Chirag Veer Singh Sarao becomes first keshdhari Sikh-American to join US Air Force Academy
Sarao is a Sikh-American of Punjabi origin whose family has roots in Punjab. He says his strong Sikh values, discipline, and identity were shaped during his education at Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar.
PTC News Desk: Chirag Veer Singh Sarao has made history by becoming the first keshdhari Sikh-American to join the US Air Force Academy. The academy in Colorado Springs trains future military officers, and its graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants in the US Air Force or the US Space Force.
Who is Chirag Veer Singh Sarao?
Sarao is a Sikh-American of Punjabi origin whose family has roots in Punjab. He says his strong Sikh values, discipline, and identity were shaped during his education at Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar.
He is the first Sikh-American to gain admission to the US Air Force Academy while keeping his unshorn hair (kesh) and beard, which are articles of faith in Sikhism.
Sarao was appointed to the academy on April 4 and received official religious accommodation on June 20, allowing him to serve while wearing his Sikh articles of faith. He officially joined the academy on June 24, known as In-Processing Day (I-Day), and is currently undergoing six weeks of basic military training.
Before choosing the US Air Force Academy, Sarao also earned full scholarships from both the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and the Naval ROTC. He had also secured admission to the University of Southern California and the University of Washington.