Page 8 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 61

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

channels, she combines her love of
cooking, healthy food with some serious
workouts and her posts and vlogs are all
intended to inspire others to eat health-
ily, to exercise and to look after their
bodies. She says: “Fitness became a main
priority for me. I wanted to be physically
and mentally strong and I have worked
at it ever since. My messaging on social
media, is also about putting across the
right perceptions about us as soldiers.
If we look fit and healthy, we present
a good, the right, image of ourselves. If
I can inspire only 10 people from the
thousands that follow me, to make a
positive life change, then I think I have
done something good.”
Sgt Kaur during the Defence Sikh Network’s visit to India While deployed in South Sudan
and Pakistan
Sgt Kaur participated in the Indian
Covid. I was inspired by Captain Sir Independence Day celebration run with
Tom Moore and I ran a full marathon over 200 other runners and was the first
around the garden of my quarter in six placed female medal winner. On Op
hours 15 minutes.” CABRIT Sgt Kaur took part in Estonian The CO of 1 Royal Welsh worte Sgt Kaur’s MBE
During a deployment with the Royal Scouts Battalion march over 30km carry-
Sgt Kaur reflects on one of her other
Welsh battlegroup on Op CABRIT in ing 15kg and completed it in 4 hours 26
career highlights to date. She explains:
June 2022, Sgt Kaur promoted for a third minutes. She adds: “I am very competi-
“I felt truly blessed to be selected to visit
time and in October 2022 was posted as tive with myself and always push hard.
to India and Pakistan with the Defence
a Sergeant Instructor to Food Services In Estonia to get a medal in the Scouts
Sikh Network. It was a dream come
Training Wing. On 14th December, March you must complete in under 4
true, to visit all the holy places. On 12
while working out in the Worthy Down hours 30, so I just dug in and did it.”
September 1897, 21 Sikh soldiers
gym, she was called by the CO FSTW, In terms of family matters Sgt Kaur
fought to the last man at the Battle of
Commander Tom Shaves RN, who is a single mother and she says she has
Saragarhi defending a military outpost
asked her to come to his office. He told been able to achieve her army career and
against 10,000 Afghans. It is one of the
her to sit down and asked if she knew personal goals, thanks to incredible help
greatest stories of sacrifice and is hugely
why she was there. Thinking something and support from the Army throughout
significant for Sikhs. We visited the site
terrible had happened she says she broke her service and from her extended fam-
of the battle to pay our respect to the
down in tears of joy as he broke the news ily. When deployed, or at busy times, her
fallen soldiers.
that she would be awarded an MBE in son’s paternal grandparents look after
“So, it has been an incredible journey
The King’s New Year’s Honours list him and while she has found it tough
for me so far, and I owe so much to the
2023. “I couldn’t believe it,” she says, not seeing him for long periods, now
Army and the people I have served with,”
“once I had calmed down, he explained she is instructing at FSTW she can
she concludes. “And it’s far from over!
that it was recognition for all my hard look forward a period of family stabil-
While I have never served in an RLC
work since Covid kicked off, my charity ity. She also has a brother in the Army.
unit, my loyalty is 100% to the Corps.
fund raising, the work I have done to Guardsman Harwinder Singh Bhopal,
When I left Phase 2 training, I wanted
promote the Army, diversity and inclu- is currently serving with the Scots
to serve with the combat arms, but now
sion and my work within the Defence Guards in Catterick.
I am at the level I am, an opportunity
Sikh Network, all while delivering the
Like mother, like son might arise to serve in an RLC unit in
desired outputs of my day job.”
the future. My personal career plan from
Sgt Kaur’s previous CO (Col Rupert
now is to keep pushing myself as hard,
Streatfield) at the Royal Welsh wrote her
and for as long, as I can and I would love
citation in recognition of dedication and
to return to ATR Pirbright as the RSM.
achievements and she says the Battalion,
My ultimate ambition is to be selected
her CO and her chain of command sup-
for a Late Entry Commission. But only
ported her at every step and she makes
God knows the future, so let’s see what
special mention of her immediate boss
he has in store for me.”
at the Unit, WO2 Lawrence (RLC).
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru
While in Phase 2 training, Sgt Kaur
Ji Ki Fateh.
discovered her passion for personal
fitness. For the growing number of Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!
followers of her numerous social media (“Whoever utters, shall be fulfilled”)
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