ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani cadet Shahrukh Khan has become the only one from the country to graduate from the prestigious US Air Force Academy in 2021.
The US Embassy in Islamabad has congratulated Shahrukh Khan on his achievement. “Congratulations to Flying Officer Shahrukh Khan on becoming the only Pakistani cadet to graduate from the US Air Force Academy, 2021,” wrote the US Embassy in a message on Twitter.
The embassy said Khan, who hails from Lahore, was accepted into the academy in 2017 at the age of 19 and underwent four years of “rigorous academic and military training”.
A picture of Shahrukh waving the Pakistani flag high at his graduation ceremony has been circulating on social media.
Congratulations to Flying officer Shahrukh Khan on becoming the only Pakistani cadet to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy @AirForceGrads in 2021. Khan was accepted into USAFA in 2017 for four years of rigorous academic and military training.
Photo: Global Village Space pic.twitter.com/PaWRSrwVYO— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) June 12, 2021
At the time of Shahrukh’s departure in 2017, Pakistan had one student enrolled in the United States Naval Academy, three in the United States Air Force Academy, and four in the United States Military Academy.
Before departing for the programme, Shahrukh had said: “I’m excited to go, to learn about the world and people and their different backgrounds.” He had planned to study engineering at the academy.
“From a military standpoint, it will be a chance for me to excel. I learned a lot in Pakistan. The US Air Force Academy will teach me new and different things,” he said.
Shahrukh was among 12 students nominated by the Pakistani military to compete in the Service Academy Foreign Student program.
Under this program, nations nominate outstanding young men and women for the opportunity to compete for admission to the prestigious US military academies.
Pakistan is one of only 12 countries designated by the United States Secretary Defense as a priority appointment country.
Before selection, Shahrukh and the other cadets had completed the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) and interview portions of their applications at the US Embassy in Islamabad.
