Punjab-born Amandeep Singh Mathon commissioned as Pilot Officer in Royal Australian Air Force

Amandeep Singh Mathon, a 35-year-old native of Kapurthala in Punjab, has graduated from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Officer Training School and been commissioned as a Pilot Officer. His commissioning adds another chapter to a family tradition of military service that spans generations and now extends across two countries.

Mathon studied at the Army School in Kapurthala before his family moved to Australia nearly two decades ago. The family now lives in Melbourne. His roots in the armed forces run deep: his father, Sewa Singh, and grandfather, Nirmal Singh, both served in the Indian Army. On his mother’s side as well, service is part of the family history, with her father and brother having also served in the Indian Army.

The Mathon family’s military association has continued in Australia through the next generation. Amandeep and his younger brother, Kamalpreet, are both serving in the RAAF. Kamalpreet was commissioned as a Flying Officer (Aeronautical Engineer) in 2025 after completing the Initial Officer Course at the Officer Training School in Sale, Victoria. Their elder brother, Sarabjit Singh Mathon, earlier served in the Australian Army and now works as a police officer with the New South Wales Police Force.

Speaking to The Tribune from Australia, Amandeep’s mother, Amarjeet Kaur, said the brothers had followed in their father’s footsteps. She said the family had moved to Australia years ago, and that her sons had worked hard to reach this stage. “We moved to Australia years ago, and my sons have worked very hard to achieve this feat. They started out on student visas and worked hard, balancing jobs and studies before undergoing rigorous training to join the forces.

It is my husband’s defence background and my sons’ upbringing in that environment that strengthened their resolve.”

Amarjeet Kaur said Amandeep had described the uniform as something far more meaningful than dress or rank. After his passing-out parade, he told the family that the uniform was “not just a uniform for me; it’s a way of life.” She added that the family had received many congratulatory messages after his commissioning.

Amandeep’s father, Sewa Singh, said the idea of service had long been central to the Mathon family. He noted that both he and Nirmal Singh, Amandeep’s grandfather, had served in the Indian Army. “This proud legacy now continues in Australia, where the new generation remains committed to serving the nation and society,” he said.

He also said Australia had given the family opportunities and the chance to build a new life through hard work. According to him, that sense of gratitude has reinforced the family’s belief that service is a duty, not merely a career choice.

Amandeep Singh Mathon’s commissioning, following that of his brother Kamalpreet, highlights the continuing presence of Indian-origin families in Australia’s defence services while also preserving a military tradition that began in India and has been carried forward by the next generation.