Chirag Veer Singh Sarao has become the first ‘keshdhari’ Sikh-American to join the US Air Force Academy.The achievement has drawn attention because the academy, located in Colorado Springs, provides undergraduate education combined with military and leadership training, with graduates commissioned as second lieutenants in the US Air Force or the US Space Force.Who is Chirag Veer Singh SaraoSarao is a Sikh-American of Punjabi heritage whose family traces its roots to Punjab. Rooted in deep Sikh values, he attributes his discipline and identity to his formative years training at the Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar, Punjab.He has become the first Sikh American to earn admission to the US Air Force Academy while maintaining his unshorn hair (kesh) and beard. A ‘keshdhari’ Sikh maintains unshorn hair and beard as articles of faith.Sarao was appointed to the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) on April 4 and received the ‘religious accommodation’ on June 20 to serve with his articles of faith and remain grounded in his core identity, the Council said.He officially joined the USAF Academy on June 24, on In-Processing Day (I-Day) and is currently undergoing six weeks of boot camp.Before joining the USAF Academy, Saroa also received full scholarships from both the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and the Naval ROTC. He was also accepted into the University of Southern California and the University of Washington. (With inputs from PTI)