ANMOL NARANG, USMA CLASS OF 2020
Anmol Narang, Class of 2020, is the first observant Sikh to graduate from the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point breaking a 218 academy barrier.
Narang is a second-generation Indian immigrant and was inspired to serve by her grandfather who served in the Indian Army.
“With the exception of the Army and the Air Force, the military largely prohibits its members from serving with turbans, unshorn hair or unshorn beards — all of which are articles of faith for Sikhs. Even though Narang is the first observant of Sikh to graduate from the academy she is not the first Sikh. Simratpal Singh “cut his hair short and kept his beard shorn” while at the academy, in keeping with US military guidelines. Captain Singh was ultimately granted permission(2016) to serve while wearing a turban and a beard, a victory that paved the way for future Sikh service members to be granted religious exemptions.”
After graduation, Narang was stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan as an Air Defense Officer with the 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment. In August of 2020 she was awarded the Federally Employed Women’s Meritorious Service Award during the annual FEW virtual leadership conference for her “outstanding leadership.”
https://www.army.mil/article/249844/womens_equality_resonates_with_ground_breaking_officer
