For the first time in its history, British Air Force, a Sikh and a Muslim “Clerics” have become part of the Royal Air Force Chaplain’s Branch.
Flight Lieutenant Mandeep Kaur, who grew up in Punjab, becomes the first Sikh chaplain and Kenya-born Flight Lieutenant Ali Omar becomes the first Muslim chaplain. Kaur was selected as a chaplain while studying in the UK for her doctorate in engineering and has been working towards this role since 2005.
The two padres, as they are officially referred to, graduated at Royal Air Force (RAF) College Cranwell, RAF’s training and education academy, after completing reservist officer training.
“Padres provide spiritual and welfare support to all soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, and their families. They deploy on operations and aboard ships when they go on long deployments,” the defense ministry official said.”Padres can also go out on patrols and live on the front line, on hand for when personnel needs them,” it notes.
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