Alok Singh Kler

Last updated


Alok Kler

Lieutenant General Alok Kler, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command.jpg
AllegianceFlag of India.svg  India
Service/branchFlag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army
Years of serviceJune 1982 - 2021
Rank Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant General
Service number IC-40293Y [1]
Unit 68th Armoured Regiment
Commands held IA South Western Command.jpg South Western Army
II Corps
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Vishisht Seva Medal

Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler, PVSM, VSM, ADC is a retired General Officer in the Indian Army who last served as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Command. He assumed office on 1 September 2019, taking over from Lt Gen Cherish Mathson. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Alok was born into the Kler military family which originated from Sarhal Qazian nawashar then moved to 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.[ citation needed ]

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. [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] [6] Alok attended Mayo College, Ajmer [7] before graduating from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. [8]

Career

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. [9] [8]

Kler commanded an Armoured regiment, an Armoured Brigade in the western sector and the same Armoured Division which was commanded by his father. [10] He later commanded the Strike Corps (II Corps) in the Western theatre. [8] 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). [11] He has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 and a COAS Commendation card in 2009. [12] [13]

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. [7] [14] [15]

“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. [7]

He also carried out a para jump, after taking over the South Western Command. He jumped out an ALH Dhruv helicopter on 25 October. [16] He had earlier, as the DGMT, carried out a para jump Nasik by service aircraft from 10,000-12,000 feet. [11]

Kler retired from the Army on 31 March 2021. [17]

Awards and decorations

Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg
IND Samanya Seva medal.svg IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg IND Operation Vijay medal.svg
IND Operation Parakram medal.svg IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg
IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal
Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal Videsh Seva Medal
50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Second Lieutenant Indian Army 12 June 1982 [1]
Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant Indian Army12 June 1984
Captain of the Indian Army.svg Captain Indian Army12 June 1987 [18]
Major of the Indian Army.svg Major Indian Army12 June 1993 [19]
Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army16 December 2004 [20]
Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel Indian Army1 March 2006 [21]
Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg Brigadier Indian Army1 January 2010 (substantive, with seniority from 7 January 2009) [22]
Major General of the Indian Army.svg Major General Indian Army12 December 2014 (substantive, with seniority from 3 June 2012) [23]
Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant-General Indian Army20 May 2017 (with seniority from 1 May 2017) [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bipin Chandra Joshi</span>

General Bipin Chandra Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC was the 17th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army. He is the only Chief of the Indian Army to die in office, and until the 2021 death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash, the only full general and serving Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee to have died in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammad Ahmed Zaki</span>

Lieutenant General Mohammad Ahmed Zaki is a former general officer of the Indian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arun Shridhar Vaidya</span> 13th Chief of the Army Staff, India

General Arunkumar Shridhar VaidyaPVSM, MVC & Bar, AVSM, ADC was a General Officer in the Indian Army. He served as the 13th Chief of the Army Staff from 1983 to 1986. Following his retirement, he was assassinated by Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha in August 1986. This was done in vengeance of Operation Blue Star which Vaidya commanded.

Lt. Gen. Hanut Singh Rathore, PVSM, MVC was a General Officer in the Indian Army. He was decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra for his role in the Battle of Basantar in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagjit Singh Aurora</span> Indian military officer (1916–2005)

Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, was an Indian Army General Officer who was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Eastern Command during the third war with Pakistan in 1971. He organised and led the ground forces campaign in the Eastern Front of the war, which led to an overwhelming defeat of the combined Pakistan Armed Forces in East-Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Western Command (India)</span> Indian army command

The South Western Command of the Indian Army was established on 15 April 2005 and became fully operational on 15 August 2005. It was in response to the emerging threats and opportunities on the Western Indo-Pak border. It is headquartered at Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Lieutenant General Khem Karan Singh MVC was a General Officer in the Indian Army. He was awarded Padma Bhushan for his services to the nation during the 1971 war. He also received Maha Vir Chakra for his services during 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.

Lieutenant General Inderjit Singh Gill, PVSM, MC was a general officer in the Indian Army. He was the officiating Director of Military Operations (DMO) of the Indian Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He retired in 1979 after serving as the Western Army Commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalbir Singh Suhag</span> 25th Chief of the Army Staff (India)

General Dalbir Singh Suhag, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is the former Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles and a former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. He was the 25th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, serving from 31 July 2014 to 31 December 2016, and Vice Chief of the Army Staff prior to that.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abhay Krishna</span>

Lieutenant General Abhay Krishna, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of Indian Army. He served as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command from 1 October 2018 following the retirement of Lieutenant General Balwant Singh Negi, to 30 September 2019. He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Iqroop Singh Ghuman. Prior to that, he commanded the Eastern Command and South Western Command of the Indian Army

