From Refugee Camp in Nepal to the United States Air Force: The Inspiring Journey of Aashma Bista
From Refugee Camp in Nepal to the United States Air Force: The Inspiring Journey of Aashma Bista
Antioch, Tennessee – What began in the modest surroundings of a refugee hut in Nepal has now transformed into a remarkable story of achievement, courage, and inspiration. Aashma Bista, a 27-year-old originally from the Goldhap Bhutanese Refugee Camp (Sector C3, Hut No. 27) in Jhapa, Nepal, has graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and proudly serves as a member of the United States Air Force.
Aashma’s father and grand parents were originally from Chengmari, Bimtar in Samchi district of southern Bhutan. Like tens of thousands of other ethnic Nepalis, they were forcefully evicted in the 1990s following peaceful demonstrations against discrimination and human rights violations in Bhutan. They were later registered as refugees under the UNHCR and sheltered in eastern Nepal, where Aashma was born and raised before being resettled to the United States.
Resettled on December 25, 2010, at just 14 years old, Aashma overcame the many challenges of displacement to pursue education and service. She attended Middle Tennessee State University between 2018 and 2022, completing her degree and graduating on November 9, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Today, she serves as an HR Data Specialist in the U.S. Air Force, a role that symbolizes her dedication to her adopted homeland.
Community members note that Aashma is possibly the very few (if not first) female member of the U.S. Air Force from the resettled Bhutanese refugee community, making her achievement a historic milestone. Her accomplishment is not only a personal triumph but also a source of collective pride for the entire Bhutanese diaspora worldwide.
“This is not only the success of Aashma and her family, but also of our entire community,” said one community elder. “Her achievement is a shining example for the younger generation, reminding them that with hard work and resilience, dreams can come true.”
Aashma’s story, from her parents’ forced eviction in Bhutan, to life in a refugee camp in Nepal, and now service in the U.S. Air Force, stands as a powerful testament to resilience, opportunity, and the enduring spirit of the Bhutanese refugee community.