Meet The Most Badass Lieutenant General Of Indian Army

Meet The Most Badass Lieutenant General Of Indian Army. Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler, PVSM, VSM is a serving General Officer in the Indian Army. He currently serves as the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Command. Lieutenant General Alok Kler, took over the command of Sapta Shakti Command as 10th General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. He assumed office on 1 September 2019, taking over from Lt Gen Cherish Mathson.

An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, he was commissioned into ARMOURED CORPS in June 1982. He is a graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and has attended various important career courses, at Army War College, Mhow. He is alumnus of National Defence College of Bangladesh.

Lt Gen Alok was born into the Kler military family which originated in Kakrala Kalan near Ludhiana, Punjab, India. The family has over 300 years of service in the Indian Armed Forces. His father, Gen Gurdev Singh Kler was Mentioned in dispatches (MiD) in Sialkot in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 fighting with 18th Cavalry. Commanding 56 Brigade, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for capturing the largest group of armed insurgents in Nagaland in the 1970s. Commanding an armoured brigade and division, he was Director General of Military Training (DGMT) and commanded the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra before retiring as a Lieutenant General.

His elder brother, Jasjit Singh Kler was in the Indian Air Force. He served as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy before retiring as an Air Marshal. His Uncle, Gen Hardev Singh Kler was awarded the Mahavir Chakra in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for commanding 95 Brigade. His formation was among the first to enter Dhaka. Alok’s father-in-law, Brigadier Narinder Singh Sandhu saw action in both the wars of 1965 and 1971 and was awarded the Mahavir Chakra. Alok attended Mayo College, Ajmer before graduating from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

Lt Gen Kler was commissioned into 68 Armoured Regiment in June 1982. He has attended Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, the Battalion Commander Combat Course at Germany, the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, and the National Defence College at Bangladesh.

Kler commanded an Armoured regiment, an Armoured Brigade in the western sector and the same Armoured Division which was commanded by his father. He later commanded the Strike Corps (II Corps) in the Western theatre. He has also held important staff positions like the Chief of Staff of Army Training Command (ARTRAC). He later served as the Director General Military Training (DGMT). He has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 and a COAS Commendation card in 2009.

Kler has a keen interest in cycling, fitness and sports. He made news when he cycled 270 km from Delhi to Jaipur to take command of the South Western Command. As an Army Commander, he was entitled to fly down to his headquarters or drive down in a cavalcade of military vehicles.

“Cycling is a terrific workout and I am passionate about it. I believe fitness should be a personal mission and not imposed by the organisation. It sends a message of fitness to the men under my command and others too,” said Gen Kler.

He also carried out a para jump, after taking over the South Western Command. He jumped out an ALH Dhruv helicopter on October 25. He had earlier, as the DGMT, carried out a para jump Nasik by service aircraft from 10,000-12,000 feet.

The General Officer has considerable experience in varied operational assignments across India. He has served in Counter Insurgency / terrorism environ in J&K and North Eastern Sector. He commanded Armoured Regiment and Armoured Brigade in Western Sector. The General Officer has commanded the Armoured Division  and later he commanded the  Corps in Western Theatre. The General Officer has had staff experience at all levels. General officer has keen interest in cycling, fitness and sports. He is also an avid Environmentalist and keen Wild Life Enthusiast.

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