A third year student at the University of Iowa’s dreams are coming true. Sharon Burke had always wanted to be a fighter pilot, but because of his Sikh faith, he was concerned that he would need to choose faith over his dream career. Thanks for the help of the University of Iowa’s Air Force ROTC Detachment. 255 Burke became the first Sikh cadet in the country’s history. They will now be allowed to wear turbans, beards and bracelets. Religious symbols of faith. But all I knew was that it was going to be a change-making process. So but I really didn’t feel like it didn’t feel like an obstacle because, you know, everyone around me was really supportive and supportive. So it was a really, really easy process, me. Burke said, throughout the process of becoming a cadet
University of Iowa student becomes first Sikh Air Force cadet in US history
Updated: 4:26PM CDT Sep 18, 2022
Gursharan Virk always wanted to become a fighter pilot. But because of his Sikh faith, he was concerned that he would need to choose faith over his dream career. With the help of Air Force ROTC Detachment 255 of the University of Iowa, Virk became the first Sikh cadet in the country’s history. They will be allowed to keep their beards and wear traditional religious symbols of their faith – turbans and bracelets. “But I just knew it would be a process, you know, to make a change. But… it happened, ‘Don’t feel any inhibitions, because, you know, my surroundings’,” Virk said. Everyone was really helpful and helpful. So it was actually a very smooth process for me.’ Virk said the process of becoming a cadet took about 8 to 9 months in total.
Gursharan Virk always wanted to become a fighter pilot. But because of his Sikh faith, he was concerned that he would need to choose faith over his dream career.
With the help of Air Force ROTC Detachment 255 of the University of Iowa, Virk became the first Sikh cadet in the country’s history.
They would be allowed to keep their beards and wear traditional religious symbols of their faith – turbans and bracelets.
“But I knew it was going to be a process of, you know, to make a change. But … it didn’t feel like an obstacle, because, you know, everyone around me was really supportive. And it was helpful. So it was actually a very smooth process for me,” Virk said.
Virk said the process of becoming a cadet took about 8 to 9 months in total.
