Lt-Gen Ashwani Kumar awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 30

Lieutenant-General Ashwani Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps, was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by President Pranab Mukherjee during the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The general is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was commissioned into the Air Defence Artillery (now Army Air Defence) in June 1980.

He later commanded a Light Air Defence Regiment, which was actively involved in Operation Parakram.

He has the distinction of commanding an infantry brigade in Western Theatre and was the Deputy General Officer Commanding of an infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir.

He is the second Army Air Defence Officer to command an infantry division and has the distinction of being the first Army Air Defence officer to command a Corps.

Currently heading the Chetak Corps at Bathinda, Lieutenant-General Ashwani Kumar was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on the Republic Day for his distinguished services as Additional Director General (Discipline & Vigilance) and Director General (Discipline, Ceremonial and Welfare) as part of Adjutant General Branch at the integrated headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army).