At 18, Amir Khan had little direction in life and no clear career path. But joining the Royal Air Force turned out to be one of the most rewarding decisions he could have made—a choice that has taken him around the world and provided him with a wealth of extraordinary experiences.
Now, with 38 years of service under his belt, Amir has never looked back. As a Squadron Leader, he proudly wears his uniform and relishes a job far from the typical 9-to-5.
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Picture credit: Royal Air Force
“I never saw myself as a regular 9-5, I love the variety of our work,” he says. “You’re always on call, though that doesn’t mean you’re always called out. One day you might be working nights, the next, you’re in a completely different role. That variation is what has kept me going.”
Amir joined the RAF in 1986, starting as a Medic, and over the years, he’s worked his way through a variety of positions, including working within Military Primary Healthcare, Squadron Medic, which led him to support Operations worldwide, Medical Management, Instructor duties, a spell in recruitment and now Ethnic Minority Engagement.
His career has taken him to places as diverse as, Afghanistan, Central America, Germany, Norway, Bosnia, Hong Kong during his Aeromedical Evacuation tour, and many more.
Through his time in the RAF, Amir has earned his Diploma in Medical and Practice Management, BA(Hons) a Master’s Degree and completed numerous leadership and management qualifications. He credits the organisation for transforming his life and guiding him onto a purposeful path he never expected.
Back at 18, Amir had no clear idea what to do with his future. His older brother was headed to Middlesex and Oxford, and his younger one was destined to be a lawyer but university never appealed to him. Instead, he considered becoming a lorry driver, drawn by the freedom of the open road.
“We had an uncle who was a lorry driver, and he was always so happy. I admired him and thought maybe that was the life for me. It seemed like a simple job—just listening to music and driving. But deep down, I knew I had more potential than that.”
Growing up in a strict Muslim family in Bradford, Amir was one of four siblings. His father, a former Royal Navy serviceman, would often share stories of his travels and experiences, which sparked Amir’s curiosity about a life in uniform.
“When my dad spoke about the Royal Navy, he always did so with such pride. He had all these incredible stories. Around 14 or 15, I started thinking that maybe I could join one of the armed forces and have my own experiences,” Amir recalls.
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Picture credit: Pukaar News
When it came time to finish his A-levels, the pressure to go to university was immense, but Amir’s heart wasn’t in it. He longed for adventure and new experiences.
“I didn’t want the conventional path. I needed something different. I wanted to travel, to see the world. But I knew that wasn’t easy to say to my family, especially my dad, my brother, and the community,” he admits. “After discussing it with them, though, they eventually supported my decision. I went to the careers office, took the test, and they offered me several roles.”
His journey in the RAF wasn’t without its challenges. He faced bouts of minor incidents racism and intense physical and emotional strain during basic training—a real shock to the system. However the Military have come a long way now…there is a no tolerance ethos to any kind of bullying or harassment.
“It was tough, but in my mind, I knew I couldn’t fail. I couldn’t go back and say I’d quit. I had to succeed,” he says. “The training was a big shock. You’ve got people shouting at you, pushing you physically, and everything is so regimented. You do your own ironing, cleaning, everything. There were times when I thought about giving up, but the people around me kept me going. We were all in the same boat and quickly became like a new family.”
Today, Amir looks back with pride on his long career. He cherishes his role in an organisation that, in his eyes, is bigger than himself.
“Wearing the uniform is something I still take pride in,” he says. “The moment I first put it on, I felt like I had made it. My dad was proud, my mum even shed a tear, though I’m sure they were happy tears.”
After nearly 40 years of service, Amir is contemplating retirement in the next few years, but he’s passionate about passing on his love for the RAF to younger generations.
“It’s been a brilliant journey,” he reflects. “As an 18-year-old with no real direction, I could never have imagined all the things the RAF would give me. I’ve earned my diploma, degree, and master’s degree. I trained as a medic and took numerous management and leadership courses. I’ve traveled the world, faced challenges I never would’ve encountered in Bradford. I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s the truth.”