RAF CHAPLAINCY
Sikh chaplain Mandeep Kaur at Reserve Officer Initial Training, Cranwell.
For the first two weekends on SOIT we had to remain on station. It was a privilege to encourage those on the course to come along to the Sunday chapel service led by the Padres. Whether out of curiosity or the lure of chocolate hob nobs, I’ m not sure, but 10 other Officer Cadets came along the first Sunday.
An important aspect of the Military Skills Module was learning how to disassemble, clean, reassemble and accurately fire the L85 rifle. Thankfully as Padres we don’ t have to undergo this stressful 2 weeks of the course. Instead, we accompany the existing chaplaincy team at Cranwell, learning from their vast experience and insights over many years in the role.
After successfully completing the Military Skills Module phase of SOIT we progressed on to the second six weeks of the course. This consisted of classroom lessons and many, many hours of evening online learning about topics such as command, leadership and management, air and space power and defence writing. The culmination of our leadership skills and accumulated learning was assessed on numerous practical command exercises, designed to test our ability to lead and function under pressure.
Other than the initial 2 weeks, on other weekends I was able to return home and spend time with my family. The accurate mantra for life on SOIT is‘ long days and fast weeks’ and it seemed to me that no sooner had I started, I had come to the end of the course. The final week was spent in drill practice for the graduation parade. For some reason, certainly not my marching skills, I was given the honour of being the colour officer for the graduation ceremony, the first Padre in the history of the RAF to be granted this privilege. As if the pressure of marching in front of all the other graduating Officer Cadets, the Flight Staff, our family and friends wasn’ t high enough already.
Reflecting on my time at SOIT, despite the initial shock of capture in the first few days and me wondering to myself, while running around a cold and muddy field in full battle gear, what on earth am I doing here and why did I think this was a good idea?’, I soon realised the wonderful and unexpected opportunities that lay before me. I lost count of
16 the number of times I was asked by staff and Officer Cadets, why I was a Christian or why I had become a Padre. Over my 12 weeks on SOIT I had more opportunities to share my faith and how God calls and directs us, than in the past 3 years in church-based ministry. One time in particular sticks in my mind, when a young Jamaican Officer Cadet and I were wearing marigolds and scrubbing the block toilets at midnight ready for inspection the next morning. With him in one cubicle and me in another, toilet brushes in hand, he asked me how I knew Jesus personally and how had God led me to be a Padre in the RAF. Thank you God for unexpected gospel conversations in unexpected places!
Graduation Day Cranwell.