support to RAF personnel wherever they go, including deployed Operations.