Graduations are a great reminder of why the Ascent team do what we do! Congratulations to all our UKMFTS trainees who are graduating this summer, including those on Courses 310-28 and 310-29 from the Texan Basic Fast Jet Training Programme at RAF Valley.
Reviewing Officer, Air Vice-Marshal Ian Sharrocks, Air Officer Commanding 22 Group said: “These graduates have shown the skill, resilience and determination needed to succeed in military aviation. They represent the very best of our future fighting capability and the next generation of combat aircrew who will defend the UK and its interests.”
Graduates include Flt Lt Arshdeep Singh Dang, the first Sikh trainee to graduate on the Texan aircraft at 4FTS under UKMFTS and the first Sikh to be awarded RAF wings since WWII.
He told the Indian Express: “It was my paternal grandfather Sardar Santokh Singh Dang’s dream that my father should be a pilot. But my grandfather died when my father was just 6. So my father never really had those opportunities or resources to fulfil his wish. My parents encouraged me, and I started to believe that I could be a pilot. And it happened….I want my success to inspire others.”
