
- Narang always had military service in her blood, having a grandfather who served in the Indian Army.
- After a visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in junior high school, she was further inspired to serve in the military.
- She applied to West Point to study nuclear engineering, hoping to pursue a career in air defense systems.
- On Saturday, she graduated with 1,106 others at the Plain Parade Field — keeping a social distance of 6 feet instead of congregating at Michie Stadium, where the graduation ceremony is traditionally held.
- She is now set to complete her Basic Officer Leadership Course in Oklahoma before heading to her first post in Okinawa, Japan next year.
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- The Army and Air Force are the only military branches that do not prohibit members from serving with turbans and unshorn hair/beard, which happen to be articles of faith for Sikhs.
- As an observant Sikh, Narang follows religious practices at all times, including allowing her hair to grow without cutting it (known as “kesh”).
- Such practice would not be possible prior to 2017, the year the Army changed its rules regarding religious liberties.
- In 1987, Congress passed legislation preventing Sikhs and other religious groups from observing certain practices while in service.
- The first Sikh cadet to graduate from the academy is Simratpal Singh, who had to cut his hair short and keep his beard shorn during his studies.

- Narang is one of about 230 women in the graduating class, which was 9% Asian. Despite being a minority (Asian/Sikh) within a minority (women), she never felt isolated on campus.
- “It’s an incredible feeling,” she told CNN about her graduation. “It’s a humbling experience, I have never worked harder for anything in my life.”
- She added: “Being a Sikh woman is a very important part of my identity and if my experience can play a small role in being an inspiration for others, regardless of career field, that will be wonderful.”
- Katie Felder, a West Point spokeswoman, said that diversity “must never be an afterthought,” according to The New York Times.
- “It must be a thoughtful and purposeful approach to ensure that we get the talent and the right mix of talent that will represent the nation we are sworn to defend,” Felder said.