Teenage cadet hopes to inspire Muslims to join British forces

A teenage Royal Marines cadet from Sheffield has said he hopes a better understanding of the stories of Muslim heroes in the British military will inspire more youngsters to join up. Salahudeen Hussain, 16, is thought to be the youngest person to complete the gruelling Special Forces selection march known as the Fan Dance, in […]

A teenage Royal Marines cadet from Sheffield has said he hopes a better understanding of the stories of Muslim heroes in the British military will inspire more youngsters to join up.

Salahudeen Hussain, 16, is thought to be the youngest person to complete the gruelling Special Forces selection march known as the Fan Dance, in the Brecon Beacons, when he was 15.

He was formally appointed to his role as the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet in a ceremony on Thursday.

The role will involve him accompanying the Queen’s representative in South Yorkshire, including during the ceremonies to mark Remembrance Day in his home town of Sheffield.

Sal said he has developed a keen interest in Muslim winners of the Victoria Cross (VC) medal and believes their stories would inspire youngsters if they were more widely known.

Sal said: “I know a lot of young Muslim and Asian people in this country often feel a kind of a disconnect to things like the military.

“But I know that, if everyone knew how involved their ancestors and people like them were, they would want to join up and wouldn’t feel like they couldn’t.”

Sal joined the Sheffield detachment of the Royal Marines Cadets in 2018 as he began to study for his GCSEs. Sheffield detachment commander, Sgt John Daley, praised Sal for his work to highlight the contribution of Muslim soldiers and said it was an important element of recruitment.

“I think he’s bringing it to the forefront,” he said. “It’s massively important that we remember people from across all society, and different backgrounds, who have supported Great Britain through the toughest times. I think it’s forgotten quite a lot.”