On Monday 29th December, Imam Asim Hafiz, the Chief of Defence Staff’s (CDS) Cultural Advisor visited RAF Brize Norton with a group of senior Muslim leaders, as part of a career insight event.
The event was organised to promote the Royal Air Force and the world-leading training it offers to its employees, in over 50 different careers paths; the RAF has long recognised the pivotal importance of a truly diverse workforce. The unique skills and values, which diverse individuals bring to the RAF, are an essential facet of everyday business and underpin all that is achieved. Whether at home supporting our communities or overseas on Operations, we know that the RAF’s true strength lies in the diversity of the people.
The visitors were given a tour around the Station to see many of the career paths available in the RAF, and Station personnel were able to talk about their own experiences. It was also important to show the Service lifestyle, while the tour took the guests to see the accommodation, the messes and to discover how different faiths are supported at the Chaplaincy Centre.
“This has been an amazing visit and a great opportunity to build bridges between the Royal Air Force and the Muslim communities especially locally here in Oxford. We have had a chance to learn about life in the air force and which we often we see in the media and we don’t really know how members of the military live, so today shows us the many careers and jobs available and how people from different faiths and cultures are looked after. It has been fascinating to see the accommodation and facilities on Station. Today we will challenge the misconceptions, both about the Royal Air Force but an opportunity for the Royal Air Force to learn about the Muslim community. It has been amazing to learn about the recent evacuations from Afghanistan as part of Op PITTING and how the Royal Air Force became involved in rescuing 15000 people and honouring those people who served with the Armed Forces during those years of war.”
Imam Asim Hafiz
Islam Religious Advisor to the
Armed Forces and the MOD
“I am here today bringing key community leaders from the Muslim community in Oxfordshire to come and visit RAF Brize Norton. I think RAF Brize Norton is an amazing place and I really want to build strong relationships between the Station and key communities in Oxfordshire and hopefully encourage young people to join.”
Imam Monawar Hussein
The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire
