Muslim soldiers mark end of Ramadan as leaders make adjustments for personnel to practise their faith

Muslim soldiers have been observing a month of fasting during Ramadan – now easier to practise thanks to adjustments being made in their specific unit to accommodate their faith.

General guidelines are in place across the MOD, but at RNAS Yeovilton the chain of command has made changes to accommodate prayer times and fasting within personnel shift patterns.

A prayer room has also been created in a cleared-out storeroom at the Somerset station where two soldiers have been observing their faith during the holy month, a time of quiet contemplation for millions of Muslims around the world and many members of Britain's Armed Forces.

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One of the Muslim soldiers serving at the base says he was initially "a bit unsure" about how compatible a career in the Armed Forces would be with his faith, but says he hasn't looked back since joining 15 years ago.

Sergeant Mohammed Moolkeea, based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, which is home to the Royal Navy Wildcat Force and the Commando Helicopter Force, says he has been able to observe his religion and, with the help of his chain of command, is able to fit his prayer times and fasting around his work shift patterns.

Sgt Moolkeea, who oversees the base's fleet of military vehicles said: "If there is any form of negativity, there is always people to talk, in order to make things better, to make things work for people and that is my absolute experience.

"So, I really encourage those who are thinking 'is it a good idea to join the forces or not?', my advice is definitely go for it and you definitely won't regret it."

"I myself am 15 years in now and with nine years to go and I have never looked back," the Army Air Corps (AAC) sergeant added.

Warrant Officer Class 2 David Collins, who is the Squadron Sergeant Major at 651 Sqn AAC, says it is "really important, we want to show everyone we do respect all their beliefs and religions and to help them out where we can".

"Even though there is guidance, we still try to go above and beyond what is put in place to try and help as best as we can."