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherish Mathson</span>

Lieutenant General Cherish Mathson, PVSM, SM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Army who served as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), South Western Command. He assumed office on 1 August 2017 taking over from Lt General Abhay Krishna, and was succeeded by Lt General Alok Singh Kler on 1 September 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surinder Singh (general)</span>

Lieutenant General Surinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM & Bar, VSM is a retired officer of Indian Army who served as General Officer Commander-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Western Command. He took office of the Chairman, Punjab Public Service Commission on 21 August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manoj Mukund Naravane</span> 27th Chief of the Army Staff (India)

General Manoj Mukund Naravane is a retired Indian Army General who served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), as well as the temporary Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 15 December 2021 until his superannuation on 30 April 2022. He took over as COAS from General Bipin Rawat on 31 December 2019 after the latter completed his term. Prior to his appointment as the COAS, the general served as the 40th Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) of the Indian Army, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Eastern Command and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army Training Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iqroop Singh Ghuman</span>

Lieutenant General Iqroop Singh Ghuman, PVSM, AVSM, ADC is a commissioned officer of the Indian Army. He was the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command of the Indian Army. He took office on 2 October when Lt Gen Abhay Krishna retired.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranbir Singh (general)</span> Indian Army general

Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, PVSM, AVSM & Bar, YSM, SM, ADC is a former General Officer in the Indian Army. He last served as the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command. He assumed office on 1 June 2018 from Lt Gen Devraj Anbu who assumed the office of Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army during the 2016 Indian Line of Control strike & during the 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar he was Additional Director General of Military Operations (ADGMO). He was considered the face of the operations because he briefed the media after both the strikes.

Lieutenant General Ravendra Pal Singh PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Western Command of the Indian Army. He assumed office on 1 August 2019, succeeding Gen Surinder Singh

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raj Shukla</span> Lieutenant General in the Indian Army

Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, PVSM,YSM, SM, ADC is a retired General Officer of the Indian Army who served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command. He assumed office on 1 May 2020, succeeding Lt Gen P C Thimayya. He superannuated on 31 March 2022. Presently he is a member of UPSC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manoj Pande</span> 29th Chief of the Army Staff (India)

General Manoj Pande, is an Indian Army General serving as the 29th and the current Chief of the Army Staff. He previously served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command and also as the Commander-in-Chief (CINCAN) of Andman and Nicobar Command. He is the first officer from the Corps of Engineers and also first from non infantry/armoured corps to become the Army Chief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amardeep Singh Bhinder</span> Lieutinant general of India

Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Bhinder, PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a former general officer of the Indian Army. He last served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Command from 2021 to 2023. He assumed command from Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler on 1 April 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajai Singh (lieutenant general)</span> Indian Army officer

Lieutenant General Ajai Singh PVSM, AVSM is a retired Indian Army general. He served as the 16th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). He assumed command from Lieutenant-General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM on 1 June 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 10 June 1989. p. 797.
  2. Sep 1, TNN | Updated. "Sapta Shakti Command chief Cherish Mathson retires | Jaipur News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  3. "Comdts Gallery". nda.nic.in.
  4. "HARDEV SINGH KLER | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
  5. "NARINDER SINGH SANDHU | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
  6. "Which family has 300 years of service in India's armed forces? Know the Klers". Hindustan Times. 30 July 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "General to cycle from Delhi to Jaipur to take up new appointment". Hindustan Times. 30 August 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 Sep 2, TNN | Updated. "Kler is new chief of Sapta Shakti Command | Jaipur News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  9. "Our Star Cast 2017 | Khushwant Singh Literary Festival". kslitfest.com.
  10. "Our Star Cast 2017 | Khushwant Singh Literary Festival". kslitfest.com.
  11. 1 2 "58-year-old Army Lt Gen carries out Para jump". Business Standard India. 6 May 2019.
  12. "Our Star Cast 2017 | Khushwant Singh Literary Festival". kslitfest.com.
  13. "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in.
  14. "Lt General Alok Kler disrupted convention with cycling odyssey; change of command ceremony is no place to exhibit passion for fitness". Firstpost.
  15. JaipurSeptember 1, Indo-Asian News Service; September 1, Indo-Asian News Service; Ist, Indo-Asian News Service. "Army commander cycles to Jaipur to take charge". India Today.
  16. "South-Western Army Commander Lt Gen Kler carries out para jump". www.aninews.in.
  17. "Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Bhinder takes over as chief of South Western Command". The Economic Times. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  18. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 25 August 1990. p. 1362.
  19. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 18 September 1993. p. 1658.
  20. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 18.
  21. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 21 April 2007. p. 634.
  22. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 16 February 2013. p. 272.
  23. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 21 May 2016. p. 1308.
  24. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 9 February 2019. p. 393.
Military offices
Preceded by General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief South Western Command
1 September 2019 – 31 March 2021
Succeeded by
Amardeep Singh Bhinder
Preceded by General Officer Commanding II Corps
2018 - 2019
Succeeded by
Manmohan Jeet Singh Kahlon