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Chirag Sarao becomes first Sikh American at U.S. Air Force Academy
Cadet receives religious accommodation to serve while maintaining his Sikh articles of faith.
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Ankita Baidya - Sat, 11, Jul 2026
- 02:20 EDT
- 28
Chirag Veer Singh Sarao has joined the U.S. Air Force Academy as its first keshdhari Sikh American cadet. / americansikhcouncil.org
Chirag Veer Singh Sarao has become the first keshdhari Sikh American to join the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), according to the American Sikh Council (ASC).
Sarao was appointed to the academy on April 4 and received a religious accommodation on June 20 allowing him to serve while maintaining his Sikh articles of faith, including unshorn hair, the organization said. He officially entered the academy on June 24, known as In-Processing Day (I-Day), and is currently completing the six-week basic cadet training program, according to ASC.
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The American Sikh Council said Sarao was also awarded full scholarships through both the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and Naval ROTC programs. He had additionally been accepted to the University of Southern California and the University of Washington before deciding to attend the Air Force Academy.
According to ASC, Sarao was mentored throughout high school by Kavneet Singh, the organization's representative and an honorary recruiter for the U.S. Air Force Academy. The council said Singh worked with Sarao during the academy application process and helped guide him toward a military career.
ASC described Sarao as a strong student with a broad range of academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments. The organization said he earned a competitive SAT score, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and holds a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo. He also competed on his school's varsity water polo team.
Outside the classroom, Sarao participated in cycling, skiing, hiking, backpacking and fly-fishing, according to ASC. He also volunteered at his local gurdwara, where he taught Sikhi to younger children.
The organization said Sarao served for two years as president of his Venture Crew, leading outdoor expeditions that included hiking, rafting and snowshoeing trips. ASC said those experiences helped develop his leadership skills ahead of entering military service.
The United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, is one of the nation's five federal service academies. It provides undergraduate education combined with military and leadership training, with graduates commissioned as officers in the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Space Force.
ASC said it has worked with the U.S. Air Force on programs aimed at increasing awareness of military career opportunities within the Sikh American community.
Among those initiatives is the Flying Scholarship Program, launched in partnership with the U.S. Air Force in 2022. According to ASC, the three-week summer program provides leadership training and 15 hours of flight instruction for high school students. Each scholarship is valued at approximately $12,500, and one or two Sikh American students are selected annually from roughly 3,500 applicants competing for 72 available positions nationwide.
The council said Sarao's admission follows several years of engagement with military institutions to help Sikh Americans pursue service careers while maintaining their religious practices under approved accommodations.
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